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Faith swallowed the drugs with the glass of water before handing them back to the nurse.
She had been unconscious for the whole day!
She couldn't help but take a glance at the window, it was sunny and bright outside. The last thing she remembered was fainting in Sterling's house.
Her brother must have brought her to this hospital.
A quiet sigh escaped her mouth, the aching sensation in her chest wouldn't subside. She would never admit that it wasn't just because of her baby, it was also because of him.
Even though he had done so many awful things, there was something she had never seen in his eyes before.
Hate.
He seemed to deeply loathe her now.
He had always been willful, how could he have the heart to tear an infant from her mother?
Maya needed her the most at this moment, if he really cared about the baby, he wouldn't have given her to complete strangers only so he could torture her.
Faith was uncomfortable both physically. Her breasts felt too heavy and tight with milk. It was hurting.
A clear reminder that she did not know her baby's whereabouts.
Was it possible that for the sake of Maya, they could both reach a compromise?
Faith rejected the thought almost instantly, pleading with him to return her baby would put her at his mercy.
The thought sent an unpleasant shudder through her,
Begging for his sympathy was a place that she didn't want to be.
Something told her that he wouldn't be showing any leniency.
The nurse's voice jerked Faith from her sea of thoughts.
"Your body hasn't fully recovered, Starting from now, I will advise that you take sufficient rest in these next few days, and try not to do any stressful activities that would put your body and whole health at risk."
Faith wasn't fully listening until the nurse's next words captured her ears.
"Mr. Hunter has told us to take good care of y__"
"Mr__What??" Faith didn't realize that she had screamed so loud that even the nurse looked shocked.
Faith wore a pale horrified expression as the nurse continued.
"I'm sorry I forgot to mention that Mr. Hunter brought you here after you fell unconscious."
Faith fumed silently, she preferred to die than owe Sterling Hunter a single cent of gratitude. Where had her brother been? How could he have allowed Sterling to bring her here?
Speaking of Julian, the door opened and he walked inside. The nurse took her cue to exit the room, leaving them alone.
"How could you have allowed him to bring me here!" Faith vented furiously.
"You were unconscious, he carried you to his car, any delay could have been dangerous to you! I still want to punch him in the face!"
Faith swallowed her next angry words, while she didn't like the idea of receiving help from Sterling, there was nothing she could do about it.
"That man admitted to taking away your baby, how did you ever marry a man like that?!"
An angry scowl passed across Julian's face as he started to pace around the room, turning to stare at Faith, he added.
"You told me you were going to tell me everything! You can start now!"
Faith blinked and then looked away, she didn't want to see the disappointment in his eyes. She had always been the reasonable one, how did she judge and trust Sterling so blindly ___had fallen for him so badly.
She released a quiet sigh and started.
"I__I didn't know he was like that. I had such a wonderful job, and he always treated me w_well, even when mom was sick__ he was there for me. I d_didn't see anything w_wrong in marrying him, I thought __"
"When you spoke about him, I've always felt he was too good to be true, and now look at all these messes caused by him!" Julian yelled and Faith winced.
"It's my fault, I was so wrong and stupid, I couldn't even prevent them from taking my baby away, I should h_ave done s_something __" She inhaled deeply as tears threatened to fall.
Julian leaned to palm her face carefully.
"You know it's not your fault that you got deceived by that bastard! Because of him, you've been through a lot since these past few days. We are going to get back my little niece, but first of all, you need to recuperate properly."
Faith's eyes were filled with doubt, getting Maya back wouldn't be easy. She knew without a doubt that Sterling would do everything to make it difficult for her.
His personality never changed towards getting what he wanted. Instead, he seemed to have gotten even more cold and lethal in claiming things he thought he had a right to.
Faith couldn't dispel the unpleasant feeling that taking Maya away from her wasn't going to be the end of his revenge.
Perhaps, everything right now was no more than a game to him.
"Will we get her back? I'm just scared, I feel__" She started but Julian squeezed her palms.
"There's no need to worry, I told you that I already contacted a lawyer, as long as we can prove that those test results were forged your baby will return to your custody, there's nothing that Sterling will be able to do. "
Faith still wasn't convinced, Julian was making everything sound so simple.
"W_what if I succeed in getting her back and he decides to fight for co-parenting rights? W_what about__"
"There's no what if, we are taking this one step at a time remember?"
Faith nodded slowly, even if she ended up getting half custody of her daughter, it was still better than nothing.
