Chapter 70: 70

CAINE’S P.O.V

The universe had to be playing some kind of sick fucking joke on me.

I stared at Nadine, hoping she was playing a prank but she wouldn’t even look at me. Her hands were crossed over her chest, her jaw set in a stubborn frown and her eyes hard. Underneath all that hardness however, I could see fear and worry.

“Aren’t you going to say something?” she snapped. “I didn’t get pregnant on my own, you know.”

I sighed. “Nadine-”

I wasn’t sure what she heard in my tone because she stood to her feet and started to reach for her jacket. I was in front of her in an instant, my hands wrapping around her wrist to keep her in place.

“What the fuck are you doing?”

“Leaving,” she said as if it were the simplest thing in the world. “If you don’t want the baby then I can do this on my own.”

I was confused as to how she got that from my silence. I knew she wasn’t thinking logically. I grabbed the jacket from her hands and threw it behind me. She let out a yell of protest but I ignored her.

She called me every name under the sun, telling me to leave her alone but I said nothing. I held her firmly against the wall and pinned her with my body.

“Let me go you-”

“Stop!”

She went still immediately. She opened her mouth to speak but at the last minute, pursed her lips and turned away from me. Once I was sure she wouldn’t fight me anymore, I pulled back slightly, giving her space to breathe.

“Stop fighting me, princess.”

She scoffed. “I’m not fighting you. I’m giving you an out.”

“I never said I wanted an out.”

“Well you didn’t say much of anything, did you?”

“Just give me a fucking second, Nadine.” I exhaled deeply. “You just told me that we’re having a baby.”

“I apologize for upsetting your plans of not having any children.”

I ignored her jab. I knew this was her way of trying to protect herself. It’d be much easier to get into a fight about this, but I wasn’t going to do that, not right now, not when she was… fuck.

I stepped back, running my hands down my face as I tried to calm my breathing. “I know you’re terrified and worried. I know you’re not thinking straight-”

“You have no idea what I feel.”

“I do, because I feel the same way,” I cut her off. “A baby isn’t… it’s not a game, princess.”

“Really? I didn’t know that. I thought it was a toy.”

Her voice dripped with sarcasm but I ignored her and reached for her slowly. She stiffened but allowed me cup her cheek. Her glare didn’t waver however, not even when I stroked her cheek with my thumb.

“What do you want to do?” I asked finally and I didn’t miss the shock in her eyes.

“What do you mean?”

“Do you want this baby, Nadine?”

“Why are you asking me? it’s your baby.”

“Yes, but it’s your body and I won’t force you to have a child.”

She rolled her eyes. “Is this your way of trying to gaslight me into getting rid of it because you don’t want kids? You said so yourself. If you’re worried about having to be there, you don’t have to.”

Her words were like a dagger to my heart and I stepped back.

Her eyes widened and she opened her mouth but I stopped her. I couldn’t take the risk that the next words out of her mouth wouldn’t be an apology. After everything she knew about me, it was insulting that she’d assume that was my intention.

“Rowan-” she began but I cut her off.

“If you’re having the baby, I will be there every fucking step of the way. I don’t know what alternate reality you’re living in, Nadine, but there is nothing that will keep me away from a child I fathered.”

“I didn’t mean-” she sighed. “I’m sorry, okay. I’m just terrified and I am so tired. Everyone is telling me what to do and-”

“Everyone?” I asked and she fell silent.

“I just meant-”

“Who is everyone?”

She pursed her lips and glanced down at her feet. I stepped into her space, tipping her chin up until she was forced to stare at me.

“Did my father ask you to do something?”

Her eyes were soft, almost pleading. I’d never seen her like that before. “Please don’t make me.”

“Fucking bastard! He had no right-”

“He just advised that we don’t have the baby-”

I pulled away from her, grabbing my jacket as I did. “I’ll give him fucking advice.”

“Stop, Rowan.”

I ignored her pleas as I pulled on my clothes. She tried everything, from pleading to threats but nothing would make me stop. The nerve of the bastard to think that he could make demands about my girl and our child. I knew I was being illogical, but how could I think straight?

Knowing him, he probably threatened her, and the thought of him cornering her and giving her an ultimatum pissed me off. I didn’t care what he said, I didn’t even want to know. I’d make sure he never did it again, even if he had me whipped every day of my life for it.

My hand was on the door knob when she spoke again.

“I swear if you talk to him, I will never speak to you again.”

I turned to her with a raised brow. “You’re fucking with me, right? He threatened you.”

Her eyes were wet with tears. “I never said that. I just don’t want you to go.”

I let out a pained groan. “You cannot expect me to do nothing, princess. Fuck! He said something to you.”

“It’s nothing you didn’t say. You said you don’t want kids and all he did was tell me that having a kid right now wouldn’t be smart.”

I knew she was lying, it was obvious. I’d spent enough time with her to see through her bullshit. I just couldn’t understand why she was lying to protect him.

“Please, princess, let me just talk to him.”

“No!” her voice was firm and held no room for interruption. “He’s allowed his opinions. This is our child and we make the decision… no one else.”

It took all the strength I had not to storm out of the room and find my father, but I couldn’t do it, not at the risk of earning Nadine’s anger.

With a heavy sigh, I pulled back, letting my head fall against the wooden door. I took a slow breath, calming myself before finally turning back to her.

“Are you going to keep it?” I asked and she shrugged.

“I don’t know.” She ran her fingers through her hair. “I know I have to make a choice soon but-”

“Take your time.”

She snorted. “You say that but it doesn’t change the fact that we don’t have time. I just want to make sure I’m doing the right thing.”

“You will.”

She cracked a small smile. “You have more faith in me than I do.”

“Whatever you do, I’m right here behind you.”

“I know.” She crossed the room and stepped into my arms, her head coming to rest on my chest. “Thank you.”

I couldn’t speak, so I ran my fingers through her hair slowly, pressing a soft kiss to her hair.

The past few minutes felt like a fever dream but it was real. We were having a baby… fuck.

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