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ChapterFourteen
THALIA
Daddy?
What the fuck. Is she . . .?
I blink, my gaze moving from the woman in front of me to Theo who has fallen to his knees.
No. No. No. No.
“No,” I choke out as I drop down beside Theo.
“Oh yes. Theo is going to be a daddy and before you try to say it isn’t yoursdarling,I have the paperwork with estimated date of conception. It was February in case you are wondering.” Melody winks with a smile.
“What is going on? And call my daughter that word again and you will see who you are dealing with.” My eyes snap up, landing on my father, his jaw clenched as he grits out the words. For a minute I forgot my parents were here. It wasn’t supposed to go like this. Theo and I were supposed to come out and ride off to Europe, literally, as a couple. We clearly underestimated Melody. The lengths she will go to.
I shift my gaze back to Melody as she speaks with a protective hand on her rounded stomach. There is definitely a bump there. Although small, I see it clearly. With her free hand she taps her lip as if in thought. “What’s going on, Mr. Maxwell, is that I just won the war. You see, you’re not so innocent daughter thought she could claimmyman. She was a little naïve, though I can’t blame her. When Theo gives you his attention you tend to get blinded. He has been sleeping with us both and now I’m having his baby.”
“No,” Theo chokes out making my gaze shift to him. My heart breaks in my chest at the look on his face as he remembers the night it happened. He didn’t sleep with her. She drugged and assaulted him.
“Yes,” she cackles with a clap of her hands like she just won the world’s biggest prize. And I guess, in a way, she has. “Now I will leave you to clean up your mess, whilst I go and get situated inourbedroom.” She turns on her heel and leaves the room.
A hand wraps around my bicep. I look up to find my father with pity in his eyes. “Thalia, come. We’re leaving.”
I try to wrestle myself out of his grip. “No, daddy.”
He sighs. “Sweetheart, he’s having a baby with another woman. You can’t stay here, no matter how much you want to.”
That snaps Theo out of whatever trance he was in. “It might not be mine,” he croaks weakly, but I don’t miss the hope in his voice.
“My daughter does not need to be in the middle of this. She should be dating boys her own age without all this drama. I may have been willing to accept this before.” He waves between us. “But not now. I am so sorry princess, but we need to make arrangements for you to train elsewhere. You can’t stay here. I won’t have you around this toxicity.”
Panic courses through me, and I look to my mama for help. Any help. She stares at me with glassy eyes and a face full of resignation. She knows my father won’t stop until he gets me away from Theo. He may have come around to the idea of us eventually, but not now that Melody and a baby are involved.
“Piccola?” Theo whispers. The same look I saw on my mama’s face I see in Theo’s eyes. I can’t do this. I love him but I won’t be the person that comes between him and his child, even if he doesn’t want this. Even if the baby is a result of something disgusting like him being assaulted. I know he will be there for it. It’s who he is and as much as it will kill me to walk away from him, I would never make him choose. Every child needs a father, and I can’t compete with his blood. I don’t want to. “We can work this out. I can’t—Iwon’tlose you.”
I smile even though I feel like I’m dying. “I need to go, Piccolo. We can talk when you’re a little less in shock and have spoken with Melody.”
He shakes his head, his hand wrapping around my wrist. “No. I need you, Thalia. You...” he chokes. “You’re mine.”
I press my lips to his forehead and climb to my feet. Without answering, my parents and I leave. With every step I take away from him, my heart breaks further and for some reason, this feels like the end.
Whatever I thought would happen today, never in my wildest dreams did I imagine this. Theo and I thought we were winning, but we got complacent, ahead of ourselves. It was all a fantasy.
Melody had the trump card all along.
It’s been three days since we told my parents. Three days since Melody told us her news. My parents haven’t left my side. I’m in a constant state of shock and heartbreak. I thought I was dying when Theo humiliated me and ended things in front of Melody. But that was nothing compared to what I’m feeling now. There are no words to describe this pain. I think being eaten alive by the crocodiles and alligators in the everglades would hurt less than this.
I may sound dramatic but it’s the truth. I’m past the point of pain and hit the neurogenic shock stage. I cry. I vomit. I’m restless. I’m anxious.
I just want to feel numb.
Theo has messaged me several times, but I haven’t replied. I can’t. I don’t know what to say. And nothing I do or say will make things better. From the tone of his messages, he’s feeling the same. He has promised to make things right, promised we will be together.
I don’t believe him.
Not now.
