Page 53 of My Horrible Arranged Marriage (Bancroft Billionaire Brothers #20)

MINA

I couldn’t stop pacing. I couldn’t do it. I thought I could, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t walk down that aisle with a secret between us.

Tori walked in, bringing me the ginger ale I had asked for. She looked at me and shook her head.

“What’s wrong?” she asked with concern.

“Nothing. Everything.”

Everything was perfect. The weather, the flowers, the music drifting faintly from the garden below. Even my hair, which never did what I wanted, had been tamed into a glamorous look. And the gown was perfect. I loved it.

But I felt like I was standing on a ledge.

I walked to the mirror again. Checked my makeup. Touched the tiny box on the bed for the hundredth time. It should’ve waited until after the wedding. That had been the plan. First the vows, then the reveal. The surprise, the tears, the celebration.

But I couldn’t do it.

I couldn’t say “I do” with something that important still unspoken. Not to Isaac. Not to the man I loved more than I ever thought possible. I trusted him with my whole heart. I didn’t want to keep this from him for another minute.

I ran a hand down my stomach, not yet showing but suddenly so real . It wasn’t just about me and Isaac anymore. It was the three of us. And he had the right to know that before we became husband and wife.

“I have to talk to Isaac,” I said.

“Right now?” she asked. “You’re supposed to be talking to him right now in front of an officiant and a couple hundred people.”

I shook my head. “No. I can’t. I can’t do it. I have to talk to him before I walk down that aisle.”

She nodded. “I get it.”

She walked into my bathroom and came back with my robe. “Put this on. He doesn’t need to see you in your dress.”

I put it on. “Thank you.”

While Tori went to get Isaac, I arranged the booties and onesies in the box. I had to do this now. I knew that.

I was mid-pace when the door creaked open behind me. Isaac came in and we talked, and I told him nothing was wrong.

Then I took a deep breath and stepped back. I picked up the box from the bed and held it out to him.

He looked at it, confused. “What’s this?”

“Just open it.”

He gave me another quick glance before he pulled the lid off. I watched him, trying to judge his reaction. I could only imagine what his thoughts were.

He pulled out the booties and frowned. And then he picked up the tiny onesie. His breath caught.

“Isaac?”

He didn’t say anything at first. Just stared at it. Then stared at me.

Then looked down again, like he had to double-check that it was real.

“Are you saying you’re?—?”

I nodded, a sudden wave of emotion crashing over me. “I’m pregnant.”

He dropped onto the edge of the bed like his knees had given out. Still holding the onesie, still looking like he might actually pass out.

And then he laughed.

“Are you serious?” he said. “This isn’t a joke?”

I knelt in front of him, cradling his face in my hands.

“It’s not a joke. I had the first appointment.

The ultrasound is scheduled two weeks after the wedding, and I was going to tell you on the honeymoon, but then I just couldn’t wait.

I wanted to tell you before I promised to love you forever and ask for your trust.”

He stared at me. Then, slowly, he set the onesie down on the bed and pulled me into his arms. He kissed the side of my head.

“This is the best news I’ve ever gotten,” he whispered into my hair. “I don’t even have words. I’m going to be a dad?”

I nodded, tears stinging my eyes.

“I can’t believe it,” he said. “I mean… I can , but also wow. I love you so much. I love both of you so much.”

“I wanted you to know before we got married,” I whispered. “I couldn’t start this with something so big left unsaid.”

His arms tightened. “You did the right thing.”

I pulled back slightly to look at him. “You’re not mad?”

“Mad?” He laughed again, a little dazed. “I want to run through the gardens yelling about it. I want to cancel the ceremony and marry you right here, right now, just us and the bean.”

I touched his cheek. “You’re sure?”

“I’ve never been more sure of anything.” He brushed a thumb across my lower lip. “This baby is already the luckiest kid alive.”

The emotion in his voice gutted me. But then something flickered in his expression. A pause. A slight pulling inward. I swore it was the same look I saw in his eyes last night.

“Isaac?” I asked. “Are you okay?”

He blinked, forcing a smile. “Sorry. It’s nothing.”

“It’s not nothing. You looked scared.”

“No,” he said with a forced smile. “Not scared. It’s just, I keep thinking seeing you in your dress is bad luck.”

“Isaac, you can’t see my dress. I’ve got my robe on.”

“I can see the bottom,” he said and gestured toward the bottom that was poking out from under the robe.

“Wait until you see the top,” I teased.

