Page 128 of The Surrender

“Amelia?” Dad sounds as lost as I feel.

“Okay, I think we need to give them some space,” Clark declares, taking Mum and Dad and pushing them back into the house.

“Pregnant?” Dad cries. “She’s pregnant? But how?”

“Oh, Dennis, come on. Do you really need an explanation?”

“Yes! She just told me she’s split up with Jude, whom, by the way, is a cracking chap. Why is she splitting up with him if she’s expecting his baby?”

“Jesus.” Clark throws me so many apologetic looks as he herds my parents back into the house, slamming the door.

I stare at the wood, feeling Nick’s presence, unable to face him. “He’s a cracking chap?” he says over a laugh. “So you’ve obviously not told your parents that he was using you.”

“No, Nick, I’ve not told them. I’ve got other things on my mind right now.”

“Of course. Jesus, Amelia. I don’t believe you.” He laughs. “How could you do this to me?”

“You?” I ask, stunned, sounding shrieky. “How couldIdo this toyou?”

“What the fucking hell are you talking about?”

Honestly, I don’t know. But I’m mad, and I fucking hate everyone right now. I’m fighting to keep myself from toppling over, I’m shaking so much. “I’m the fucking victim, Nick. Me. Jude Harrison used me because of whatever shitty financial adviceyougave his family years ago, so don’t stand there beingoh woe is me.”

He backs down quickly, his mouth snapping shut. “I’m sorry, okay. I’m just dealing with a lot here.”

I laugh out loud, and then back up when he comes closer, his face imploring.Oh no.“This can still work,” he says, taking my shoulders, holding my useless form before him. “We can start again. Me and you.”

I stare at him, flummoxed. “You’d still have me with another man’s baby?”

He looks down at my stomach. “Well, there are solutions for these kinds of problems.”

“Solutions?” And I’m a problem? My baby is a problem?

“Yeah, you know ...” He shrugs. “I mean, I’m sure your dad will lend us the money to go private.”

“Private,” I murmur. “For an abortion.”

“Yeah. Only the best care for you, Amelia. You know that. It’ll be a new start. I can hop onboard with your brother at Lazenby Finance; you can, I don’t know, do your thing at LB&B for a while.” He smiles. “At least we know you’re fertile for when we try.”

What the hell am I listening to? “I’m not having an abortion, Nick.”

His face falls. “What?”

“You heard me.”

“But you have to, Amelia. I can’t raise another man’s child.”

“Are you fucking insane? Have you missed the past few months? I don’t love you, Nick. I have never loved you.”

“But what will I do?” he asks. “What about me?”

“What about you?”

“I was supposed to get into Lazenby Finance, Amelia!” he yells, exploding, making me flinch. “It was supposed to be mine.” He takes a breath, blinking, as I step back, stunned. “Ours. It was supposed to be ours.”

“It will never be yours.”

“Because you ruined everything!” His cool is lost again, and for the first time, I feel like I’m looking at the real Nick. “Some rich prick shows you a bit of attention, and you drop your knickers in a heartbeat.” He laughs, and it goes right through me. “And now look at the state of you. Fucking pregnant. How dumb could you be?”