Page 42 of The Devil's Heir

Liliana

Dr. Owens isn't anything like I expected.

He's older, yes, but I pictured him as a crabby, gray-haired, balding doctor with a protruding belly.

The man examining me is nothing like that.

He's got to be in his mid to late forties with just a few gray hairs.

He's got warm eyes and a kind smile. I wonder how he came about working for someone in Jarek's position.

Jarek stands beside the exam table, not looking so happy. He keeps glaring at the doctor as he checks me vaginally. I notice the smirk on Dr. Owens's face when he catches one of Jarek's looks, and I can't help but grin.

I grab Jarek's hand, making him look down at me. Smiling at him, I hope to reassure him that everything is okay; the good doctor isn't going to sweep me off my feet. By the gold band on his finger, I'm sure his wife would have something to say about it.

"Well, Lily, everything seems to look normal. You can go ahead and get dressed while I go check on those test results." Dr. Owens tosses his gloves in the trashcan and steps out, leaving me alone with Jarek.

"You're the one who wanted me to come get checked," I say, amused.

Jarek helps me sit up. "Yeah, well, I didn't know he would be sticking his fingers inside of you," he grumbles.

I bite my cheek to stop me from chuckling.

"Does that happen all the time?" he asks just as I get to the bathroom door.

"Well, since I've never been pregnant before, I can't say. However, That's what happens when we go to the OBGYN," I reply.

I can tell he's struggling with something, but I'm no mind reader. If he won't talk to me, then I can't help him. I go into the bathroom and change back into my street clothes. It doesn't take long, and the doctor still isn't back when I come out.

Sighing, I go over and sit in the chair beside Jarek, feeling a little awkward. I glance over at him as he sits there with a look of consternation.

I place my hand over his, which is resting on the arm of his chair, and ask, "Are you okay?"

"Hm?" he asks absentmindedly.

"I asked if you were okay."

"Oh, yes. Sorry, I'm not sure what came over me. I wasn't a fan of him putting his hands on you like he did. I know he's a doctor, and it's strictly professional, but…"

"Jarek? Are you—jealous?" I ask, keeping my tone even so he doesn't see that I'm finding this whole situation rather funny.

"What? No! Well, maybe. Fuck, I don't know how I'm feeling. This is all new to me, Lily."

"What's all new?"

I know what he's trying to say, but I want to hear him say it. Jarek Falcon has actual feelings. He doesn't know how to handle them because he's never had to. I can't say what kind of feelings he's got toward me. He's told me he liked me, but that could mean anything.

"This!" He expresses us by moving his hand between us. "You and me… and this… whatever this is."

Jarek's beginning to spiral—I think he's panicking.

"Calm down, Jarek…breathe. It's going to be okay. We don't even know the results yet," I state, but I already know what the test will say.

Jarek is always put together, so seeing him this way worries me. He was so adamant about me having his baby. Is he not ready? I hope that isn't the case because I will be shocked if the doctor comes back in here and tells us that I'm not pregnant.

Jarek starts taking deep breaths, inhaling and exhaling. He repeats it until he's finally back to normal. I'm holding his hand with both of mine, adding more reassurance. We're in this together—it's what he wanted. I'm sure it's too late to turn back .

The door opens, and Dr. Owens walks in, smiling. He sits on the corner of his desk and opens a file. After a few seconds, he closes it again and smiles at the two of us.

"Congratulations, you're going to be parents," he says in a chipper voice.

Thinking you may be pregnant and hearing that you actually are pregnant are not the same thing.

I bring my hand to my stomach and look over at Jarek.

He's already looking at my stomach as if looking for evidence.

He then runs his hand over his mouth and leans back in his chair before meeting my eyes.

"Jarek…" I say his name softly, almost too softly.

A sense of fear rolls through me momentarily at the thought of growing a human being inside me when, just a few short months ago, I was living on the streets. Jarek squeezes my hand this time

Putting himself back together long before I do, he asks, "So, what's next, Blake?"

"Well, Lily will come see me once a month until the last trimester when she'll come more often. I want to see her at twelve weeks for an ultrasound, so in six weeks, you will return for that—"

"Wait! So she's already six weeks pregnant?" Jarek asks.

The doctor nods and replies, "Give or take, yes. I'll also be putting Lily on some prenatal vitamins. Other than that, there isn't much to it. It's a waiting game now."

Jarek sighs heavily and stands. Shaking the doctor's hand, he then turns to me. "Are you ready? Do you have any questions before we leave?"

I barely realize I'm shaking my head as I give Jarek my hand to help me stand. He doesn't let it go while walking to the door to leave, but when we get there, I finally find my voice and turn back to Dr. Owens.

