After getting divorced from her husband, the man her family sold her off to, Roseanne found out that she was pregnant.

The worst part? The child wasn’t his.

The night she caught her husband cheating on her with her sister, on the very bed that was supposed to be theirs, her heart shattered into pieces and she ran out crying like an idiot. Roseanne ended up in a hotel bar she had never been to before.

And that was where she met Czar Nikolai Romano.

He was… devastatingly handsome, dangerously composed, and the kind of man women whispered about in daydreams and warnings alike. There were plenty of red flags screaming at her that he was someone she shouldn’t get involved with. But fueled by heartbreak and betrayal, she bravely took the drink he offered.

Now, four years later, a tiny carbon copy of the man she spent one reckless night with ran around her house clutching toy cars in his little hands. Roseanne thought her life had ended the moment she found out she was pregnant, but it turns out, Kaden became the only joy she lives to protect. She must protect her son.

From Czar, who was obsessed with making them his.

From Galen, the ex-husband who apparently wanted her back.

And from the dangers of a world she never knew existed.

Or maybe, she was already part of it all along.

—

“Mister, don’t flirt with Mommy!”

Czar froze.

“I don’t want a baby brother!”

Roseanne flushed bright red. “Kaden!”

—

[WARNING: MATURE CONTENT (18+)]

"Do you promise you won't curse or say bad words again?"


They were seated on the sofa in Mr. Hawke's office. Roseanne had her son right in front of her, questioning him after his earlier outburst, saying a bad word she never knew he was capable of. She hadn't even known he knew such language, which apparently, he had picked up from their neighbors.


Kaden sat stiffly, his head bowed, eyes fixed on his dangling feet that didn't reach the floor. Roseanne knelt in front of him holding his hands gently. She didn't want the boy to think she was angry at him. The frustration was directed more to herself. She should have paid closer attention.


David and Frederic were also in the room standing by in case anything was needed. Czar, meanwhile, was in his office with the guest from earlier—a man in his forties—accompanied by his aide, Mr. Hawke, and Soren.


Chapter 31 - Family Comes First