The assistant hesitated. "Mr. Sanchez, it's all been arranged. But the medication Miss Henson's been taking... should we continue? She's already lost almost all her fertility. If she keeps taking it, there's no telling what other damage it could cause."
Ivor paused. When he spoke again, his voice had dropped even lower.
"Keep her on it. The only thing that matters right now is protecting this baby."
"Nellie stayed by my brother's side for years, all for my sake. All she ever wanted was this child. But those years took a toll on her body, and she can't carry one herself."
"If the baby can come from Jocelyn, it fulfills both their wishes. Everyone gets what they want."
"But what if Miss Henson finds out the truth? What if she makes a scene?"
Ivor's tone was absolute.
"Jocelyn cut ties with the Henson family to be with me. Without me, where would she even go?"
"She's carrying Nellie's child for me. I won't treat her badly for it. Nellie can never be seen in public anyway. The title of Mrs. Sanchez will always belong to Jocelyn. Once this is over, I'll make it up to her."
Jocelyn stood frozen in the hallway, the blood in her veins turning to ice.
The woman Ivor was talking about was Nellie Harding.
Rumors had always swirled that Nellie was Ivor's first love. After her family's ruin, she'd ended up in the red-light district before finding her way to the eldest Sanchez son.
Jocelyn lowered her gaze to the soup she was holding. A thin film of grease had congealed across the surface, cloudy and still. The joy that had filled her chest curdled into a nausea so violent she could barely breathe.
Hatred surged through her. She raised her hand to push the door open and demand answers. But the moment her fingers touched the handle, the study door swung inward.
Ivor saw her and blinked in surprise. His gaze drifted to the cold soup in her hands, and he smiled, a helpless, indulgent curve of his lips.
"Did Mom have the kitchen make you another one of those broths? If you don't want it, just pour it out. No one's going to force you."
His fingertips brushed her hand, and his brow furrowed instantly. "You're freezing. Are you feeling alright?"
Jocelyn looked at him, testing the waters.
"I don't want to take the medication anymore. It makes me nauseous every time."
Something flickered across Ivor's face. He pulled her into his arms, pressing his warm palm gently against her belly.