Page 90 of Velvet Chains
I lean forward, suddenly intrigued. “Really? What was he like as a kid?”
Nadia’s expression turns wistful, tinged with sadness. “He was good boy. Smart, strong. But very sad after his mama…” She trails off, her eyes glistening.
I feel a pang in my chest, a sudden need to know more. “What happened to his mother?”
Nadia sighs, shaking her head. “Accident. When Master Victor was nine. Very tragic.”
I swallow hard, my throat tight. “I’m so sorry. That must have been awful for him.”
She nods, wringing her hands. “He miss her very much. But we not talk about it. Too painful.”
I can only imagine. Losing a parent at such a young age, having to grow up in this world without a mother’s love and guidance…
No wonder Victor is the way he is.
I’m about to ask more when a wave of nausea hits me like a freight train. I clap a hand over my mouth, bolting from the stool and making a beeline for the nearest bathroom.
I barely make it to the toilet before I’m hurling my guts out, the tea and toast making a reappearance. I groan, resting my forehead against the cool porcelain.
Fuck. This… is not food poisoning…
I take a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart. With shaky hands, I clean myself up, splashing cold water on my face and rinsing the bitter taste from my mouth.
As I step out of the bathroom, I nearly collide with Nadia, who’s waiting just outside the door. Her kind face is etched with concern, her brows knitted together.
“Are you okay, Madam Laura?” she asks, her voice soft.
I force a smile, nodding. “I’m okay, Nadia. Just… just a bit of food poisoning, I think.”
Nadia’s eyes twinkle with a knowing gleam, her lips twitching into a barely suppressed smirk. She knows. Of course, she fucking knows. She’s probably seen this a million times before.
“I make soup for you. I bring to your room. Good for… food poisoning,” she says, her tone laced with a hint of mischief.
I can only nod, my cheeks burning with embarrassment. “Thank you, Nadia. That would be great.”
She gives me a wink, then turns and heads back to the kitchen, leaving me to make my way upstairs on wobbly legs.
Once I’m safely in my room, I lock the door behind me, leaning against it for a moment to catch my breath.
Victor is gone.
I check my phone, my heart sinking as I read his message.
Won’t be back tonight. Don’t wait up.
Wow, okay. Way to be a supportive husband. Really feeling the love here.
I toss my phone onto the bed, running a hand through my hair.
Right, because it’s not like I might need you or anything. Not like I might be carrying your fucking child.
But maybe it’s better this way. At least now I can find out for sure without worrying about him walking in on me mid-pee.
My eyes dart to my purse, where the pregnancy tests are hidden like some sort of ticking time bomb.
Come on, Laur. You can do this. Just pee on the stick and get it over with.
With trembling fingers, I fish out one of the tests, staring at it like it might bite me. I take a deep breath, then another, trying to work up the courage to just fucking do it already.