"Thank you," I say so softly. I'm not sure he hears it until he smiles warmly and nods his head at me.

I had a strong feeling that I was pregnant already, so why it's coming as a shock now that it's confirmed, I haven't the slightest idea.

Much of it may have to do with the reality of my situation.

Before, it was just me, and I could leave if I wanted to, but now…

there's no turning back. I have Jarek's child growing inside of me.

I'm having my bully's baby—the devil's heir.

I had remained silent the whole ride back to the estate.

If Jarek tried talking to me, I hadn't heard him.

I stared out the window at the scenery during the drive back.

I do remember his hand holding mine the entire time, but that was the extent of my awareness.

I'm not mad at him, after all, I knew this was the end game, but I can feel a slight animosity toward him at the moment.

When we get back home, I faintly hear Jarek giving the driver orders and then he's taking me into the mansion. Once we're secured inside, he turns to me, cups my face, and makes me look into his dark eyes.

"Are you okay, pauper?"

There's that stupid nickname for me. Not Lily or Liliana, but the one name that's a reminder of where I came from and who I really am to him. He can say all the sweet words he wants to me, but in the end, that name tells me how he really sees me.

I give him a simple nod.

The concern on his face looks authentic, but I've been fooled before by him. I won't allow myself to be fooled again.

"Come to my office with me. We have something to discuss." Jarek drops his hands from my face and again takes my hand, pulling me with him.

Once we're inside his office, he drops my hand and circles his desk, opening a drawer and pulling out a file. He opens the file, pulls out a contract—our contract—and drops it on top of his desk.

"Rip it up," Jarek orders.

This finally gets my full attention, but I just stare at him as if he's lost his mind.

"I already told you to forget about the contract. Now, I want you to get rid of it for good."

"No."

My response surprises Jarek; he jerks back a little as though I've slapped him. "No? Why not?"

"Because it's the only thing in place that protects me. "

I can't be sure, but I think I just saw hurt flash across Jarek's face before his stoic disposition settled back into place. He walks around the desk to stand before me and places his hands on my shoulders.

"I don't think you understand, Liliana," he says, using my real name this time. A look of possessiveness shines in the dark depths of his eyes as he adds, "You're not going anywhere. You are mine, and now that you're carrying my heir, I will never let you go."

Anger rears up inside me, and I tear myself from his grip. "We had a deal!" I say through clenched teeth as I point to the contract.

A wicked smile appears on Jarek's lips before he confesses, "That contract has always been null and void. It was a ruse to get you here."

I gasp. "W-what do you mean?"

"I don't think you understand the gravity of your situation, Lily. You have been mine since the moment I laid eyes on you when you walked by me all those years ago. I vowed that I would have you, and now that I do—I'm not letting you go."

I become lightheaded and have to sit down. Jarek drops to a knee before me and looks up into my eyes. I can't quite make out the expression on his face, but when he speaks again, his voice is softer.

"I'm not trying to be a dick, Lily. I just need you to understand how much you mean to me. You are carrying my child now"—he places his hand on my flat stomach—"and I will not allow anything to happen to either one of you."

"I know this, Jarek, but afterward—after the baby is born…" I let my words trail off.

"You will still be mine, and our child will need their mother," Jarek states matter-of-factly.

Oh God…I didn't think any of this through. Breathe Lily.

Jarek doesn't let up as he goes on to say, "I don't know much about love, but I do know that I've always hated women—until you. You are the only woman I've ever been able to tolerate—the only one I want to be close to."

I don't know how I should take this. I know it must be taking the great Jarek Falcon a lot to say these words to me, but at the end of the day, he's not considering my feelings at all. Yeah, maybe he does feel strongly about me, but by taking my choices away, he isn't earning himself any favors.

"Jarek, I don't know what to say except that you can't make someone stay with you just because you want them to."

Apparently, those were not the words he wanted to hear because his face hardens, and he stands. Moving over to the window, he clasps his hands behind him, gives me his back, and stares out the window.

"You've got the rest of the pregnancy to come to terms with your position in my life. The faster you realize it, the happier we both will be."

I glare at Jarek's back before standing and walking out of his office.

I slam the door behind me. Childish, I know, but it's like having the last word in the argument.

I can't believe he thinks it's okay to tell me I'm now his and not going anywhere!

That's not how this works. My plans haven't changed.

I bring my hand up to my stomach but drop it instantly.

I can't get attached to this baby. If I'm to leave in the end, the child will stay here as agreed upon.

Unless things change, meaning Jarek actually grows a conscience and learns to talk things over with me, then my plans stay in place, and I'll leave once the baby is born.