Someone like her.
"What do you mean?"
"Smart. Hot. From a good family." He grins wider. "I mean, the pregnancy thing is weird, but whatever. We'll handle it."
My hands clench around the shirt I'm holding. "You'll handle it."
"Yeah. I mean, it's not ideal, but—" He shrugs. "It's not like I have to claim the kid as mine or anything. We can figure that out later."
That kid is mine. That's my child you're talking about.
But I can't say it. Can't do anything except stand here and listen to my son dismiss my baby like it's an inconvenience.
"Just be respectful," I say tightly. "Aurora's been through enough."
"Of course. I'm always respectful." He winks. "Especially to beautiful women."
You have no idea who she is. What she means.
"I'm going to check in with Viktor," I say, before I do something I'll regret.
I leave. Find Viktor in the hallway, already unpacking Sergei and Alexei's gear.
"I still can’t believe that's really her," he says quietly.
"Yeah."
"And you arranged for her to marry Leo."
"I didn't know it was her!" The words come out harsh. "I didn't know Luca's daughter was Aurora. Didn't know she was the woman from the club. I just—I thought I was helping Leo. Settling him down. Making a smart alliance."
"And instead, you sold the woman you're crazy about to your own son."
"Yes." I lean against the wall, scrub my hands over my face. "Yes, that's exactly what I did."
"Does she know? That you're the one who arranged this?"
"She knows."
"Is she—" Viktor pauses. "The baby. Is it yours?"
I meet his eyes. "Yes."
"Fuck."
"That seems to be everyone's response."
"Does Luca know?"
"No. And he can't. Not without destroying everything."
Viktor's quiet for a moment. "So, what are you going to do?"
I don't know. But that is why I agreed to this temporary move.
“Survive the month,” I say finally. “And figure it out from there.”
Dinner is torture.
