Chapter One Hundred and Eighty-Five
Malachi's POV
"Alicia, please. I'm not here to hurt you. I'm here to protect you. Zhao Wei just tried to kidnap you. You're not safe—"
"I wasn't safe with you either. That's why I left."
The words hit harder than any bullet.
"I know. I know you're afraid of me. I know what you heard on those recordings. I know I'm not the man you thought I was." I took a step toward her. She took a step back. "But I'm the father of your child. And I'm not going to let anything happen to either of you."
Silence.
Her face went white. "How... how did you..."
"I know, Alicia. I know you're pregnant. I know you're carrying my baby. And I know you'd rather be anywhere in the world than here with me right now."
Tears started falling down her face. "Please leave. Please just leave me alone."
"I can't do that."
"Why not? Why can't you just let me go?"
"Because I love you."
The words hung in the air. Raw. Honest. More vulnerable than I'd been in my entire life.
