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"So." I clear my throat, wanting to get this over as soon as possible, so I can sew Vlad back up. It's a wonder he's kept his calm as he has, since there's a lot of blood coming out of his wound. "Vlad and I are married," I start, and my brother narrows his eyes at me.

"I gathered that," he adds drily.

"'Cello, 'cello, can't you relax a little?" Vlad asks, and my mouth drops open as I watch him lift up his legs and prop them on Marcello's desk.

I turn sharply toward him, my expression clearly telling him to cut it.

He has a wide smile on his face as he lounges in his chair, lifting his arms and placing them behind his head as if he doesn't have a freaking hole in his shoulder.

Not wanting to give Marcello and Lina the impression that we're on less than stellar terms, I lean back in my chair, moving a little closer to him and muttering under my breath, "Behave."

His lips curve up even more, and I resist the urge to roll my eyes at him. He just can't help himself.

"Sisi, I think it's best if we hear from you," Lina finally speaks, addressing me. "What happened? What about Raf?" The questions pour out of her, and I feel a pang of regret. All this time and I'd never once stopped to think how Raf must have felt in this entire debacle.

Granted, thekidnappinghad been out of my control, but even after that, between the quarrels with Vlad and our reconciliation, I hadn't for one minute thought about Raf.

Damn!

"There was nothing going on between Raf and I," I start, taking a deep breath. Lina and Marcello are both focused on me as I talk, so I admit to all the lies I told, hoping they won't be too disappointed in me. "He proposed a marriage of convenience when I found out I was pregnant."

"You knew?" Lina gasps, "You knew you were pregnant?"

I nod slowly, shame creeping up my cheeks.

But then I feel Vlad's hand on top of mine as he gives me a quick squeeze and it's all I need to continue.

"Yes," I admit. "I knew."

"Sisi." Lina shakes her head at me. "You knew you could have come to me at any point. Why would you…" she trails off and I can see the disappointment in her gaze.

"I was scared," I whisper, ready to put all the cards on the table. But Marcello interrupts me, his voice thunderous as he practically shoots daggers at Vlad with his eyes.

"You mean Raf wasn't the father, was he?" my brother asks, and I don't know why I feel so embarrassed admitting this, but as I slowly nod I can feel myself growing hotter, my shame making me sweat.

"Fuck, you took advantage of her, didn't you?" he growls, slapping his palm against the table, the noise making me wince.

30

SISI

Vlad is calm even as my brother rages on. His hand on mine, he's the only source of comfort as I find myself in one of the most uncomfortable situations I've ever been in.

"I didn't take advantage of her, Marcello. We're both adults and she can make her own decisions," Vlad drawls lazily, his feet still on the table, his stance relaxed.

And this seems to make my brother even madder, his face red with fury as he looks at Vlad.

"She grew up in a fucking convent, Vlad. What type of adult do you think she is?" he asks, and I frown, not liking the direction he's taking. "Fuck, she probably didn't even know what sex was," my brother continues and at this point my eyes are wide open in shock.

"What did he tell you to convince you to sleep with him?" he continues, directing the question at me. "Did he force you? Did he promise you something? God, I can't believe this," he curses under his breath, seemingly barely in control of himself.

"I'm not a child, Marcello, and I'd prefer if you didn't refer to me as such," I start, the need to stand up to myself eating at me.I may not want to disappoint my brother, but that doesn't mean that I'll let him take all my agency away from me.

"And I'm not an idiot, either. I may have grown up in a convent, but that didn't take my common sense away from me." I almost roll my eyes at him. "I knew exactly what I was getting myself into with Vlad."

"Sisi," he shakes his head at me, "I'm not trying to say you're a child. But you're young and inexperienced. He's ten years older than you, for God's sake. How is that not taking advantage of you?"

"Marcello," I sigh, almost exasperated. "You know him too," I add, sneaking a glance at Vlad and finding him watching me closely, an intense expression on his face. His lower lip slightly curved up, I know he's enjoying the show. But more than anything, I'm glad that he's letting me fight my own battles, since no doubt if he starts talking he'll just put his foot in his mouth, making the situation worse than it already is.