Page 80 of Like An Animal

Yeah, he’s the only one who could’ve gotten me pregnant.

“A paternity test would solidify her place as your heir since you and her mother weren’t married when she was conceived or born.”

“It’s settled then. We’ll have a paternity test done as soon as we can,” I state. “Are you satisfied now, Dimitri?”

He frowns. “Satisfied? No. I would only be satisfied if you crawled back in whatever hole you came out of, Miss Durst.”

A growl emanates from Jeremy’s chest as his fingers dig into my waist. “Watch how you speak to my wife.”

Dimitri glances at Jeremy but doesn’t speak to him. “But, that doesn’t seem to be an option at this point. A divorce isn’t an option so I guess I’m stuck with you.”

He’s not the one stuck with me so why did he say it like that? What is his problem with me?

“As Jeremy’s wife? Yes, you are. And, now you’ve seen what happens when people piss me off, but you should’ve already known that. Kathy learned it the hard way and now so has...Olga, right?”

Even if I asked Jeremy for an annulment, I doubt he would give it to me.

Dimitri’s eyes narrow with rage, but he doesn’t move, not even when his jaw ticks. He can be mad all he wants because I’m pissed, too.

He fucking tricked me into thinking I had no choice except to tell my trauma story to a complete stranger to save Jeremy’s life. He was never in danger though. It was all a mind game.

“Charlotte will be back soon. We need to get this cleaned up.” Jeremy squeezes my side to accentuate his point before looking at Dimitri. “If you want to stay to meet Charlotte, you’re welcome to, but I won’t stand for anyone disrespecting my wife or our daughter. Keep those remarks to yourself or we’ll pack up and leave you to your family business.”

Wow. I thought what he said a minute ago was just an empty threat to make his point clear, but he sounds so serious. Would he really choose me over all of this? This has been his life the entire time we’ve been apart.

I make sure to remind myself that he left me and chose to let me think he was in prison for the past five years.

No, his threat is not a romantic notion. It’s simply an obsession manifestation. Nothing more.

“Maybe some other time.” He sets down his glass on the desk before walking out of the room without a goodbye.

As soon as Jeremy’s grandfather has left, I push his hand off of me. The only reason I didn’t before was because I see Dimitri Borza for exactly what he is.

A threat.

An enemy.

You don’t show an enemy a weakness in the foundation. You wait until they retreat to uncover the cracks.

“What?” Jeremy blanches at me as I flip him off before walking to the door.

“Go fuck yourself.” I push open the door and walk out, feeling the anger buzz in my veins like a drug.

“What the hell is your problem?” he growls from behind me as he grabs my arm, but when he turns me around to face him, I slap him as hard as I can across the face.

“You. That’s my fucking problem, you son of a bitch.” It feels like the walls are closing in on me. I would’ve expected to be stabbed in the back by anyone except him, but that’s exactly what happened. Him and his grandfather played me for a fool. “You were never really arrested, were you? You didn’t go to prison! You werehere, Jeremy.” I motion all around us and his eyes narrow, confusion across his face.

“I was arrested, but I was released after a few hours.”

I roll my eyes with a huff. “Of course. Fucking whatever.” I’m barely holding myself together, stopping myself from breaking down.

My view of the world and the people in it has been fractured by this betrayal.

“What is the issue, little ghost?”

Then, I crack.

“The issue?!” Tears fill my eyes as I look at him, my heartbreak written across my face. “You abandoned us, Jeremy! You weren’t ripped away. Youwalkedaway and let me think it was my fault, that I did that to you. Do you have anyideawhat that did to me? Did you even think of what would happen to me without you there?”