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Seeing the brothers argue with no attempt to drag Ivan back to get more info, I turn to go into the house.
Alone.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Isabella
Kieranturneddistantagainthis past week after the confrontation with Ivan, and sex now feels like he’s just trying to get off. Trying to get me pregnant.
I hate it.
I hate this.
All while I’m waiting for him to explain why he didn’t defend our marriage to Ivan.
I wake up alone, but spotting Kieran’s favorite watch and wallet on the dresser, I assume he’s in the basement gym. Watching him work out is not something I can handle at the moment. I snuck down there once. He works up a sweat, and the way his muscles glisten weakens me. I’m afraid I’ll agree to anything to hear him say the words I need to feel comfortable in this marriage.
Patricia is at the market. I know her routine by now, so I fire up the espresso maker on my own and go through my phone. There is a text about another study group in Manhattan.
Excitement sparks through me, but with Ivan coming here to kidnap me, I wonder if Kieran will put me on lockdown again. Before I can process another thought, something drops in front of me on the marble kitchen island.
I jump, seeing the pink plastic box, and my heart flies into my throat.
My birth control pills.
I spin around, and Kieran is standing there in all his sweaty glory, but he’s not smiling like he usually does when he finishes a workout.
“Care to explain this?” His voice is sharp and deadly.
I consider if he can be fooled that they are pills for something else. If they were in a bottle with no label, I could say they were for headaches or cramps. Birth control pills still come packed individually by day because pharma execs think women are too stupid to take one every day on their own.
The pack is open, too, which shows today’s pill sitting there. I usually take it after breakfast, so I didn’t go looking for it when I woke up. “Where did you find this?”
He lowers an eyebrow at me. “In your purse.”
“You went through my purse?”
“You’re my wife. That gives me permission to look anywhere I want.”
“But why did you go into my purse?” I fold my arms, stalling to think of an excuse.
“To go through your phone,” he announces proudly. While I’m gasping, he adds, “To see if Ivan contacted you.”
“Don’t you think Balor would tell you?”
“Don’t change the subject.” He presses the plastic lid with a thick finger, cracking it. “Why are you on birth control? I asked you specifically if you were.”
I bite my lower lip. “You asked me with a double negative. I technically didn’t lie.”
“That’s shitty, Isabella.” He runs a hand through his wet hair. “And a betrayal either way. You know I want you pregnant.”
“What about what I want?” I arch my back, standing up to him. “I want to finish school. I’m only twenty-one.”
“I bought you from your father because I needed a wife to give me an heir.” He approaches me, darkness in his eyes. “That was the deal. You saidI doin that courthouse. You’ve been letting me take you without force. I told you what I wanted from you, and you lied to me.” He grabs my face.
I hold still, taking the pain. Showing him I can handle it. I have to stand up for the things I want so he’ll respect me. Our eyes sear together, but he blinks first and lets go.
Swearing Gaelic curses under his breath, he paces in the kitchen. Finally, he looks up, shaking his head. “Isabella, do you even really want to be married to me and have my children? I’ll let you go right now if you don’t.”
