Chapter 485

Harrison froze, her eyes locking with Nathaniel's.

"What did you say? Who's the baby's father?"

Nathaniel smirked, his voice dripping with mockery. "Do I really need to spell it out for you? You should know better than anyone. It's Oliver!"

Harrison's heart skipped a beat. Though she hadn't wanted Nathaniel to discover her pregnancy, now that he had, she couldn't let him falsely accuse the child of belonging to someone else.

"Nathaniel, listen carefully," she said, her voice steady. "This child isn't Oliver's. It's yours!"

She spoke with absolute conviction.

Nathaniel paused, a flicker of surprise crossing his features before he began laughing darkly.

"Why are you laughing?" she demanded, frustration rising. "I'm serious. This baby is yours. I—"

"Enough!" Nathaniel cut her off sharply, gripping her chin with bruising force. "How dare you claim this child is mine when it's clearly Oliver's? Do you take me for a fool? Or are you lying out of pity?"

Harrison's breath hitched.

"Listen well. I couldn't care less about the bastard in your belly. I don't care whose it is!"

Ice settled in Harrison's chest. The words died in her throat.

What was the point? If he didn't care, explanations were meaningless.

With sudden defiance, she shoved against his chest. "Then let go of me and leave."

Nathaniel studied her cold expression, something primal snapping inside him. That detached look—she'd given it to him at the cemetery too, and it was unbearable.

"Is Oliver really that important to you?"

"Yes!" Harrison answered without hesitation, voice ringing clear. "No matter how many times you ask, Oliver will always mean more to me than you!"

There. She'd said it.

Nathaniel laughed bitterly, tongue pressing against his cheek. "I see. Well, he's in my hands now. Don't you think it's time to... negotiate his release?"

"What do you mean?"

His voice dropped to a dangerous purr. "Start by begging me to let him go."

"Beg you? Would you actually release him if I did?"

"Try me," Nathaniel taunted, shrugging with feigned indifference.

Harrison's expression hardened. "Fine. I'm begging you. Please, release Oliver."

Nathaniel's cruel laughter filled the room. "Harrison, that's the most half-hearted begging I've ever witnessed. Where's the passion? You used to beg so beautifully for me. Have you forgotten?"

Her eyes narrowed to slits. She shoved him away with all her strength. "Keep dreaming. I won't degrade myself for you!"

Nathaniel tapped her cheek mockingly, fingers lingering. "Playing the innocent now? You insisted on protection with me, but let Oliver have you raw? Interesting double standard."

Harrison was done. "Get out of my house!"

Without warning, Nathaniel crushed his lips against hers.

Harrison froze, shocked. Even now, he dared to kiss her?

Hadn't Isabella satisfied him last night?

She struggled violently, but Nathaniel's body was an immovable wall, pressing her relentlessly against the counter.

Desperate, Harrison bit his lip hard.

Nathaniel only deepened the kiss, invading her mouth with brutal possession.

The metallic tang of blood filled their mouths.

Finally breaking the kiss, Nathaniel gripped her waist and dragged her toward the sofa.