Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 59983 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 300(@200wpm)___ 240(@250wpm)___ 200(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59983 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 300(@200wpm)___ 240(@250wpm)___ 200(@300wpm)
I snap my fingers and glance at the nearest guard. He doesn’t need to be told what I want. With another Sokolov guard, he blocks Roman off from us, and I turn Liliana to leave with me.
“I’m sorry—”
“Shhh.” I clutch her closer, my arm around her shoulders as I steer her to go. I was possessive of her before, but now that I know she’s carrying my child, I can’t imagine ever letting her go. “Let’s go.”
She sighs, leaning into me as I lead her toward the exit. Viktor must have already gotten Elena away, because he’s coming toward us as we make for the doors. He holds out my coat and hers, but I make sure she’s bundled into hers before we take another step.
Holding her hand, I revel in the news all over again as I lead her to the car. Now that the commotion of Elena’s and Roman’s reactions is over, I can’t think about anything else.
Liliana is pregnant.
This gorgeous woman is going to give me a son or daughter.
I smile as I help her into the car, and the moment I slide into the backseat beside her, I gather her close and grin. I’m bringing her home, where I can start the lifelong work of providing for her and our child.
25
LILIANA
“I’m sorry,” I say as the car pulls away. I’m not sure if Anton hears me. My voice is muffled as he hugs me close. “I’m—”
He helps me up and cups my face. “I’m not.”
I blink, daring to believe my eyes weren’t playing tricks on me after all. When Elena accused me of not drinking because I was pregnant and forced the news out of me, I could’ve sworn Anton looked happy.
Shocked.
Confused.
But that hint of a smile felt like a trick of the light. Like I was willing him to be happy about a baby instead of angry that I hadn’t told him.
“I’m not sorry at all.” He’s definitely smiling now. As he comes close to kiss me, a little voice in the back of my mind gets louder.
“You’re not?” I check, pulling back so he can’t dull my senses with a kiss.
He shakes his head, holding my hand. “No.”
“Why not?”
He furrows his brow. “You want me to be mad?”
I open and close my mouth, unsure what I want or what I can even say. This isn’t how I imagined it happening. I’m still reeling from the panic of being put on the spot.
“I’m not mad that you’re pregnant,” he repeats.
I want to believe it because he shows it. He’s not just saying it. That smile is real.
“Will you try to take this baby from me?” I raise my brows. “Because this child will be your heir, not just your son or daughter but your next in line?”
He frowns, studying me. “What do you want me to say?”
I swallow hard, knowing this is the moment. This is when I’ll get my answer as to how to move forward. Either he affirms that he’ll be a partner, or he admits that he expects to decide everything.
“I want you to persuade me that your attitude at the mansion isn’t reflective of how you’ll see our child. That you will value this baby as a new, precious life. Not a person to mold and train into someone who can rule and—”
He sighs, shaking his head. “Liliana…”
“No.” I pull back again. “You’re going to let me finish. You’ve made it so clear that you call the shots. You’re the boss. You’re in charge. You always get what you want. But that’s not fair anymore. If we’re having a child, I get a say. You won’t dictate my life or our baby’s.” I tip my chin up, better for having made my stance clear.
“I’ve seen how it turned out with Roman. Elena has warped him into being a whiny, entitled, lazy asshole. You let that happen. My child will be raised with real love. With goodness. With—”
“With a mother and father who want the best for him or her. No matter what,” he finishes for me.
“Yes.”
“Liliana, I was talking about Roman at the mansion. You had the misfortune of learning exactly what kind of person he is. He’s a disappointment to me. In business terms, it’s a flaw to see him as my heir. That doesn’t mean this baby will replace him. Or that any child I ever have has to be the one to follow in my footsteps.”
“But—”
He places his fingertips on my mouth. “But nothing. It’s a tradition. It’s a wish that I could pass on the Sokolov legacy to my son or daughter. It’s a wish, but it’s not a mandate.”
I give in as he urges me closer for a kiss. It’s tender, and I want to accept it fully.
“I will provide for you and our child. There is nothing that will keep me from doing that, but I will not ever want to dim your spirit. Or walk all over you. I am in charge of my businesses, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be in charge with me, especially with this baby.”