Page 128 of Filthy Promises

That’s not how I win.

“I’ve given you enough rope to hang yourself,” he continues. “No more. You have one month, Vincent. One month to choose a suitable bride from the candidates I’ve selected. Before then, you will end whatever this is with your assistant.”

“And if I don’t?” I ask, though I already know the answer.

“Then you get nothing.”

I straighten my back, smoothing down my tie. The taste of blood lingers on my tongue, but I don’t give him the satisfaction of wiping it away.

“I understand.”

My father nods once, dismissing me. But as I turn to leave, he calls out one final warning.

“And Vincent? That girl of yours? She’s become a problem. If you don’t handle it… I will.”

38

ROWAN

I rush to the bathroom for the third time this morning, barely making it before my stomach empties itself. Again.

“Just stress,” I mutter, rinsing my mouth and staring at my pale reflection. “It’s just stress.”

There’s plenty to be stressed about. Plenty of reasons to be throwing up daily.

Except… it’s not just the vomiting.

My breasts are tender. I’m exhausted all the time. And I’m late.

Verylate.

I’ve been ignoring it for days, chalking everything up to stress and maybe the lingering effects of the flu. But in the back of my mind, a terrifying possibility has been growing. Growing almost like…

“No,” I whisper to my reflection. “No, no, no.”

I can’t be pregnant. Ican’tbe. We’ve used protection every time.

Well, almost every time.

There was that night in his penthouse after we’d had too much wine. And the time in his office when we were in such a rush that…

Oh, God.

I grip the edge of the sink, suddenly light-headed. This can’t be happening. Not now. Not with everything else going on. Not with Vince.

Twenty minutes later, I’m sitting on the closed toilet lid, staring at a plastic stick. And on that stick…

Two lines.

Two pink, unmistakable, life-altering lines.

“Fuck,” I whisper. The word sounds so meek and miserable in my tiny bathroom.

I take a second test just to be sure. Same result.

Pregnant.

With Vincent Akopov’s child.

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