Page 69 of Secret Heir

The word freezes me in place. Pregnancy. He said it. He knows.

I shake my head, not wanting to confirm it. “I’m not pregnant.”

“I have three children of my own,” he continues. “I recognize the signs. The pallor. The exhaustion.” His eyes meet mine, and my stomach seizes at the depthless void in them. “Congratulations. I’m sure Maksim is thrilled.”

I can’t do anything except stand there while he smiles that terrible smile.

“Excuse me,” I finally manage. “I really need to get Daniel inside.”

I flee—there’s no other word for it. I grab Daniel’s hand and practically drag him toward the house, even though Daniel protests. My heart pounds so hard I’m sure Alexander can hear it.

He knows. He knows I’m pregnant. And now I’m not just worried about myself. I’m worried about the life growing inside me.

Maksim confronts me that evening after Daniel is in bed.

“Alexander mentioned you were rude to him this afternoon.” His voice is cold as he closes the bedroom door behind him and leans against the wall, arms folded across his broad chest. “Care to explain?”

I grit my teeth. Of course that fucking bastard said that to Maksim.

“I wasn’t rude.” I’m sitting on the edge of the bed, exhaustion weighing me down. “I just didn’t want to talk to him.”

“You practically ran away from him.” Maksim raises a brow. “What’s going on, Aria?”

“Nothing’s going on.” But my voice wavers.

“Bullshit.” He takes several steps toward me and I stiffen. “You’ve been acting strangely around Alexander and now you’re pregnant and even more paranoid. What is it about him specifically that terrifies you?”

“He makes me uncomfortable.” I stand, needing to move, needing to not feel so cornered. “I don’t want him around while I’m pregnant or around Daniel.”

“This shit again?” Maksim’s angry. “We’ve been through this. Alexander is Nikolai’s most trusted man. You can’t just⁠—”

“He knows I’m pregnant,” I say loudly, cutting Maksim off. “He figured it out today. He said pregnancy can be so delicate, like he was—like he was threatening⁠—”

“Threatening?” Maksim stares at me in disbelief before throwing his hands up in irritation. “Oh for fuck’s sakes, Aria. He was congratulating you. That’s what people do when someone is pregnant. They offer congratulations.”

“It wasn’t congratulations,” I snap, irritated he’s treating me like I’m an idiot. “It was—” I stop, because how do I explain the look in his eyes and the feeling of being hunted?

“It was what?” Maksim’s patience is clearly wearing thin by the way his jaw ticks. “You’re once again being paranoid.”

“I’m not paranoid!” I shout, sick of Maksim making these cutting remarks. “There’s something wrong with him! He’s dangerous! Why won’t you believe me?”

“Because you won’t give me a reason to!” he shouts back. “You say he makes you uncomfortable, but you won’t say why. Of course he’s dangerous, Aria. He’s part of the fucking Bratva. You want me to exclude one of my brother’s closest advisors based on nothing but your feelings!”

“My feelings should be enough!” To my horror, I start crying. “I’m pregnant with your child! I’m the mother of your son! My feelings should matter!”

“They do matter.” His voice drops. “But so do facts and evidence. And so does trust.” He gives me a cold smile. “Which you don’t trust me with any of it.”

“Because I can’t!” I nearly scream, my nails digging into my skin.

“Why not?” he snarls. “What are you so afraid of, Aria? What do you think will happen if you tell me the truth?”

Because I don’t know if he was involved in whatever Alexander is planning.

“I can’t,” I whisper.

Maksim’s face closes off. “Then we have nothing more to discuss.” He turns away from me. “Alexander will continue to visit this house. He will continue to be part of our lives. And you will be civil to him. Understand?”

I refuse to answer.