Page 69 of High Stakes

“You’re going to see me out on the streets?” she wails.

“Laurie, he’s loaded, ask him for money to get your own place.”

“He’s blocked all my cards,” she cries. “Said he knows I’ve not been faithful through the marriage so until we’ve seen lawyers, I can’t have a penny.”

“He can’t do that,” I mutter, “I’ll put you in touch with a great lawyer.”

“You have to let me stay, Aiden,” she says quietly.

“No, Laurie, it won’t help in your divorce if you’re shacked up with your ex. Plus, I don’t want to blur the lines between us, not anymore.”

“It’s too late for that,” she spits. “I’m pregnant.”

She throws a box on the table, and I grab it. My heart hammers wildly and there’s a loud ringing in my ears as I pull out a pregnancy test. “What the fuck is this?” I snap.

“It’s yours,” she adds. “Before you accuse me of sleeping around.”

“Bullshit,” I snap, throwing the stick on the table. “You’re married.”

“And he was too busy fucking his teenage knockoff,” she spits bitterly.

I feel around blindly for the chair before lowering into it. “But . . . you don’t want it, right?” I almost whisper, terrified of her answer.

“Of course I want it,” she snaps.

I stare wide eyed while my heart pumps so fast, I’m dizzy. “You’ve never wanted kids,” I hiss. “In fact, you’ve always stated that you’d hate to have a kid hanging from you.”

“I’ve changed my mind. Doesn’t this mean something to you, Aiden?” she asks, her tone pleading as she stands and makes her way towards me. “We created this child together.” She takes my hand and places it on her stomach. There’s a definite bump and I panic, pulling my hand free and standing, putting distance between us.How the fuck didn’t I notice her bump?

“You need to leave,” I snap.

“I’m not going anywhere,” she hisses, her tone full of venom. “Grow the fuck up, Aiden. It takes two to tango and you were very keen to do the dance. So, we’re having this baby and the sooner you accept that the better.”

I go into the lounge, perching on the edge of the couch with my head in my hands.Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.How have I let this happen? I’ve been so damn distracted with Bella. The couch dips as Laurie joins me, gently rubbing my back in a soothing manner. I resist the urge to shudder. “You loved me before, Aiden. We can get back to that. I made a huge mistake leaving you before and I know I broke your heart. But this is a sign. We were meant to be together.”

A few months ago, before Bella came along, I might have accepted it. After all, I’ve got to settle down one day and Laurie would be the perfect woman, too distracted getting her lips filled and her hair toned to notice what I was out getting up to. But now, the only person I can imagine spending my life with is Bella. And once she finds out about this, she’ll hate me even more. There’s no way she’ll forgive me now. I stand and her hand falls away. “I need to think,” I mutter, heading for the door.

“Aiden, don’t run,” she calls out with a heavy sigh.

JP and Raff are in my office. Raff drags his feet from my desk and he gets out of my chair. “Sorry, Boss, didn’t expect you.”

“Clearly,” I mutter dryly, grabbing the whiskey decanter and a glass. I half fill it before dropping down in my chair and turning so my back is to them.

JP clears his throat, “Did you go and see Bella?”

“She would have forgiven me,” I grit out, taking a large mouthful. “If Laurie hadn’t just dropped a bombshell.”

“What’s happened now?” asks Raff.

“He went to see Bella,” JP whispers.

“I came back here, and Laurie was waiting to tell me her husband has kicked her out.”

“Probably sick of her whore arse,” says Raff. “I don’t blame him.”

I turn my chair. “She’s pregnant.”

Raff shrugs, “Doesn’t he want kids?”

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