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“I can support my child just fine. I’ve been looking after myself for a long time, unlike you. Plus, my baby’s fathers are on board.”

“And you trust them? They knocked you up without bonding you. That says everything about the kind of people they are.”

I wanted to laugh. And being unable to clean up after himself didn’t say a lot about the person he was?

“They are good people, and I’m happy about this baby,” I said.

“Are they rich? Is that why you decided to get knocked up?”

I grimaced. “The fathers’ financial status has nothing to do with you. Weren’t you just accusing me of needing your financial support a few minutes ago?” I shook my head. “Look, this is giving me a headache. You guys clearly need time to come to terms with this. I’ll see you at Christmas.”

Hayden’s eyes widened. “You’re leaving? You can’t go! After Thanksgiving, we need to make sure we have a good family meal with Heather.”

I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath, trying to steel myself. “Then you will have to figure out a meal yourself. I refuse to stay here after you suggested I get rid of my baby!”

“Of course I’m going to suggest that. You’re ruining your life.”

“Or maybe I’m seeing things clearly for the first time in a while.”

My brother’s face grew red with anger. “You. Can’t. Leave. Dad! Say something!” He turned desperately to our dad.

“Bethany, you really should stay and help out after everything. After all, your brothers only want what’s best for you. They’ve invited people over this weekend, and those people will be disappointed if we don’t have a nice meal for them.”

I turned toward Dad, my own anger rising. “Then make the meal yourself!”

“You know we can’t do that. Your mother was the cook, and after she left, you took over.”

“You say that like I had a choice! All of you refused to lift a finger, when it came to cooking and cleaning. You still do! I’ve only ever done what I had to, and I’m sick of it! You all are grown men, and if you can’t figure out how to make even a simple damn meal, then good freaking riddance. I’m done being your housekeeper.”

Hayden scoffed. “I swear, you have become so fucking selfish since leaving for California. I don’t even recognize you anymore. Mom would be ashamed of you for abandoning your family like this.”

His words hit just as hard as he intended them to. My strong stance deflated at the mention of our mother. Would she really be ashamed of me? I had spent years looking after my family, only to be treated like this.

“I think it’s time we leave.” A familiar voice from the doorway made me look up from the floor.

Jensen was standing in our kitchen doorway, wearing jeans and a blue button-down, looking as amazing as ever. The waft of salty air that followed him hit me like a ton of comforting bricks. His scent meant safety, and my inner omega was obsessed with it.

“J-Jensen?” I stammered. “What are you doing here?” I had given him my family’s address in case he needed to reach me, but I hadn’t expected him to turn up!

“You sounded upset in your messages. There’s no way I was going to let you grab a cab to the hotel.” His expression turned hard as he glanced at my brothers and father. “Obviously, it’s a good thing I came.”

“Who the hell are you?” Hayden asked, his voice accusatory.

Jensen raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms. Even though they were both alphas, Jensen was clearly the more powerfulone. He stood almost a head taller than Hayden, and he was obviously the more mature of the two.

“I’m the father of the baby you told your sister to abort,” he said, his voice so low and menacing that all my family stood to attention.

Hayden’s eyes widened. “You’ve got some nerve, showing your face here.”

Jensen shrugged. “Bethany is upset—there’s no way in hell she’s staying here.”

“You can’t just come and demand she leaves. We are her family!” Danny piped up.

Jensen turned to my dad. “I assume you’re one of her fathers? I’d intended to meet you when Bethany was ready to tell you about the pregnancy. Now, as you can see, she is upset, and I’m not going to stand around while your sons try to shame her when she’s twenty times more responsible than they are.”

“That’s not fair…” my father sputtered.

“Isn’t it?” Jensen asked coolly.