He Does Not Deserve My Devotion-Chapter 12: The Child is Gone

Seeing someone enter the room, Nina Walsh flinched like a startled bird, her eyes wide with terror.

Aiden Sinclair’s gaze darkened.

"Nina, don’t move."

Declan Grant held Nina Walsh’s hand down, securing the IV needle, before turning to the man who had entered. "Sir, who are you? This is a private room."

Aiden Sinclair glanced at Declan Grant, pushed him aside, and walked to Nina Walsh’s bedside, demanding, "What child?"

Looking at his condescending expression, Nina Walsh didn’t know where she found the strength, but she shrieked hysterically, "Aiden Sinclair, my child is gone! You killed your own child with your own hands. Are you satisfied now?"

Aiden Sinclair froze, staring at her in shock.

Nina Walsh saw his look of disbelief and glared, roaring, "Aiden Sinclair, you were the one who forced me to give Clara Jacobs my blood, to donate a kidney to Clara Jacobs, to be her stand-in! You were the one who pushed me to a dead end, time and time again! I’ve paid for our grievances with a life. Is that enough?"

Aiden Sinclair was silent for two seconds. "Why didn’t you tell me?"

"Tell you? Would it have made any difference if I told you?" Nina Walsh retorted.

’Just think about everything he’s done to me lately. Wasn’t every single act a form of bone-deep, hateful revenge?’

’He doesn’t love me, and he doesn’t trust me. Even if I had told him I was pregnant, would he have believed me?’

Aiden Sinclair opened his mouth to reply, but his phone vibrated in his pocket. Clara Jacobs had called three times in a row.

He answered the call. "Aiden, Julian Sinclair is bullying me! Hurry up and come save me!"

Clara Jacobs’s voice was so loud and frantic that even Nina Walsh could hear it.

Aiden Sinclair hung up the phone, turned, and strode quickly out of the hospital room.

Nina Walsh watched Aiden Sinclair hurry away. Though her heart had already turned to ash, it couldn’t help but ache, and tears streamed uncontrollably down her face.

’I’m in this state, my baby is gone, and none of it can even earn me a moment of his concern.’

Nina Walsh had completely given up hope. All her years of humble devotion had only led to this. Aiden Sinclair truly was heartless.

...

After leaving the hospital, Aiden Sinclair immediately drove back to Lividia Villa. Just as his car passed through the gates, he saw Julian Sinclair forcing Clara Jacobs to drink, surrounded by a crowd of onlookers.

Old Master Sinclair, Russell Sinclair, had a second spring in his sixties, taking a mistress younger than his own son. The following year, this mistress gave birth to Julian Sinclair. When Julian was a month old, Russell brought the child home and threw a grand banquet, showing just how much he doted on this son.

By generation, Julian Sinclair was Aiden Sinclair’s blood uncle, but at twenty-eight, he was only a year older than Aiden.

Having a son in his old age, and with Julian’s mother dying young, Old Master Sinclair’s favoritism toward Julian was immense.

Unlike Aiden Sinclair, who struck out on his own to build the Aethel Group, Julian Sinclair was taken under Old Master Sinclair’s wing as soon as he came of age and had been managing the Sinclair Group for many years now.

"Aiden..." Clara Jacobs cried out for help the moment she saw him.

Julian Sinclair looked up and chuckled. "My dear nephew is back? Your girlfriend should call me ’uncle’ too, by rights. It’s not too much to ask her to toast me with a drink, is it?"

Aiden Sinclair glanced at the large, full glass of liquor in Clara Jacobs’s hand and said to her, "Go back to your room."

"Okay." As if granted a pardon, Clara Jacobs put down the glass and returned to her room.

Everyone present knew that Julian Sinclair and Aiden Sinclair were amicable on the surface but not in their hearts. When elephants fight, the grass gets trampled. And so, one by one, they retreated.

Julian Sinclair, not yet having had his fill of fun, said, "Why is everyone leaving? Weren’t we having a party?"

Julian Sinclair glanced at Clara Jacobs heading upstairs and said pointedly, "I heard you were hiding a beauty away here. I was wondering who it could be. My dear nephew, you truly disappoint me."

He crossed his legs, raising an eyebrow disdainfully. "The same flavor for six years. Don’t you get tired of it?"

