Page 37 of Unpredictable

“No.” I turn to look at him—really look at him for the first time since that night.

“Well, you look great,” he tells me sincerely.

“Thanks.” I walk towards my purse.

“Do you want to sit?”

“No, but you might.” Frowning, he takes a seat on the bench across from me. “What’s up, V?”

I wordlessly slide my hand into my bag and grab what I need. I push it across the counter without saying a word.

“What’s this?” he asks before looking down. Confusion turns to anger on his face. “Who knocked you up?” he sneers, throwing the sonogram at me. It flutters down onto the counter between us.

“Who the fuck do you think?” I can’t help the incredulous look on my face.

“It sure as hell wasn’t me.” The harshness in his tone makes me flinch.

“My last cycle was in October, Sterling. Before Samhain. Who was I with that night, huh? Right there, it says how far along I am.” My finger repeatedly stabs the photo staring up at us both.

“You slept with someone else.” His unwavering tone tells me everything I need to know.

“No, I’m not you, Brooks.” I sigh before staring him in the eye. “Look at the timeline. You know me. You know I wouldn’t lie to you, especially about this.”

“You’re lying!” He grabs a glass vase off the counter, the one I picked out, and throws it against the wall.

I can’t help but jump as the glass shatters into a million pieces. My heart starts to race, so I take a steadying breath before sliding my hand back into my purse. When I feel the box in my hand, I whip it out and throw it at him.

“I would never lie to you. I have never lied to you!” My voice continues to rise as a box of pregnancy tests hit him in the chest. “We. Didn’t. Use. A. Condom,” I grit out between clenched teeth, spelling out for him what he should already know.

“You’re on birth control. Or did you lie about that too?”

“Not 100 percent effective,” I remind him while walking towards him. I rip the tests from his hand and march towards his bedroom.

“Where do you think you're going, Victoria?” he demands, trailing behind me.

Without responding, I storm through his room into his bathroom. I rip the box open, spilling its contents on the counter, and grab one. I rip it open as I march over to the toilet. Holding the test between my lips, I lift my dress and push my panties down.

“What are you doing?” Sterling spits at me while backing out of the room.

“No, you stay right fucking there. Iwill nothave you accuse me of faking this pregnancy. You will stand there, you will watch me, and then you will watch the test turn.” I rip the cap off the end of the stick, sit down, and take a deep breath. Then I slip the test between my thighs and do my business. As I pull the test out from between my thighs, I stare at Sterling. His back is to me, but he’s watching me through the mirror. He looks pale.

He fucking deserves it.

I look down as I cap the test and set it on the floor next to me as I clean up. After flushing and straightening myself out, I grab the test off the floor and slam it down onto the counter in front of him. I wash my hands wordlessly before turning and making my way back to the kitchen, gathering my belongings silently.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m leaving.” I turn towards him.

“Now?” he asks with panic in his eyes, some of the anger from before dissipated.

“Now.” I walk towards the door.

“We have to talk about this.”

“There’s nothing to talk about. You made your opinion on this abundantly clear. I will raise this child on my own. I don’t need you. Did you hear that? Ido notneed you. Never have and never will. Our child doesn’t need you. If you want, and I mean actuallywantto be a part of our lives, then I won’t stop you. However, I will not let you come and go as you please. You're either all in or all out. I’ve made my choice. It’s time for you to make yours,” I tell him softly before walking out the door and closing it softly behind me.

I walk to the elevator with my head held high.

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