11.11 % Chapter2 Ethan's taut anger eased , and he suddenly looked at me pleadingly ' . " Vivian , please . Let me hold him , will you ? He's must want his dad for crying like that ' . " A sharp ache warmed my chest . I hesitated , then reluctantly handed over the swaddled bundle . Before the baby reached his arms , Sloane , who had been hiding behind Ethan , clutched her belly and screamed . " It hurts - my stomach ... " Ethan's face went white . He spun around and gathered her into his arms , frantic . " Your baby's still unstable . I told you to rest at home and you insisted on coming- Sloane's brow pinched as she leaned against his chest ; her face was deathly pale . Then , without warning , she dropped to her knees before me . " Mrs. Sterling , I'm so sorry . I acted on impulse . I hurt myself and the baby . I kept Mr. Sterling from getting here for the delivery . It's my fault ' " Her voice broke ; she sobbed in a way that felt almost practiced . Tears fell onto the polished floor . Ethan's fists tightened until his knuckles whitened . " Vivian , " he said softly , " this isn't her fault . She's pregnant - of course she's unsettled . " The baby's cries pierced the room , raw and desperate , but Ethan's pity was aimed entirely at Sloane . A coldness seeped through me , as if the blood in my veins had been chilled . When he found out I was pregnant again , Ethan held me and wept with stunned joy - saying , through his tears , that finally we would have a family . We had both been orphans and longed for a proper home . And yet now , while the child he had so wanted screamed for breath , he didn't even look our way ' ' . Seeing my silence , Derek Lane stepped forward , as though to fill the breach . " Mrs. Sterling - if I may - Miss Quinn is blameless . She's a pure girl . She took a risk to save Mr. Sterling from a poisoned needle . If our people hadn't arrived when they did , who knows what would have happened to her . " He swallowed his respect and continued , loud enough for the room to hear . " We all saw how she Chapter2 22.22 % Wanna watch the rest of " Office Girl " ? Download Drama Pops and watch the re .... Download saved him . We call you ' Mrs. , ' but you and Mr. Sterling aren't legally married . The title of ' Mrs. Sterling ' isn't yours alone . " " Shut up ! " Ethan snapped , cutting him off . " Vivian Hart is my wife . Don't say that again ' . " His voice hardened to steel . " As for Sloane -I'll protect her and her child for life . " He pulled Sloane into his arms with an almost fussy tenderness , his face soft with indulgence . The sight felt like someone thrusting my heart into an open flame ; pain shot through my limbs . Others might not have known the full story , but Ethan did . He had run with dangerous circles for years ; the reason they hadn't registered their marriage was to shield me . Still , I had not been spared the carnage . Five years earlier , when I was carrying our first child , Ethan had been kidnapped - nearly killed- by his enemies . I had stormed into the den alone , a pregnant woman moving into a nest of vipers , trading my life for his . By the time his men arrived , I had been tortured to the brink of death ; blood soaked my lower clothes and the child I carried was gone . Ethan had placed a memorial marker for that unborn baby and , with red - rimmed eyes , vowed to cut ties with the underworld . He dismantled his gray enterprises and spent five years clawing his way into Northbridge City high society . Everyone said I was lucky ; they didn't see the blood and tears behind that façade . I parted my lips to speak and only a hollow , bitter smile escaped me . Sloane seemed startled by that smile . Tears broke free and cascaded down her cheeks . " Derek , please , don ' t say any more . I don ' t deserve this , for me or my baby . I'll go right now . I'll leave him and disappear from Mr. Sterling ' s life ' ' " ' " She ran from the room in a tangle of sobs . Ethan bolted after her and swept her up without regard for anything else , pressing his lips to her tear - slick cheek . " Don't be ridiculous . The child in your belly is mine , too . Whether it stays or not is my decision . " He turned then , his gaze sharp with reproach . Chapter2 22.22 % Wanna watch the rest of " Office Girl " ? Download Drama Pops and watch the re ... Download " Vivian , calm down . Don't make this a stunt . " The ward felt suddenly vast and empty .