Page 32 of The Pakhan’s Hidden Heir

But my mind is running a million miles an hour as I rush down the stairs, round the corner, and turn up the hallway.

The study door is open a crack and I push through it without knocking. My heart is hammering, ready to explode with happiness at the thought of telling him it’s worked.

Bastian looks up from his desk with a pen in his hand and papers spread out in front of him. When his eyes meet mine, he sets the pen down and goes still.

“Bastian.” I cross to the desk and hold the test out toward him in both hands like an offering. “It’s positive. I’m pregnant. It’s faint, but it’s there. We did it.” I’m almost giddy with joy, expecting to see him explode in celebration or pull me in for a hug. But his reaction isn’t quite what I’m hoping for.

For a moment he doesn’t move at all. Then he takes the test from my hands and looks down at the faint pink line with an expression I can’t read at all.

He’s not showing any joy or happiness, no gratitude or warmth. I’ve seen this man be happy before, but this is so cold and stunted.

“Good,” he says, turning back to his paperwork. It feels like a slap in the face, especially after what a good afternoon we had. “I’ll call Dr. Nikitin this afternoon and schedule an appointment to confirm it.” He hands the test back to me and nods. “He’ll want you in this week for bloodwork and a scan. Thank you for telling me promptly.”

His hand is already moving back toward his pen, eyes already dropping to the papers in front of him. I stand there feeling instantly rejected.

“Right,” I say quietly, letting my shoulders sag. I knew he was a serious, distant man. I just didn’t think he was this detached. He should be happy. “Of course. The doctor. That’s smart.”

“You should rest,” he says, without looking up. “I’ll have dinner sent up to your room.”

“Okay.” I take a step back from the desk. “I’ll... yeah. I’ll let you get back to work.”

He nods, but he doesn’t look up, and he doesn’t watch me go.

It wasn’t at all the reaction I thought he’d have. I clutch the test in my hands, now feeling rejected and sad.

What is supposed to be the happiest moment of his life so far didn’t even get him to crack a smile.

I don’t know what happened, but something changed in him and it makes my heart sad.

Maybe he’s just weighed down by work now.

I just need to be patient and try a little harder.

He’ll come around, and when he does, I’m sure he will be thrilled that I’m having his child.

I hope it’s a boy.

I know that will make him smile.

11

BASTIAN

My men line the far wall of my office waiting on me after I called them in for this announcement.

It’s a good day for me, knowing my heir will be born in under a year and after that my future and the future of this organization is secure.

I’m not sure all of them will agree with me that this is something I should be focusing on right now, given the fact that someone threatened to take me out, but now is the only time we have.

When I take my place at the head of the room, all eyes focus on me and the chatter stops.

I don’t waste any time getting down to business. “The doctor confirmed the pregnancy this morning,” I tell them. “Raina is pregnant, gentlemen. That means sometime next spring you will all have one more family member to protect.”

There’s such pride in my chest as I announce it, but I keep my face in check.

After Akim’s warnings, my gut tells me there’s someone in this room who is very unhappy about my heir being born soon, someone who’d rather see me pass this family on to one of them, not a child with blood rights.

But for all my skimming and scanning of faces, I can’t seem to detect any unhappiness.