Page 76 of Tempted

“I’m sorry, Madeline, but it was for the best.” She sighed.

“So now what? Do you expect me to ignore my child’s existence?”Victor asked gently.

“She has me, Meade. Jasmine and I are going to be married. She doesn’t need you or the aggravation you’ve already caused,” Jason moved toward him with clenched fists.

Victor shrugged out of his jacket and handed it over to his mother. He’d been itching to plant his fist in Jason’s face since he’d seen the other man’s arm around Jasmine. “I wouldn’t try anything if I were you buddy and even if you did marry her, it wouldn’t change the fact that the child she’s carrying is mine. What kind of man are you to take advantage of a woman in her condition?”

Jason barred his teeth. “I wasn’t the one who kicked her out with no place to go, so what kind of man does that make you?”

Rolling up his sleeves, Victor flexed his fingers. “You know nothing about it.”

“Stop it, both of you!” Jasmine yelled from the bed.

Madeline wedged herself in between the two of them. “Would you two stop acting like macho jerks and think about Jasmine? She obviously isn’t well.”

Jasmine raised her hand. “Uh, I’m sitting right here. There’s no need to speak as if I’m not here.” She closed her eyes and leaned against her pillow. Her skin had taken on a gray undertone and Victor realized that his behavior was unacceptable.

He sighed. “I’m sorry. I got a little ahead of myself. If you want to hold off on this conversation until you’re feeling better then we will but it has to happen Jasmine.”

Jasmine nodded. “I know. Which is why I’d rather you go ahead and say what you have to say and be done with it.”

Victor stared at Jason pointedly. “Can’t we do this in private?”

Jason narrowed his eyes. “I’m not going anywhere buddy, deal with it.”

“Jason stays. He has as much right to be here as you do. We’re getting married.”

Sighing with resignation, Victor pulled up a chair at her bedside and took a seat. His gaze drifted to her left hand and for the first time he noticed the diamond she sported. It made his need to speak with her more urgent.

It should have been his ring on her finger and he only had himself to blame. “Jasmine, I don’t know where to begin, but…I’m so sorry. I was insanely stupid for the way I treated you. I should have heard you out. In the back of my head, I knew there had to be some reason why…why you did what you did.”

She laughed weakly. “I did what I did because I’m a felon and a con artist remember?”

Her words tore at his heart. If he could take those awful words back he would. “There’s absolutely no excuse I can offer to you for the awful things I said, but I was hoping…”

She raised a brow. “You were hoping what, Victor?”

“The kids miss you,” he blurted out the first thing that came to mind.

Her lips tightened to a thin line. “So you want to hire me back? You wouldn’t be worried about your children being in the care of a criminal?”

“Jasmine, don’t,” he croaked.

“But it’s true isn’t it? Look you’ve said you’re sorry and if it makes you feel better, I accept your apology. Now would you please leave?”

“What about the baby?” he prodded.

“The baby will be well taken care of. Now leave!” Her voice rose with each word. “Did you think you could just waltz in here after all these months and think everything would be okay because you’re sorry? You told me to stay away and then you threatened me.So you have no right to change things around because you feel guilty and ugh!” Jasmine clutched her stomach as distress lined her face.

“Jasmine, what’s wrong.” Jason sprang from his seat.

“Oh, God it hurts.” She doubled over. “I think…oh, my God, I think I’m losing the baby.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

“I really miss Jasmine, Daddy. Do you think she’s forgotten us? Will she be back soon?” Chelsea asked as Victor tucked her in.

Victor ruffled her hair hoping his own upset didn’t show. “No. I don’t think she’s forgotten about you. Now get some sleep and we can talk some more in the morning.” He bent over and dropped a kiss on her forehead.

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