Nathan's POV


The cold metal cuffs dug into my wrists as the guards led me down the long hallway. My heart beat fast and sweat rolled down my back. I didn't know if it was fear or shame or probably both.

We just finished the interrogation and It didn't go well for us. It didn't go well at all.

Nessa couldn't take it and the moment they brought in the hot lamp and started playing mind tricks, she broke. She cried and she screamed and then she confessed everything. She said everything.


She told them how I planned the fake conference and how George poisoned the water bottle and how she helped deliver it.

She also explained how I wanted Jane to lose her baby and I told myself it was love.


Now it just felt like madness.

After the confession, they moved fast. The police charged us. It was a case of attempted murder, conspiracy and fraud.

Now we are in court. I stood in the accused box with George beside me. Nessa was in the second row, crying. Her eyes were red and swollen, but mine were dry, but heavy it was like they were holding back everything I couldn't say.

Then Jane walked in.

Her presence was like a storm. It was calm on the outside, but full of power. She wore a simple gown and she looked pale, but strong and eyes didn't meet mine. She took her seat next to her father.

Grande.

The man glared at me like he wanted to cut my throat right here in front of the judge and honestly, I wouldn't stop him.

The judge called an order and the room went silent. Evidence was presented, video clips and phone recordings,

of Nessa's confession and testimony, so does Jane.

Then, the judge gave me a chance to speak.

I cleared my throat.

'Jane," I say softly. My voice shakes. 'I'm sorry, I didn't want this to happen, I never wanted you to get hurt."

She didn't move.

'I just, … I wanted you back. I didn't want you to be connected to your child's father. I wanted to remove him from your life. I thought, maybe if I did that, you would need me again."

Her father jumped up. 'You disgusting coward!" he yelled. 'You wanted her back, so you poisoned her? You tried to kill her?

The judge bangs the gavel. 'Order!"

Grande didn't stop. 'You ruined her life once already. You took everything from her, and now you want to act like it was love? You are sick! Really sick!"

The courtroom buzzed and I stood still, my eyes fixed on Jane and she finally turned to look at me. Her face was blank, but her voice cut through the room like a knife.

'I was married to you for three years, Nathan," she said. 'Three years while you were crippled and broke. I took care of you, loved you, stood beside you."

I can't speak.

'The moment you could walk again, you left me for another woman. You threw me away like garbage." Tears pricked my eyes.

'And now," she said, her voice shaking, 'you try to kill me? You poison me while I am carrying a child? And you say it is because you want me back?"

She scoffed, bitter and cold. 'You will rot in jail. You deserve every second of it."

I looked down.

The judge sighs. 'I have heard enough. Nathan, George, you are both found guilty of attempted murder and criminal conspiracy. I hereby sentence you to twenty years imprisonment."

The room gasped.

Then the judge turned to Nessa. 'Vanessa Cole, for your role in the crime, and for agreeing to carry out this wicked plan, you are sentenced to ten years in prison."

Nessa cried out. 'Please! Please, I didn't mean to hurt her! I was just scared!"

But it was too late.

The guards moved in and they cuffed us again.

As they pulled me away, I glanced back one last time.

Jane was holding her stomach, her eyes forward and her father had his arm around her, proud and protective. Her team surrounds her. She was strong, whole, glowing and even after everything I have done to her.

And me?I was in chains.

I let her go once, I broke her, and now I tried to control her again. But she was not mine anymore

She saved me once.

Now I've lost her forever.

I closed my eyes as they dragged me down the steps toward the prison van. Twenty years.

Twenty years to think about how I destroyed the only woman who ever truly loved me.

And I know…

I deserve it.



Jane's POV)*

I woke up late and the sun was already shining through my curtains and for the first time in a long while, I didn't have any meetings, calls, or emails to answer. I lay on my bed and just stared at the ceiling.

Justice has been served.

Nathan and George were in prison for twenty years. Nessa would serve ten. The court gave them what they deserved. My name was cleared and my baby is safe.

I should feel happy and I should feel free.

But what I felt was emptiness.

I have spent the last week doing nothing, no business, no plans, I was just sleeping, eating, walking around the house, and feeling my baby grow inside me and I touched my stomach gently and smiled. A little kick answered me.

'Hi, baby," I whispered. 'It's just you and me now."

Then I felt it again, that sadness. That ache deep in my chest.

My baby will grow up without a father.

I tried to be strong and I told myself I didn't need anyone. I have come this far alone, I have survived betrayal, heartbreak, almost death, but when I closed my eyes, a face appeared.

Hades.

I didn't want to think about him, but my mind went there anyway.

I remembered that night, the party night, the music and the lights and the way I danced.

The way I swayed my hips and felt his hands around my waist and I remembered how he looked at me like I was the only woman in the world.

And the sex…

It was sweet, it was so sweet and the kind that made you forget your pain and the kind that made you feel seen, touched and wanted.

I hated him, but I also couldn't stop thinking about him.

Why did he do what he did? Was it just power? Was it love? Was it something in between?

I didn't have answers.

So I got dressed and I told my driver to take me to the prison.