I want to say a huge thank you to all of the readers! This book has finally made it to a hundred thousand reads I'm genuinely in shock at how far it's come. So to everyone who waits patiently and has been reading this book ever since I first released it, thank you so so much!
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The fresh born baby cooed contently as she lay on her father's chest, skin to skin is what Polly had called it. Francis wasn't here to lull the child to sleep nor cuddle with it as it cried, so Thomas had to take those roles on.
Illyana had her mother's deep brown hair but the rest of her was Thomas to the T, she had his blue eyes and pouty lips to finish her face.
It had only been a night since the birth, Thomas tried not to enter his bedroom, he didn't want to look at his sheets. Even though the blood had been cleaned from them, it was the mental image that stayed. Thomas was brought back from his dream world when the cries of the newborn bounced around the room.
"Alright little bird, come on" he stood slowly from his sitting position still holding Illyana tightly to his chest and began to rock side to side hoping to calm her.
A gentle knock sounded from outside his office. "Come in!" He called to whoever was outside, his attention still on the baby.
In walked Polly, her face still wet with tears and hands shaking, she hadn't changed from the previous night her dress still lagged in Frans blood. "She's awake, Tom. I bet this little one's hungry let's go and get her fed, shall we?" Thomas stayed quiet as Polly took the baby from his arms.
She began to walk but quickly paused and turned to look back at Tommy expectantly. "She's alive, Tom. Fevers still not broken but this baby needs food. Now, are you coming to see your wife or not?"
Thomas let out a nervous sigh but still decided to follow her into the guest bedroom.
When they entered it the room was quiet, even Arthur was quiet which was a shock to the whole family. Thomas let his eyes venture around the room until finally they landed on a very awake very furious looking Francis Shelby.
"I'd like a moment with my husband... please" she spoke with a tired groggy voice.
Polly walked over to Francis and handed her the baby before placing a gentle kiss to her forehead and exiting the room, making sure to shoot Thomas a deadly glare upon exit.
Francis brought the babe up to her breast and in an instant her squalling stopped. "You left me... you left me to die." She said not taking her eyes off of the baby once.
Thomas shifted nervously "I was afraid- and I don't ever get afraid" he paced back and forth in the room.
Her eyes narrowed "what and you think I wasn't? You knew how scared I was to have her! I told you I thought I was going to die- and you left me!" Tears streamed down her flushed face.
