Page 45 of Forced & Knocked-Up Bratva Bride

“Yeah, I can see that,” I said, watching her closely.

“A lot has changed on your side, too,” she said, her eyes dropping to my stomach, with a beautiful smile playing on her lips. Scarlett paused for a second, then began. “I thought Liam was the one for me; I truly believed so. But I guess life had a different plan for me—a better one.”

“Daniel Tarasov is a better plan?” I asked, my tone laced with a hint of disdain. “No offense,” I added almost immediately.

Scarlett laughed lightly. “None taken.”

I studied her for a while, and in all sincerity, she looked happy. I judged her husband, condemned him, because of his last name, whereas my old friend was happily married to him.

She drew closer and held my hand. “They’re not all monsters, you know?”

I shot my head up, confusion setting in as I tried to process what the hell was going on here.

“The Tarasov men have a twisted way of doing things. They have an even more twisted way of getting a woman—awife,” she continued, her eyes never leaving mine. “It’s not a conventional method, but it works for them and the women they take, too.”

I squinted, cocking my head to the side. “Did…did he take you against your will…your husband?”

“Yep.” She nodded, her smile widening. “Right there on the altar where the priest was supposed to join Liam and me in holy matrimony.”

I withdrew my hands from hers, placing a palm on my forehead. “I…I don’t understand. How are you cool with this? How did you end up…happy?”

She closed the distance between us and reclaimed my hands. “Time.”

I raised my brows. “Time?”

She nodded. “I realized that as cruel and ruthless as my husband was, he loved me, and I learned to love him too.” She let the words sink in for a moment, her gaze dropping to my belly. “Nik is the father, isn’t he?”

I swallowed hard, then nodded.

Her lips curled into a warm smile, fingers squeezing against mine. “I know you’re afraid, and you might even hate him. I know I did; I hated my husband at first.” A light chuckle escaped her lips. “But these men…they don’t joke with their family, Alessia. And one of the things I’ve noticed by hanging around them is that when a child is involved, it changes the entire narrative of their story.” She beamed at me, her hand resting on my belly.

For some reason, I felt a sense of calm wash over me. Her words matched those of Olga’s, and now, I was starting to see why the maid was so confident in her claims. Scarlett’s happiness melted my heart, especially because she found it with a Tarasov, not the man she thought she’d end up with. How ironic.

But was that going to be the case for me? Did Nik really have my happiness at heart?

Just then, the sudden clicking of a spoon against a glass turned heads toward the center of the room. “Everyone, can I have your attention, please?” Nik began, standing tall, absorbing the gazes lingering on him.

My heart stuttered as all conversation died. A hush swept over the gathering like a collective intake of breath.

“I have an important announcement to make,” he said, shifting his gaze in my direction for just a second before looking away. “I’ve been told that I’m getting old and that it’s high I found a wife.”

The crowd broke into a collective chuckle, soft and hushed.

“Well, I’m here to tell you all that I have found my missing rib,” he continued, his voice low and even.

My breath ceased, and I lowered my head in shame, unable to bear the thought that he brought me here only to humiliate me. If he knew he was going to announce Helen as his wife, why bother bringing me out here?

While I was busy wallowing in defeat, I heard it. Loud. Clear. Unmistakably.

“Alessia Romano will be my wife,” he declared.

What?!My eyes widened, and I raised my head just in time to meet his gaze.

“She’s carrying my child—my son,” he added, looking right at me with an expression so soft that it charged my tear glands.

Silence fell.

A thick, stunned silence that made even the chandeliers hold their breaths.

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