Page 26 of Malicious Marriage
Trapped… gas?
The static beneath my ribs sinks south as a pull of nausea warms my gut. Trisha’s grip on my arm tightens as I wrench my arm away from her, and all the cold hatred I was holding at bay with the fear that my baby wasdeadcomes flooding to the forefront.
“You fuckingbitch.”
Trisha lifts her head. A wide grin is plastered across her face as she sniffles and dries her tears. “You should have seen your face!”
“Get out,” I bark at the nurse who remains in the doorway, wide-eyed as if she can’t believe what she just witnessed. At my bark, she immediately makes herself scarce and the door closes.
“Gas? You have fucking trapped gas? You let me think?—”
“What?” Trisha snorts with laughter while wiping her cheeks and settling back. “I never said anything. Youassumed.”
“You called Don and told him the baby was in fucking danger, that you were bleeding and being rushed here!”
“I had to add a little flair, otherwise you wouldn’t have come.”
“I came because I thought my baby was dying!” Despite my best efforts, I yell at Trisha with all my anger, then I step back to catch my breath and retreat as far away from her bed as I can. I’m not a yeller. I’m not an angry man. But she constantly plays these games that make me feel like I’m going insane.
“Our baby.” Trisha sniffs. “Or have you forgotten how I got into this fucking mess?” She slumps back against the pillows and slides her hands over the bump. “Are you considering it?”
“Considering what?” I ask through gritted teeth as I wrestle with the complicated rush of emotions in my chest. Anger collides with confused grief and pain, as well as guilt at falling for her display.
“Doing away with me like your brother did with his ex? Runs in the family, so honestly, I’m surprised you even came. You could have let nature take its course and then you wouldn’t have to murder me.”
I shove one hand into my pants pocket and grip my wallet so tightly that the zipper slices into my palm. “I’m leaving.”
“No, Dean, wait!” She surges up from the pillows. “I’m sorry, okay? I thought it would be funny. Lighten you up a bit.”
“Which part?” I growl between gritted teeth. “Letting me think my baby is dead or throwing that disgusting rumor in my face?”
“Is it really a rumor?” She tilts her head and touches her finger to her lower lip. “She was pregnant. She died. Your brother died trying to kill her… seems likefactto me.”
“Just because you keep repeating it doesn’t make it true.”
“Everyone at that dinner party seemed to agree with me.” She smirks coldly as I recall the last dinner we shared, where I quietly told her we were over. She responded by standing up and telling all our guests, respected heads of multiple families, that she feared I would kill her like my brother killed his girlfriend because we as a family are baby killers.
“They didn’t agree. They were in shock at your insanity.”
“Hormones.” She smirks again.
If those words came from anyone else, I would have them in the ground by now, but I know Trisha’s game. She’s been trying to push my buttons ever since I dumped her. She wants me to lash out so she can either take me to the cleaners or force me into a marriage between our two respective families that would make her precious father happy.
I’m convinced he’s just as crazy as she is. “Goodbye, Trisha. Enjoy your fucking gas.”
“Wait, is it true you’re getting engaged?”
I pause with my hand on the door. How the fuck did she hear about that? Clover’s face pops into my mind and for some strange reason, I’m instantly soothed just by picturing her smile. Denying it wouldn’t be as satisfying as simply ignoring her, so I open the door.
“If you dare walk out of here without talking to me, I’ll make sure youneversee your baby.”
Fuck.
My grip tightens on the handle. Then I slowly turn to face her. “And how are you going to do that?”
“Are you getting engaged?” Her eyes are wide and angry. “Tell me!”
“Trisha—”