Page 42 of Daddy's Accidental Babies

She looked at me then, and the same guilty fear that had been present every time she pulled away was there again. Her eyes glossed over before she stood and took two steps toward the railing.

I leaned back slightly. “What is it you’re not telling me?” My voice dropped, tight in my throat from the pressure building behind my ribs. I didn’t trust what I might say if I let more than that slip out.

Savannah chewed the inside of her cheek as she spun around to face me. The seconds stretched until they felt like hours. Ialmost got up and walked over to her to shake the truth out of her, but she spoke first.

“When you went to Zurich,” she said, “I found out I was pregnant.” Her words came out thin and unsteady, like they had to be forced out.

My heart stopped. I stopped breathing. My ears rang as I stared at her blankly. Every part of me went still, like the world narrowed to just her mouth and the sound of that single sentence. It raked across my heart and settled into the pit of my stomach with a sour feeling that left me wondering if this was a sick joke.

“Savannah…” I reached for her wrist, but she stepped back. Her movement was small but intentional, like she’d been waiting for this moment to arrive. My fingers closed around empty air, and the cold between us deepened until it felt permanent.

She’d had plenty of time to prepare for this confession, so it was easy for her to stand there staring at me. But the adrenaline making my chest explode didn’t give me the luxury of grace to absorb and process as fast as she was speaking.

“I didn’t tell you. You were gone for months. And when you came back, we never spoke…” She folded her arms and backed away another step. “I moved out of town for a few years to get my head on straight, finish my degree. Thea’s been helping…”

I stood abruptly. My mind was a blur. Pregnant. She—she had a baby? I staggered toward the railing, trying to process. The skyline twisted and pulsed, blurry around the edges as my vision refused to focus. I gripped the railing and shook my head. The signs were there—a few years with nothing on her resume, the way she came back into the workforce with no experience, even the way she showed up to work late a lot of mornings. And then that photo—I should’ve seen it.

She took a few steps closer to me, and her tone was pleading as she spoke again. “Please. Don’t let this ruin everything. I needthis job. I need to support my kids.” Her voice broke and she touched my hand, but I recoiled, feeling shock.

My head snapped up. “Kids?” I turned sharply, watching her face for confirmation.

She nodded and her voice cracked as she said, “Twin boys.” Her arms dropped to her sides, spent.

The world tilted, warped around the edges as reality settled over me in jagged pieces. I took a full step backward and braced my hand on the railing, fighting the instinct to double over. My throat dried out, thick with disbelief. The air around us thinned, scraping against my lungs, making them feel raw and exposed.

I turned from her and started pacing, forcing myself to keep moving even though my legs barely worked. Breathing hurt. Thinking hurt worse. Two sons? She’d kept this from me. Raised them without ever saying a word. I raked a hand through my hair then gripped the back of my neck. I couldn’t even look at her. Each step dragged like I was carrying all the years I missed—the birthdays, the milestones, the memories I never got to make. And she had walked around every day knowing it.

I faced her again. My voice came out rough. “You should’ve told me. I would have helped.” The minute my words were out I regretted the tone I used. Her forehead was wrinkled in regret and her eyes were full of tears. Of course she didn’t tell me. Her father was running for office, and she was barely twenty-one. It would’ve been the scandal of the century, and she’d have been humiliated. As it was, I was certain David had a lot to say about it.

“I know,” she whispered. “I was scared. And then it just…got harder to say.” Her hands curled at her sides like she didn’t know what to do with them.

I wanted to reach for her. The pull I felt in my chest was still there, despite the shocking news. But I felt like my feet were glued to the terrace, unable to function. “David,” I grumbled,wondering if this was why he was being so nasty to me, maybe to her too. If he knew and he was trying to keep it quiet.

“He doesn’t know either,” Savannah almost whispered.

“How could you keep this from me?” My mind reeled in shock, and she sobbed, covering her face. If David didn’t know it already just by looking at those kids whose eyes matched mine, it was only a matter of time before he figured it out. Then it wouldn’t be a fake relationship in the press he’d be worried about blowing back on his campaign. It would be a real scandal.

And I’d be smack-dab in the center. Then everything he had been threatening to do to me for the past few weeks would become reality. Everyone, including Savannah, would know about Montauk.

“I’m so sorry,” she whimpered from behind her trembling hands.

“Well, it’s too late now.” I shook my head slowly, jaw clenched. My chest felt like it might split in two.

Her eyes widened. She took a hesitant step forward and lowered her hands, but I stepped back.

“This ends here. I’m done pretending. There’s no salvaging this when everything between us has been a lie. I’m not going to fake a relationship when you’ve been hiding the truth from me.” I let the words hit, and I didn’t soften them.

She looked like I’d slapped her. Her mouth parted, but nothing came out. Tears continued streaming down her cheeks.

“I’ll tell Vanessa, the breakup will be public…My God, Savannah…” My words came out harsh, but they weren’t laced with anger. I was heartbroken and confused.

“Dominic,” she whispered, but my back was already turned as I walked toward the door.

I knew right then that I loved this woman more than anything, and I knew myself. If I didn’t walk away, the words I used would only grow sharper; my claws would come out. Iwould hurt her beyond repair, and as much as I felt gutted by the secret she’d been keeping, I didn’t want to hurt her. I wanted to have a relationship with her.

Now more than ever, I wanted Savannah as mine.

But I needed space, or she was going to see a side of me I didn’t think she would ever love.

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