Elysia's life was shattered into pieces after losing the baby she had just given birth to. Grief consumed her entirely, leaving her heart empty and her soul wounded. But fate had other plans-it brought her face-to-face with Cassian, the man who had destroyed her life years ago. Once, he had left her with an unforgivable betrayal. Now, he returned, carrying a fragile two-week-old baby in his arms. The baby had been abandoned by his mother and was allergic to formula. Cassian, trapped in a situation beyond his control, offered Elysia anything she wanted-money, security, even freedom-with one condition: she had to nurse the child. His request ripped open wounds she had barely begun to heal. How could she, who had just lost her own baby, now care for the child of the man she despised? Yet, something in the baby's eyes made her hesitate. What started as a cold arrangement soon became a storm of emotions neither of them was prepared for. Hatred, love, and memories of the past collided, forcing Elysia and Cassian to face the truth they had long avoided. Can Elysia endure this cruel twist of fate? Or will the wounds of the past destroy them both?
Chapter 1 staring at the heavy rain that blurred the city skyline
Elysia stood by the window, staring at the heavy rain that blurred the city skyline. The glass was cold beneath her fingertips, just like the hollow ache in her chest. It had been exactly forty days since she lost her baby, and yet, the pain hadn't dulled-not even a little.
She had thought grief would fade over time, but it clung to her like a shadow, whispering cruel reminders of what she had lost. The nursery, once filled with soft lullabies and the scent of baby powder, was now an empty shell of broken dreams. She had stopped going inside-it hurt too much.
A sharp knock on the door pulled her out of her thoughts. Frowning, she wiped the unshed tears from her eyes and walked to the entrance. It was nearly midnight; who would visit her at this hour?
Hesitantly, she opened the door.
And there he was.
Cassian Laurent.
The man who had shattered her heart years ago. The man she had sworn never to see again.
Her body went rigid at the sight of him, standing there with his crisp black coat soaked from the rain. His sharp, chiseled features remained unreadable, but there was something different in his eyes-something almost desperate.
But it wasn't just Cassian that left her breathless. It was the tiny baby cradled in his arms.
A small, fragile bundle wrapped in a pale blue blanket, sleeping peacefully against his chest.
Elysia's breath caught. The sight of the infant-so innocent, so unaware of the storm surrounding him-sent a jolt of pain straight to her heart.
"Elysia," Cassian finally spoke, his voice low and rough. "I need your help."
She let out a bitter laugh. "You need my help?" Her fingers curled against the doorframe. "The last time you needed something from me, Cassian, you left me broken."
His jaw tightened, but he didn't argue. Instead, he stepped forward, lowering his gaze to the baby in his arms. "This isn't about us. It's about him."
Elysia wanted to slam the door in his face. She wanted to tell him to go to hell. But her eyes remained locked on the child, who stirred slightly, his tiny fist clenching in sleep.
Her heart twisted painfully.
"His mother left him," Cassian continued, his voice quieter now. "He's allergic to formula, and I don't know what else to do."
A storm raged inside Elysia. Every fiber of her being screamed at her to turn him away. To tell him that whatever happened to him and this child wasn't her problem.
But fate was cruel.
Because just as she was about to speak, the baby whimpered-a soft, broken sound.
And just like that, she was undone.
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