"We will meet with him later when you are more healthy, I'll go ask the doctor when you will be fit enough to be discharged."
Faith closed her eyes the moment he left. She had to be strong and recover her strength quickly. She didn't want to spend any more time in the hospital than necessary.
A noise sounded at the door, she was a little surprised that Julian could return so quickly. "Did you forget somethin___" Faith turned around only for her heart to hammer in shock.
There, he stood in the doorway.
Sterling.
He was dressed casually in denim jeans and a black shirt that seemed to hug his athletic physic like a second skin.
His hair was longer, Faith realized. It fell freely across his face, the dark stubble of beard across his hard chin seemed to appeal to his masculine attractiveness.
Faith didn't manage to mutter a word as he walked inside and closed the door quietly behind him.
Their gazes met and she panicked instantly. She could almost hear the sound of her own heartbeat.
He didn't stop approaching her until he was at her bedside.
Without her brother's presence, she didn't realize how timid she felt.
"W_what are you doing here!" She finally remembered how to speak as she jolted into a sitting position.
His eyes traveled across her form for some extra seconds. As if she wasn't nervous enough.
"I merely wanted to ensure that the mother of my child is doing well." He smiled but it somehow didn't reach his eyes.
"I don't need your presence nor your concern!" Faith snapped, unable to hide the resentment she felt inside.
He was the only reason she felt so miserable.
She suddenly thought, perhaps she shouldn't be so hostile towards him. Well, at least until she got what she wanted, and as it stood, he was the only one who know about Maya's current well-being.
"How did you find out I was pregnant and where I was?" She spoke in a more subtle tone even though she felt like digging the sharpest of knives into his stony heart.
"Rex saw you the other day, I found out the hospital you went to." He didn't elaborate but there was some shift in his eyes. She was unable to interpret it.
"How did you arrange everything so quickly? The hospital faked the test results because you told them! Why did you decide to go through the Children Protecting service when you could have just taken her?"
If he had taken Maya directly, she would have been sure that Maya was with him, right now, she was uncertain about her baby's whereabouts.
Her eyes met Sterling's, he looked slightly amused.
"I was not going to kidnap my own baby." He paused, staring at her deeply.
"That might have given you some advantage, in this way, you won't know where she is, nor will you get to see her, not unless I allow you to."
Like always, he was thorough in whatever he did. He chose the most difficult method just to make her suffer.
"I'll prove my innocence to the court, they will have no other option but to return my baby to me, what will you do then?" Faith tried to appear confident even though she was very much anxious.
She didn't expect him to smile, but once again, it didn't reach his eyes.
She jerked when his hand extended and his finger caught at a strand of her hair that had fallen across her face. She went completely stiff when his touch lingered.
"You still don't get it, do you? It doesn't matter what you do, you still won't win. Simply because I won't allow it." He murmured, still caressing her silky hair.
Faith despised his smug look, how could anyone be so unfeeling?
"Maya needs me most at this time, you can't separate a child from her mother just because you feel like you can!" She burst out in anger.
The hand on her hair disappeared, and she met his indifferent features as though he wasn't shattering a mother's heart to pieces.
"Maya is completely unaware of your existence, she will live just fine without you in her life!"
His vicious statement broke the last bit of control she might have had.
"You are so despicable!" She hissed. Her hands were directed towards his face, but the contact was never made.
A choked gasp let her mouth when he seized her hand.
She tried to tug it back but his grip was too strong.
She met his eyes, hers flashing furiously.
Another gasp escaped her mouth when he suddenly jerked her towards him.
"I allowed that go by once, do it again and I might end up doing something you wouldn't like!" He hissed.
A strangled noise escaped from her when he forced her closer to him until her breasts were squeezing against his chest.
Her eyes flew to his, her breaths coming out in short pants.
Her nipples felt hardened through her shirt, and she suddenly wondered if he could feel them.
She prayed not!
His lips moved so close to her ears as he whispered.
"Or maybe you would like it, hmm?" His coffee-flavored breath hit her nostrils, as coarse fingers touched her nape.
That was more than she could manage.
"Stay away from me!" She instantly yanked her hand free, breathing heavily.
Her whole body felt hot. Shifting towards the very edge of the bed, she ensured to put a safe distance between them.
She hated him so much, so why did her body behave so shamelessly?
She made the mistake to look at him. His eyes were a shade darker. Burning intensely with an emotion that made her insides clench.
Lust.
It was enough to consume her.
He wanted her.
And__ did she want him too?
This could surely not be happening!
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