Desired By Three Alphas; Fated To One - Chapter 260

Chapter 260: Giving Up
Hailee’s POV

“You have to control your emotions, Hailee,” the healer said. Her voice was calm, but I could tell she was worried. I let out a shaky breath and leaned back on the couch. Everything felt like a mess. My whole life was turning upside down. The only good thing was the little life growing inside me.

The healer looked at me. “What are you thinking?” she asked.

I didn’t know how to answer. What could I say? That I finally realized I loved Nathan, but now everything was ruined? That I was pregnant for Callum? That the healer said I must take Callum’s mark if I want the baby to live? My heart felt heavy.

“You have to bear the father’s mark, Hailee,” the healer said. “It is the only way to protect your child.”

“I will not,” I said fast. I didn’t even think.

The healer looked straight at me. “Then you have to prepare yourself for the worst.”

Before I could ask anything else, my phone started ringing. The sound made my heart jump. I looked at the screen and froze.

Peter.

My brother.

He didn’t know anything yet… but I needed to tell him.

I picked up slowly.

“Hailee,” Peter said in a strong voice, “my guards told me something is wrong. What is happening over there?”

My hands shook. “Peter… I’m pregnant.”

There was silence for a few long seconds.

“For Nathan?” he asked sharply.

“No,” I whispered. “For Callum.”

The silence felt even heavier. I knew Peter was angry. And disappointed.

Finally, he spoke. “Get ready. You are coming back home tomorrow.”

My heart dropped. “Peter—”

“The jet will pick you up in the morning,” he said. “We will talk when you get here.”

Then he ended the call.

Just like that.

I lowered the phone slowly and tried to breathe, but my chest hurt too much. The healer wanted to speak, but the door opened suddenly.

Nathan walked in.

He looked tired and hurt. His bandages were fresh, and he was trying to hide how much pain he was in. But the pain in his eyes was worse than the pain in his body.

“Are you okay?” he asked quietly.

“No,” I said. “I’m not.”

I stood up. My whole body was shaking. “Nathan… I need to tell you something.”

He looked at me carefully, but he didn’t speak.

“When you collapsed… when you pushed me away… when I saw you break down…” I whispered. “Something inside me broke too.”

His eyes softened a little, but he stayed silent.

“I realized something,” I said, my voice shaking. “I love you, Nathan. I do. Maybe I had feelings for Callum and Dane, but what I feel for you is different. It feels deeper… stronger… real. It scares me. It feels like something I can’t even explain.”

Nathan closed his eyes. His jaw tightened like he was fighting something inside him.

“Hailee,” he whispered, “why now?”

My heart stopped. “Nathan—”

“Why now?” he said again, his voice breaking. “Why tell me this now… when everything is falling apart?”

He took one shaky breath and stepped back from me.

“Why now,” he said softly, “when you have to take Callum’s mark?”

His words cut deep. I felt tears rise again. I wanted to reach for him, but he lifted his hand to stop me. His eyes were full of pain.

“Why tell me you love me now,” he whispered, “when loving me will destroy everything? When it might even hurt your own child?”

His voice cracked.

I breathed in, trying to talk, trying to explain—but the words wouldn’t come out. I stood there, shaking and heartbroken, not knowing what to say or do. Everything felt heavy and wrong, and I could not fix anything.

Nathan looked at me for a long time. His eyes were full of pain. Then he spoke.

“Yes,” he said quietly. “I love you, Hailee.”

My heart jumped.

“Yes, I want to be with you,” he added, “more than anything.”

A tear rolled down my cheek.

“But I can’t,” he whispered.

My breath stopped. “Why? Nathan, why?”

He shook his head and looked away for a moment, like it hurt to keep looking at me. When he looked back, his eyes were wet.

“I can’t risk your life,” he said. “I can’t be with you and watch you get weaker. I can’t love you and put your baby in danger.”

“It’s not—”

He cut me off gently.

“Hailee… I love you so much. Too much. And that is why I have to let you go.”

His words hit me like a punch.

“No,” I said quickly. “Nathan, please. There has to be another way. We can fix this. We can talk to the healer again. Maybe she missed something. Maybe we can—”

He stepped back, shaking his head.

“No, Hailee.”

“Nathan, please don’t say that,” I whispered, my voice cracking. “Don’t give up on us. Not now.”

He swallowed, hard. “You know me,” he said quietly. “If it were anything else—anything at all—I would never let you go.”

His voice shook like he was breaking inside.

“But this is your life,” he said. “And the life of an innocent child.”

I covered my mouth, trying not to cry too loudly.

“I won’t be a monster,” Nathan whispered. “I won’t keep you here and let you get hurt because of me. I won’t take you away from what your baby needs.”

“I don’t want Callum,” I sobbed. “I want you.”

He closed his eyes slowly, like my words physically hurt him.

When he opened them again, a single tear slid down his cheek.

“And I want you,” he said softly. “More than anything in this world.”

Then his voice broke completely.

“But wanting you doesn’t matter if it kills you.”

My whole body froze.

“I’m letting you go,” he whispered.

I shook my head fast, reaching out. “Nathan, please—please don’t walk away from me. Please—”

He stepped back.

Another step.

Then another.

“Be with Callum,” he said, his voice barely a breath. “Do it for your child. It’s the only way.”

“No,” I whispered. “Nathan—”

But he had already turned away.

I watched him walk toward the door, his shoulders shaking even though he tried to hide it.

My heart dropped.

“Nathan!” I cried, but my voice cracked.

He didn’t turn around.

Not even once.

He walked out of the room…

And the door closed softly behind him.