“Seriously,” he said, backing toward the door. “You look like that and then hand me this? I might combust. We need to get through the ceremony before I carry you off into the woods and do something crazy.”

I laughed, but there was still something off in his eyes.

“I love you,” he said. “I’ll see you in a few. I’ll be the guy in a tux standing next to the other guy in a tux.”

I laughed. “I’ll keep my eyes open.”

Tori walked in a second later, carrying my veil.

“You okay?” she asked, eyes flicking to the open box.

“I’m okay,” I whispered. “I told him.”

Tori’s face lit up. “And?”

“He’s thrilled. I think.”

She cocked her head. “You think ?”

“I don’t know.” I took off the robe. “He got weird for a second. I asked what was wrong, and he said something about bad luck, but…”

“But?” she prompted gently.

“I don’t know,” I repeated, trying to shake it off. “He said he was happy. And he looked happy. Maybe he just got overwhelmed.”

Tori nodded and smoothed my dress. “Okay. Then let’s finish this, Mrs. Almost-Bancroft. I’m sure he’s suffering some wedding jitters. Remember, he’s out there with a few hundred eyeballs on him.”

“Good point.”

Tori held up the veil, the delicate fabric catching the late afternoon light streaming through the windows. “Ready for the finishing touch?”

I nodded, turning back to the full-length mirror as she carefully positioned the veil on my head, securing it with pearl-tipped pins.

“There,” she said, stepping back to admire her work. “Perfect.”

I stared at my reflection, hardly recognizing myself. I looked like a bride. A sexy bride. A bride that was going to rock her new husband’s world.

“I can’t believe this is happening,” I whispered, smoothing my hands over the front of my dress. “I’m getting married.”

“And you’re pregnant,” Tori added with a grin, adjusting one of the pins. “Talk about going for it.”

I laughed. “You know me. Why take things one at a time when you can do them all at once?”

“Speaking of which,” Tori said, reaching into her clutch. “I almost forgot. Something borrowed, something blue.”

She pulled out a small velvet pouch and emptied its contents into her palm, a delicate silver anklet with a tiny sapphire charm dangling from it. She knelt to fasten it around my ankle.

“It was my grandmother’s,” she explained. “She wore it at her wedding, and her mother before her. Consider it your double good luck charm.”

I blinked back tears, afraid to ruin my makeup. “Thank you.”

I took one more look in the mirror.

Me in my gown. Tori at my side. It was surreal. After Sampson’s cheating, I honestly never believed I would get this day. I had given up on the idea I would ever be truly happy. I gave up on love and having a family. Now, I was getting both.

“You’re beautiful,” she whispered. “Glowing. I’m so happy for you.”

“Thank you,” I said.

We left the suite together, winding through the wide hall. Together we descended the stairs. The house had been absolutely transformed. It was unlikely the guests would be in this part of the house, but just in case, my dad wanted to make sure the entire house was dressed up for the occasion.

We turned and started down a side hall that would take us to the side exit.

That was where I was going to make my big debut.

As we walked, male voices caught my attention.

I recognized both voices. I slowed down.

The door to my father’s study was open. I heard Isaac’s voice, which I thought was odd.

He was supposed to be waiting for me under the most beautiful arch ever.

Tori kept walking for a beat before turning back. “Mina?”

I was already drifting toward the open doorway, something cold curling down my spine.

Isaac, my father, and Armand Bancroft were all holding glasses of scotch and smiling like men who had just closed a deal.

“You did good, son,” my father said, clapping Isaac on the back.

“Thank you, sir,” Issac said.

He sounded a little uncomfortable. I watched him take another drink.

He looked just as awkward as he sounded.

I assumed my father was congratulating him on pulling the wedding together on such short notice.

I didn’t want to steal his thunder or demand I get credit, but honestly, I did a lot of the work. I did good.

But whatever. I was about to head into the office but something told me it wasn’t the wedding he was congratulating Isaac on.

“You kept your word, just like every Bancroft always has,” my dad says.

“When I cashed in my favor, I didn’t think you would actually go through with it.

I certainly expected you to put up a fight, but hell, you seem genuinely happy.

In twenty minutes, the contract is complete, and the favor is done.

Get that baby and we can call it a day.”

My heart stilled. The words didn’t make sense. They couldn’t make sense.

I stepped into the room.

“What contract?” I asked. “What favor? Why does this feel like more than what you told me, Isaac?”

Three heads turned. Isaac’s face drained of color. His father’s eyes widened. My dad didn’t even flinch.