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Somewhere in another part of his brain he could picture Delphi in the bathroom of his New York apartment, staring down at a pregnancy test. He saw her confusion, her disbelief. And then what? Happiness? Relief? Panic?
He didn’t know. And not knowing was like a hammer-blow to the head. But, seriously, what did he know? He’d had no idea she’d even been trying for a baby. Or maybe she hadn’t. Delphi might have promised to love and cherish and honour him, but she had always disguised her feelings—held herself apart, held her past close.
Only now it appeared she had lied to him about the present too.
‘But it needn’t have been a shock.’ He gritted his teeth. ‘You could have told me about it when it happened.’
‘Actually, I couldn’t.’ Her voice sharpened. ‘Because you weren’t there.’
Not here...not there...not old enough...not ready for the responsibility. He’d heard it, or some version of it, so many times before.
‘So you decided to punish me by letting me find out now, here, in my father’s home, at his birthday party?’
‘You know that’s not what happened.’ Her face was flushed with anger. ‘You know I’d never do that.’
‘How? I don’t know anything about you. You’ve kept things hidden from me our entire marriage...lied to my face. I have no idea what you’re capable of.’
‘Maybe if you’d been around a little more you would know,’ she said shakily. ‘Look, I didn’t choose any of this. It was your decision to come after me and demand answers. Your decision to come to the hospital and then that bar. Your decision to blackmail me into coming to this party.’
He couldn’t keep the sneer from his voice. ‘And I thought you were here because you wanted to do the right thing.’
‘I did. I do. I’m doing all this for Rashid...for your father.’
‘You mean our lost baby’s grandfather?’
There was a fraction of a pause as her eyes widened. He waited for a reaction, but it didn’t come. Instead, ducking her chin, she moved again to step past him.
‘Where do you think you’re going?’ he asked quietly, blocking her. ‘You’re not leaving until we’re finished talking.’
But she had already turned and was walking away. Not waiting for him, ignoring him. Literally giving him the cold shoulder.
Blinking the red haze from his eyes, he caught up with her in four strides, stepping in front of her. ‘I am so done with chasing after you, Delphi.’
‘Then stop doing it,’ she hissed. ‘Look, I did what you asked. I came to Dubai as your wife, and I came to your father’s party. That’s it. I’m done.’
‘I’m not done. We need to talk.’
‘And you think this is the right time and place to do that?’
He glanced past her shoulder to where a group of guests had wandered out into the gardens and were now gazing admiringly at the fountains. It wasn’t. But, knowing Delphi as he did, it was unlikely there ever would be a right time or place.
He clenched his fists as a burst of music, inappropriately loud and celebratory, filled the warm evening air. The fireworks were next on the schedule. Soon the gardens would be filled with guests.
‘No, I suppose I don’t. And you’re right. You have done what I asked. So perhaps now is a good time to end this farce.’
There was a moment when her face relaxed. It was so brief that if he’d blinked, he would have missed it, but it was enough to make up his mind. Before she could react, his hand caught her elbow, and he began to frogmarch her along the path.
‘What are you doing?’
Once again, she was trying to shake free of his grip, but he didn’t release her. ‘You want to leave. We’re leaving,’ he said shortly.
He had to get her out of here fast before the guests outnumbered the palm trees. Before he lost his temper in a way that would rival the upcoming pyrotechnic display.
‘But the house is that way. Aren’t we going to say goodbye to your parents?’
‘You’re here to avert gossip, Delphi, remember. Not create more. I’m the host’s son and you are my wife. If we leave early, people will notice and talk.’
‘I don’t mind leaving alone,’ she said quickly.
