Page 56 of Insta-Family (Forbidden Descendants 3)

When she remained asleep, I released all the oxygen from my lungs and backed toward the doorway.

Something told me Vaughn was still somewhere in the house. I was beyond grateful that he hadn’t followed me into the nursery, but I wasn’t looking forward to facing him now either. I just didn’t have the energy.

But I’d been beyond crappy to him when he’d just been trying to help, so I rubbed my aching forehead and escaped the nursery.

The front room was quiet, but I shuffled that way anyway and immediately noticed he’d straightened cushions and baby things, again, the damn man. When a rustling of paper came from the kitchen, I turned to find him standing at the table with his back to me and his attention focused downward.

“Vaughn,” I started, expelling a drained sigh and wiping at my face. “I’m sorry I—”

He turned, holding a familiar sheet in his hand. I slowed to a stop and frowned as he lifted his gaze from my budget figures.

“Do you need money?” he asked bluntly.

To me, the question felt too indelicate of him to even broach, and his bold inquiry rubbed me wrong, stirring up embers of the sourness I’d felt only minutes before.

Hardening my jaw, I marched forward and ripped the sheet from his grip, saying, “My financial matters are none of your concern.”

“But—”

“I’m fine,” I stressed from between gritted teeth. “Please drop it.”

He looked into my angry eyes, and his throat worked as he swallowed. But then he briefly pressed his lips together before saying, “I received some insurance money when Duke died. But maybe that should go to Ava.”

I hissed out a breath and closed my eyes.

He wasn’t going to drop it.

But I would keep calm this time. I wouldn’t lose my cool. I wouldn’t hulk out. Good Lucy.

“Or maybe you should put it to hospital bills or funeral expenses,” I suggested quietly as I opened my lashes again. Because I was sure he still had some of those.

Vaughn’s brow furrowed over such an idea, and he shook his head. “No, I have those under control,” he insisted, and then he had the audacity to motion toward the sheet in my hand...again. “But you have half a dozen bills that appear to be overdue.”

“Really?” I sassed back. “I wasn’t aware.”

“Lucy—”

“I’ve got this,” I broke in hotly. “So I repeat, it’s nothing for you to worry about.”

“You’re raising my niece, so I’m going to worry regardless. And if Duke were alive, he’d owe you child support, you know.”

“Well, he’s not alive, so—”

Vaughn stepped closer, his brown gaze imploring. “Then you should let me help.”

Snorting out a harsh laugh, I shook my head. “Except you’re not Ava’s father, are you?”

“I…I…” He seemed ra

ttled by that fact. “That’s not what I meant.”

“Well, whatever you meant, the fact remains: you don’t owe us anything.”

“She’s my blood. I just want to—”

“Well, I don’t care what you want!” Lifting my hands, I stopped him there. “Look, I am so not in the right frame of mind for this right now. Maybe we should put a pin in this discussion until I’ve had some sleep, or better yet, let’s end it forever right now because I’m not accepting any kind of money from you.”

“But—”

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