Page 145 of Sweet Deception

My stomach churned. “You think I haven’t thought about it? You think I haven’t wondered what will happen to our baby in this hell? But I won’t kill my child just because you’re scared of what might happen. I won’t do it.”

His grip loosened slightly, but he didn’t let go. “They’ll take our child. They’ll use him to control us, or worse, to control everything our families hold over us. It will no longer be about us, it will be about ensuring the legacy continues, no matter who has to suffer.”

My heart slammed against my ribs. “So you will allow Valentina to take our child? Really?”

He let out a humorless laugh. “Come on, Anna. This isn’t just about Valentina.” He dragged a hand through his hair, his expression twisted in frustration. “She has brothers, sisters. They have their own families, their own cartels. Killing Valentina solves nothing.”

He stared at me, eyes dark and unreadable. “If it did, I would have killed my grandmother the first time she tried to kidnap you and humiliated you.”

I swallowed hard, realization crashing down on me like a tidal wave.

“You know nothing about how the mafia really works,” he continued coldly. “You think if we refuse, they’ll just let us go? No, they’ll come for us. And if they kill us, they’ll take the baby anyway. And do you know who will end up raising our child?”

I stared at him, my throat closing up.

“Your father,” he said darkly.

A heavy weight pressed down on my chest. The room felt like it was spinning.

Tears streamed down my face, but I lifted my chin. “I won’t abort my baby, Gleb.” My voice shook, but I meant every word.

His expression softened for just a second, but then he turned away. The distance between us had never felt so vast.

And I didn’t know if we would ever close it again.

Chapter 27

ANNA

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Gleb had shattered my day, left me utterly destroyed. I couldn’t have predicted his exact reaction to my pregnancy, but I never imagined he’d suggest I abort our baby. How could he be so cruel? To the world, he was the ‘Merchant of Death,’ a man deemed heartless, but to me, his wife, he’d never fully shown that side, until now.

At 11 P.M.

I could no longer endure. I packed my bags, dragged them out of our master bedroom, and hauled them down the hall to an empty room. He could have the bed to himself. Until I figured out my next move, I needed solitude. There was no way I’d sleep beside a man who wanted my pregnancy erased.

After arranging my things in the new space, I stepped into the shower. The hot water cascaded over me, and I lost myself in thought. A knock at the door startled me. I stepped out, dried off, and glanced at the clock, 12:30 a.m. I’d been under the water for over an hour without realizing it. Slipping into nightwear and slippers, I padded to the door and cracked it open. Gleb stood there.

“Why are you here?” he asked, his voice low.

“This is where I want to be for now. I need space, please respect that.”

“When you first came here, my hatred for you was like an insurmountable mountain. Yet, I still shared a room with you. You can’t just leave our marital bed over a misunderstanding.”

“That’s my choice. I need to sleep. Goodnight.” I moved to slam the door, but he blocked it with his hand.

He stepped inside, surveying the room as if it were unfamiliar, probably because of how I’d rearranged it. “Fine,” he said, flopping onto the bed and tucking his hands behind his head. “We’ll sleep here together then.”

“What?” I scowled. “Get out.”

“No. It’s my house. I can sleep wherever I want.”

I crossed my arms, fuming. “I’m not sharing that bed with you.”

“Where will you sleep, then?”

I glanced around. “The floor, maybe.”