Speaking so, she took my hand, guided me to my mother-in-law, and placed the child into my arms.
Staring at the pale, round little one, a bitter ache rose in my chest.
My fingertips brushed his soft face gently. If only he were my child?
Clearly, I could have been.
Many eyes turned to me, pity, laughter, coldness, …
Sean moved past the group in a hurry, steps tense. “Finley, hand Nikolai back to me.”
I stopped, shock crashing through my thoughts. “You said… his name is Nikolai?”
“Nikolai Olson. Aster said it means two souls tied as one.”
“Waaah!!”
He burst into sharp wails.
My hold went loose, and a chill swallowed my whole body.
She even used our future child’s name for another man’s boy. She wished to join hearts with him?
Nikolai. That was the name we chose when I turned eighteen.
That first night together, she wrapped around me in joy, saying if we ever had kids in the future, we’d call him Nikolai, meaning our hearts would stay linked for life.
Before I could get angry, a clear slap rang through the hall.
Only then did I come back to my senses.
The baby lay on the floor, red blood sliding from his small forehead.
Aster held him tight, her eyes full of anger.