"Harper." I stopped her, voice so hoarse it was barely mine. "Please."
Harper's steps froze. This was probably the first time she'd heard me say that word.
Me, Kirill Orlov. I never begged anyone. Not kneeling by my parents' corpses. Not with enemy guns to my head. Not struggling to survive through hellish days—I'd never begged anyone.
But now I'd drop every shred of pride and dignity for her.
"You can hate me," I said, walking toward her step by step, voice low. "You can never forgive me. I know I'm a bastard. I know I hurt you. I know I don't deserve another chance from you. But..."
I paused, voice strained.
"Please. Give me one chance to talk. Just one. Hear me out. If you still don't believe me, I'll disappear from your life forever. I won't bother you and the child again."
Her back stiffened.
The word "child" was like a stone dropped into a still lake, rippling outward.
"You..." Her voice changed, trembling slightly. "You know?"
"I know," I said hoarsely. "Harper, I know you had a child. Our child."
Silence.
Long silence.
"So what?" Her voice was hard and cold, but her eyesreddened slightly. "What does knowing change now? You think knowing gives you any right to be that child's father?"
"I know I have no right. I know I missed everything. I wasn't there when you were pregnant. I wasn't there when you gave birth. I wasn't there when you needed someone most. I'm a bastard. I don't deserve to be anyone's father."
Her tears finally fell.
"But Harper," I took a step forward. "Whether I have the right or not, that child is my blood. I can't just watch something happen to him."
"Something?" She frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Julian Dante," I said, word by word. "He's not who you think he is. He targeted you from the start, planning to use you and the child against me. That nurse who got beaten—Julian had someone impersonate me. He wanted you to hate me completely so he could take you away."
Harper's face changed.
"You're lying."
"I'm not lying." I cut her off. "Harper, give me half an hour. Half an hour to explain, to show you proof. If you still think I'm lying, I'll leave immediately. You'll never see me again."
She stared at me, eyes complicated. I could see her hesitating.
"Half an hour," she finally said, voice still cold and hard, but I heard the slight give in it. "Then get lost."
My heart jumped.
"Thank you."
She didn't look at me again. Just turned and walked toward the street. I followed behind her, emotions churning.
This might be my last chance.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Harper
