Lines bracketed her mouth. “Surgical procedures. Injections. Burning chemical treatments. I don’t even know everything that was done, only that the pain was intolerable.” She closed her eyes, her lashes standing out against the pallor of her skin.
Darius put his arm around her and drew her close, absorbing the tremors that passed through her. “I can’t imagine the terror you must have felt.”
She nodded. “Twice afterward I was left alone in a basement cell for over a week with no relief from the pain, not even an aspirin, and very little food.”
His eyes smarted as he tightened his arm around her. How could anyone treat another human being so cruelly? And the perpetrator was a doctor, no less. Someone who was supposed to protect and heal. “All this happened while you were pregnant?”
She nodded again. “I thought I would miscarry from everything I’d been through, but somehow I didn’t.” Tears slid down her cheeks.
He wanted to weep for her suffering. Instead, he offered her a handkerchief. “I’m so sorry, Olivia. I can hardly believe you came out alive.”
“A few times, I thought I was going to die. I actually prayed that I would. But then I realized that if I did, my baby would die too. So I had no choice but to endure it.” A shudder went through her. “For a few minutes after Matteo was born, every bit of suffering seemed worth it—just to hold my baby at last.” A hint of a smile trembled on her lips. “But then he was taken from me without my consent, and suddenly nothing mattered anymore.” She blew her nose and moved away from his shoulder. “I’ve never told anyone what happened to me in there, not even Dr. Henshaw. I’m telling you now because . . .” She drew in a ragged breath. “I don’t think I’ll be able to have any more children as a result of what was done to me.” She raised her eyes to his. “You have the right to know that.”
Her words hit him like a fist to the gut. He ran a hand over his jaw, attempting to sort through his emotions before he spoke. This was far too important to say the wrong thing. “I appreciate the courage it took to tell me this,” he said carefully. “But if you think it’s made me reconsider my feelings for you, it’s done just the opposite. I admire you even more.”
Olivia shook her head. Fat tears leaked from the corners of her eyes. “You deserve a wife who’s not broken. One who can give you more children. Brothers and sisters for Sofia.”
He took her hand in his, trying to calm his frantic heartbeat and think logically.
He recalled her near hysteria at the hospital after her head injury, and it all made so much sense now. Her fear was real, something that could never be trivialized, and he struggled to find the right words to convey his thoughts. “There are other ways to have children, Olivia. Ones we can explore together.”
She’d wanted to adopt Abigail, but would she even consider adoption again after losing her too?
The streetlight above them flickered twice, then the yellow glow steadied. Another car passed them with a whoosh, creating a gust of air that swirled the dust on the road.
“I realize that.” Olivia let out a sigh. “But I won’t let you sacrifice yourself on my account.”
“What if I don’t consider it a sacrifice?” Frustration curled through his chest.
She shook her head. “I’m just trying to save us both the inevitable pain.” Abruptly, she got up from the bench and began walking in the direction of the car.
“Olivia, wait.” He rushed after her and matched his stride to hers. “We can’t leave it this way.”
She kept going as though she hadn’t heard, slowing only when she reached the car. Then she yanked open the door and got in.
He raked a hand through his hair. What could he say to convince her that it didn’t matter to him? Instinctively, he knew that because her wounds ran so deep, no matter what he said right now, she wouldn’t believe him.
Slowly, he got in the driver’s side and closed the door. He sat in silence for a few seconds, gripping the steering wheel but not starting the engine. At last, he forced his shoulders to relax and turned to look at her. Her back was ramrod straight as she stared out the window.
“Thank you for trusting me with your story,” he said quietly. “But it doesn’t change anything for me. I’m not giving up; however, I will respect your wishes. For now.” His chest ached at the thought of backing away from her, even temporarily. Now that Olivia had reawakened his heart, he couldn’t imagine not having her in his life.
But if she felt that strongly, what could he do to change her mind?
For the present, all he could do was trust that God would work things out for their mutual good.
He drove the rest of the way back to Bennington Place in miserable silence, then parked the car and got out.
Olivia had already stepped onto the sidewalk. “You don’t need to walk me to the door.” Her eyes appeared hollow. Haunted. This decision was costing her as well. That thought brought him no real consolation.
“Good night, Darius.” Still not looking directly at him, she opened the gate and went through, closing the door with a solid clang.
Darius leaned against the car, his shoulders sagging, and watched her climb the stairs to the front door. He would wait until she was safely inside and try not to think about how differently he’d planned the end of this evening.
A loud shriek pierced the night air.
Darius sprang away from the car. In two strides, he was inside the gate. “Olivia, are you okay?”
A shadow moved on the porch, and a tall, stout man stepped forward, his gaze focused on Olivia. “Well, hello. Aren’t you a pretty thing?”
Darius bounded up the steps to her side, adrenaline flooding
