Page 93 of The Contract Marriage

She flushes and waves a hand. “You go ahead, but I can’t have any.”

“Why not—” I suddenly stop breathing. Even my heart feels like it stops.

“Liam… I’m pregnant.”

The soft announcement drops like a hammer. I suck in a breath. The terms of our marriage haunt me: it ends six months after she has her first baby. At the time I signed the contract, there seemed to be plenty of time to change her mind. However, now that she’s actually pregnant, I realize I only have fourteen months or so to convince her to stay.

Icy panic and anxiety run sharp talons down my back. An urge to beg her to reconsider—that I’ll be a great husband and amazing father to our children—swells, but I manage to push it down. Olivia didn’t choose her path on a whim, and she won’t change her mind just because I ask. She’ll need to be convinced that I’m worthy.

Fourteen months… You can do it.

But alarm isn’t my only emotion. No matter what happens, I’m happy Olivia’s pregnant with our baby. I should focus on sharing the joy of the moment, rather than dreading what might happen months from now. She should look back and only remember how blessed and lucky we were to have a baby together.

I smile. “Our baby.”

She nods, her chin wobbling.

I hug her and spin her around. “This is amazing. Now I get to hold the two most important people in my life in my arms.”

Her eyes shine as she looks up at me. “Thank you, Liam.”

“Thank you. You couldn’t have made me a happier man.” She wants the baby for reasons other than love, but that’s okay. It’s all love on my end. I’m going to pour all my affection on the child so they’ll always know they’re loved—that they have Daddy in their corner forever.

“Okay, you sit here. Let me get something so we can celebrate properly.” I place her gently at the counter and grab two glasses of blood orange juice.

Then once I’m back, I scoop up a generous portion of tarte tatin on my fork and bring it to her mouth. She takes it, and I give myself another bite as well. The caramelized apples coat my tongue, the taste now even sweeter because I’m sharing the moment with my pregnant wife. I quickly pick up another forkful and move it toward her mouth.

“You know I can feed myself, right?”

“This one’s for the baby.” I look at her flat belly. “Daddy loves you, yes he does,” I coo.

She laughs. “Mom would’ve loved you,” she whispers softly. Her eyes grow tender as she looks at me.

My heart hammers. This almost feels like a love confession. I place a soft kiss between her eyebrows. “Well, I love her for gifting the world with you.”

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Olivia

I love her for gifting the world with you.

Liam’s words from last night play in my head over and over again. His voice earnest and raw, and his eyes bright, he spoke them as though my presence is what makes the world beautiful.

I hope he’ll always feel that way, but I’m not sure if he’ll still have affection for me after witnessing how far I’m going to go with my revenge. But I have to make sure Hugh and his family pay for what they did to Mom…and also ensure they never get back up. Give them even the slightest opening and they won’t just lash out at me but at the baby. After all, they always seem to know where I’m most vulnerable, and now…the baby is it.

Kick them in the balls if that’s what it takes. Nothing’s off the table, especially now.

I lay my hand over my belly. Baby, I won’t lose you like I lost Mom and Pochi.

“By the way, there’s something I should tell you,” I say.

He gives me a hesitant look. “What?”

“Tyler came by. He was upset to discover that Brielle isn’t the rich heiress he assumed her to be.”

Liam’s eyebrows snap together, and he tenses. “Did he hurt you?”

“He was dragged away by security before he could do anything.”