Aiden Sinclair picked up the full glass of liquor, shoved it violently against Julian Sinclair’s mouth, and tilted it back, forcing the contents down his throat. Unable to swallow fast enough, Julian was splashed all over the face with alcohol and grew furious.

"It’s a rare occasion for you to visit, Uncle. Drink up. Otherwise, you’ll go crying and tattling to Grandfather again."

Not one to back down, Julian Sinclair retorted, "You’re right, we should have a good drink. Aiden, I heard the Sherman Group snatched the Breyven project from you. What happened? Didn’t you boast to your grandfather before the New Year that Aethel’s performance would double this year? How is it you can’t even beat the Sherman Group now?"

Julian Sinclair was playing dumb, deliberately kicking Aiden when he was down.

Aiden Sinclair just smiled. "Did you think Aethel only had one project? Go check the news when you get back, Uncle. Aethel has secured the development rights for Selene Isle."

Julian Sinclair’s face stiffened. ’Aren’t the bids for Selene Isle supposed to be next year? How did Aiden get it ahead of schedule?’

’Was Breyven just a smokescreen? Was Selene Isle what Aiden was truly after all along?’

The realization hit Julian Sinclair, and his expression turned ugly. He could no longer sit still, and after making an excuse, he scurried away.

Aiden Sinclair put down his glass. His phone vibrated. It was a call from the bodyguards he had sent to the hospital.

"Mr. Sinclair, she was already gone when we arrived at the hospital. We’ve searched everywhere but can’t find her."

Aiden Sinclair paused for a second, phone in hand. "Send me her medical records."

A few minutes later, Nina Walsh’s medical report was sent to his phone.

"6 weeks pregnant, miscarriage due to excessive blood loss," was written as the first item on the diagnostic report.

Aiden Sinclair stared at his phone, then with a tap of his finger, deleted the medical record.

...

「Half a month later.」

That evening, Brian Sherman and his family of three were having dinner at home when the doorbell suddenly rang. A moment later, Nina Walsh walked in.

The Shermans had varied expressions upon seeing Nina Walsh.

Brian Sherman’s face was long and sullen. Wendy Sherman pointed a finger at Nina’s nose and lunged forward to strike her. "You have the nerve to come back?"

After the two slaps she’d received last time, her face had been swollen for days.

Nina Walsh didn’t dodge. Just as the slap was about to land, Declan Grant suddenly appeared behind her and grabbed Wendy Sherman’s hand.

Wendy Sherman immediately panicked, awkwardly stepping aside.

Brian Sherman was the first to react, his face breaking into a wide smile. "Declan, what brings you here?"

Declan Grant took in the stark contrast between how Brian Sherman treated Nina and how he treated him. He lifted the suitcase in his hand and explained, "I ran into Nina on the road and gave her a ride home. Nina, where is your room? I’ll help you take your luggage in."

Nina Walsh looked up at Brian Sherman. "Father, where is my room?"

Brian Sherman looked embarrassed.

Fifteen years ago, the day after Nina Walsh and her mother, Rose Walsh, were kicked out of this villa, Wendy Sherman took over her room and all her things. How could there still be a room for her?

However, Wendy Sherman wanted to marry Declan Grant, so she had to maintain the Sheridan Family’s reputation in front of him and pretend they were a harmonious family.

Sure enough, Hayley Vance came forward with a beaming smile and took Nina Walsh’s hand. "Nina, it’s so good to have you home. Your father has been talking about you constantly."

Compared to Wendy Sherman, her mother’s acting was clearly a cut above.

Hayley Vance then reached for the suitcase in Declan Grant’s hand. "Declan, why don’t you have some tea with your Uncle Sherman? I’ll take Nina’s things in for her."

"No need. The luggage is heavy, it would be inconvenient for you to take it upstairs. I should do it."

With that one sentence, Declan Grant had secured a room for Nina Walsh upstairs.

Hayley Vance had no choice but to lead them upstairs and pick out the largest guest room for her.

"Declan, it’s rare for you to visit. Have you eaten? Why don’t you have dinner here?" Hayley Vance invited warmly.

"I’d love to. It’s been a long time since I’ve tasted your cooking, Ms. Vance," Declan Grant readily agreed.

Beaming, Hayley Vance went downstairs to make arrangements.

Once she was gone, Declan Grant finally said to Nina Walsh, "Nina, you know, you could have just stayed at my place."