" Yes ! Yes , Mr. Nordling , she did ! " The world went blank . Damian stared at the hairpin , the one he had given her so long ago , and staggered back a step . How could this be ? This was her most treasured possession . She only ever wore it on the most important occasions . Why would she return it ? She must be blaming him for not defending her that day . He fumbled for his phone , his hands shaking , and called her . It went straight to voicemail . He tried again . Voicemail . He grew more frantic , calling her mother's number next , only to find it disconnected . With a cry of frustration , he hurled his phone against a glass window . Was she really giving up on him , just because he was engag- ed to someone else ? But she was carrying his child . What mother would want her child to be born without a father ? He had promi- sed he would never abandon them . Wasn't that enough ? His secretary , hearing the commotion , rushed over . " Mr. Nordling , today is a very important occasion . You must maintain your com- posure . " Damian was breathing heavily . Lena was gone . He couldn't care less about composure . He was consumed by guilt . He had taken her for granted , neglected her completely . After a moment , he spoke , his voice ice . " Get back to the villa immediately . And book me a ticket to Seacliff Harbor . The earliest and fastest one you can find . " 6 Damian left Seraphina and the guests without a word and raced back to the villa . " Where is she ? " he demanded of the housekeeper the moment he walked in . " Where is my wife ? " The housekeeper looked confused . " Your wife ? Miss Vance ? She isn't here , sir . Isn't she at the engagement party with you ? " Every one knew Damian had purchased a new mansion where he would live with his new wife . " I'm talking about Lena ! " he roared . The housekeeper flinched . Miss Reed ? 1 ... I haven't seen her . " 1157 Chapter 2 11-57 Miss Reed ? The title sent a surge of anger through him . Yes , since moving here , everyone - the staff , his secretary , even his own mother had called her Miss Reed . It was polite , but it also drew a clear line between them . She had come to the Nordling family as his wife . Back in the village , he had wanted to marry her since they were children . The day he finally did , he had wanted to shout it from the rooftops . But what had he done since ? He had let them all call her Miss Reed . He had never acknowledged her as his wife . And Lena ... she had just smiled that sad smile and accepted it . He stormed upstairs to their bedroom . It was empty . More than empty - it was scrubbed clean of any trace of her . The expensive skincare products and designer clothes he'd bought her were untouched . All she had taken were the simple things she had brought with her . His temples throbbed . He had to get to the village . Now . As he rushed out , the housekeeper asked worriedly , " Mr. Nordling , is Miss Reed in her room ? " The question was the final spark . " Don't call her Miss Reed again ! " he bellowed . " From now on , you will call her Mrs. Nordling ! " On the boat , Damian was a wreck . The thought of Lena , pregnant and alone , was like a thousand ants crawling under his skin . He had been so sure she would never leave him that he'd let everyone , including himself , completely ignore her . He ran to her mother's house , but the gate was locked , the yard dark . After knocking for what felt like an eternity , a neighbor pass- ed by . " Liam ? Is that really you ? " " We didn't see you a few days ago , when Lena's mom passed away ... " " What ? " Damian stared , his eyes wide with disbelief . The neighbor slapped his forehead . " Oh , right , you're not Liam anymore . You're a ... what's the name again ? " " What did you just say ? " Damian grabbed the man's arm . " Who passed away ? " " You didn't know ? Lena's mom died . Just a few days ago . " The image of Lena at the party flashed in his mind . The hollow eyes , the small pin on her chest . It wasn't a brooch . It was a mourn- ing ribbon . Damian's face went white . He stood frozen , a puppet with its strings cut . No wonder . No wonder she had been at the village . The woman who had treated him like her own son was dead . And he had known nothing . He collapsed against the wall , covering his face with his hands , and wept without a sound . He understood now . Lena wasn't here . She was gone . 7 As the ferry cut through the waves towards Driftwood Isle , a large sum of money appeared in my bank account . I counted the zeros , marveling at the Nordling matriarch's generosity . She had been blunt during our negotiation , telling me she would never like . me or my child . But her beliefs forbade her from harming a life . Me leaving with the baby was , for her , the best possible outcome . I had only one suitcase . I was sweating from the effort of carrying it , but I felt freer than I ever had before , My baby was ecstatic . " Yay ! Mommy and I are going to be free ! " I touched my stomach , a flicker of doubt crossing my mind . Was this really the right choice for her ? She was a Nordling . If she stay- ed , she could have luxury brands named after her , receive an elite education , speak multiple languages before she was ten ... As if sensing my thoughts , she chimed in again . " No way ! I hate all those stuffy rich people rules ! I take after Mommy ! I love the 11-57 ; Chapter 2 ocean , and I love being free ! " I laughed out loud . It was as if she could read my mind . I took a deep breath and let the doubt wash away as the ferry sailed on . We docked the next morning . The island was sunny , the waves calm . " Mommy , Mommy , it's so pretty here ! I love it ! 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