The woman was so frail that the gentle breeze seemed capable of blowing her away. The light in her eyes had nearly extinguished, unable to mask her overwhelming exhaustion and despair.
Right now, he seemed to be her only lifeline.
Miles Yates felt as if his chest had taken a heavy blow. His eyes darkened as he took a deep breath. The hands supporting her arms were incredibly gentle; he didn’t dare apply too much pressure, terrified he might shatter her. "Whatever you need, I will help you. I have the power to do so. Trust me."
Having been rivals with Simon Hawthorne for so many years, Miles knew exactly what kind of terrifying opponent he was. The man was utterly ruthless and devoid of mercy, often resorting to any means necessary to achieve his goals. Simon was a flawless financial monster with no weaknesses. But business was different from romance; he was destined never to offer his lover much warmth or patience.
Zoe Lancaster’s gaze fell on a car parked not far away. Two men stood by the doors—a driver and a bodyguard. Even though she had managed to slip away from the Hawthorne family villa during the chaos today, Simon had kept bodyguards watching her around the clock recently. She was utterly powerless to break free on her own.
Simon had always been cold-hearted. He forbade her from visiting the hospital or knowing anything about her baby’s condition, slowly wearing her down piece by piece. She had already nearly lost the baby once; she desperately needed to know if it was healthy.
Running into Miles now was the perfect opportunity.
"President Yates, could you... could you help me lose those two?" She looked up at the man before her, her heart pounding against her ribs. To say she wasn’t nervous would be a lie.
Miles cast a subtle glance over her shoulder. "Not a problem," he said gently. "Where do you want to go?"
"A hospital. A private one, if possible," Zoe replied.
Miles didn’t hesitate for a second, nor did he ask for a reason. He gave a subtle wave, and within moments, a Cullinan parked nearby pulled up. He quickly opened the door, and Zoe climbed in without a moment’s delay. The entire exchange happened with unbelievable speed.
The two men keeping watch instantly blanched and scrambled into their car. "Mrs. Hawthorne is trying to shake us off! Hurry up and chase them!"
Inside the car, Miles calmly issued his orders. "Lose the tail at all costs, then head to the nearest hospital."
His driver’s eyes sharpened as he slammed his foot on the gas. "Yes, sir!"
Anyone in Miles’s employ—even a mere driver—possessed extraordinary skills. The heavy SUV weaved through the complex traffic like a slippery eel, always finding the tightest gaps to squeeze past. Angry horns blared down the entire street as less-skilled drivers panicked, sending the road into chaotic, gridlocked disarray.
With their path completely blocked, the bodyguard’s expression darkened. "Call Mr. Hawthorne!"
A mere ten minutes later.
Zoe was safely delivered to the entrance of a private hospital. She stepped out of the car, instinctively cradling her stomach.
Miles caught the gesture, a flash of surprise crossing his features. The woman was incredibly thin, yet her lower abdomen had a slight, unmistakable swell.
Zoe looked at him. "My ID, passport, and passes were all confiscated. President Yates, could you pull some strings for me? I need to check on the baby."
For the longest time, it felt as though she couldn’t escape even if she grew wings. Ever since Simon had dragged her back from the airport, all her identification documents had been seized. She was trapped in Kingsford, stripped of all dignity and kept completely captive like a penned animal! The only thing she could protect, the only future she could plan for, was the child in her womb. She couldn’t afford to take any chances.
Miles pressed his lips into a thin line. He truly hadn’t expected Zoe to be pregnant. She was carrying Simon’s child, yet she was still subjected to such heartless cruelty.
"Of course. That’s a minor issue; I’ll handle it." He offered her his arm.
Zoe rested her hand on his arm, and they walked into the hospital together. Given Miles’s immense influence, they bypassed all the red tape through VIP channels. Soon, Zoe was lying comfortably on the examination bed in the ultrasound room.
As she felt the cold gel spread across her belly, she stared at the shadows on the monitor, her eyes gradually misting with tears. She had gained so little in her life and lost far too much—her mother, her home, her unrequited love. It felt as if her entire existence had been a failure. This child was all she had left, and she would defend her baby with her life!
Miles stood quietly just on the other side of the privacy curtain.
The doctor glanced toward the curtain and smiled warmly. "Congratulations!"
Zoe looked confused.
"It’s twins!" the doctor announced.
Zoe froze. Tears slipped from her eyes without warning, dampening her temples. She stared blankly at the doctor and the shadows on the screen, her voice barely a rough whisper. "...Two babies?"
The doctor chuckled, continuing the examination. "You’re very blessed. So far, fetal development looks quite good. The two babies are growing at a balanced rate, though their head and abdominal circumferences are a bit on the smaller side. You absolutely must come in for regular check-ups later in the pregnancy. Since it’s twins, it’s going to be a lot harder on your body."
It took a long time for the sheer, overwhelming joy to fully sink in. Her tears fell endlessly. Her barren, desolate life seemed to fill with hope in an instant. No wonder her bump was slightly larger than average for a woman three months along, despite her slender frame. It also explained why her pregnancy symptoms were so intense. She had been worried sick about the babies’ development all this time, but now, this was a complete and wonderful surprise!
She wondered whether they were boys or girls, though she knew she would love them unconditionally either way.
By the time she sat up on the examination bed, her eyes were still red. Watching her, Miles slowly leaned forward and pulled a subtle, ink-colored handkerchief from his pocket. He offered it to her. "Wipe your tears. With two little treasures in your belly, you should be smiling. They can feel your emotions, you know."
Aside from his initial shock at her pregnancy, all he felt now was a profound ache in his chest for her. This was the time when she most needed tender care and affection, yet she had been entirely neglected and mistreated. He thought about how hard she must have been struggling. A marriage that existed in name only was better off abandoned anyway!
Zoe hastily wiped her face. "You’re right. I have to take good care of myself. I can’t afford any mistakes. Now that I know the babies are perfectly fine, I don’t have to live in constant fear day and night."
Miles gazed deeply into her eyes. "If you need help, don’t carry that burden alone, and never think you’re being a nuisance. Just tell me. I can handle the aftermath for you. Even if... even if you want to completely break free from your current situation, I can help you do it."
He wanted to pull her out of this sea of suffering. If Simon refused to let go, what did it matter if he went to war against him?
Zoe remained silent for a long moment.
Miles crouched down slightly in front of her. His gaze was incredibly warm, offering a silent, nourishing comfort. "All expectant mothers are deeply courageous. I can see how much you care for these children. What I want to say is... if you don’t mind, I can help you take care of them in the future."
He could do so much more for her! The hidden meaning behind his words was unmistakable.
Zoe’s mind was in turmoil. This was an unbelievably massive favor. Miles was just too good, too perfect. She wondered what she had ever done to deserve such kindness.
How could Miles fail to see her hesitation?
He softened his tone as much as possible. Beneath his gentlemanly demeanor lay a firm, undeniable affection that he forcefully restrained, doing everything he could not to make her feel pressured.
"I know it’s inappropriate for me to say these things right now. But I need you to understand that you have a way out. I can be your pillar of support. If you want a divorce, if you want to leave, I can give you the push you need.
"And... I can also be a father to your babies."