Page 127 of My Damaged Protector

I guess I don't really have a choice here.

Drawing in a deep breath, I start to speak, mustering my most pleading expression.

“Peter, I know you think I didn’t save our father out of anger, but that's not true. The reason I had to back out is because I'm pregnant, and the doctor told me if I go ahead with the bone marrow transplant, I'll lose the child.”

By the time I'm done speaking, the pissed look that was on his face is replaced by surprise. For a few minutes, I am convinced he's going to help me. That is, until he speaks.

“You have twenty-four hours to decide whether you want to keep your daughter away from her criminal father or you want to put a child you haven’t had over the one you already have. Make no mistake, Sarah, my father is not dying because of that thing in your belly. So even if you do decide to call my bluff, I will still find another way to come after you.”

Fuck.

There's no getting out of this, is there?

37

IAN

I enterthe bungalow as soon as Sarah drives away from the house. It's only past seven in the evening and we’ve just had dinner. If she's leaving the house, then Sheila must be aware.

And there's no way she's okay with her leaving, so I want to understand why she didn't talk her out of it.

Knocking on the door, she opens it almost immediately.

“Why didn't you stop her?” I ask.

She gives me a derisive look, a wry chuckle leaving her mouth before she steps away from the door, leaving it open. At least she didn't slam it in my face.

“And I can see how successful you were from the sound of the car I heard moments ago.”

Fine. Maybe she did try.

Groaning, I enter the house and close the door. Placing my hand on the edge of one of the cushions, I glance around, my eyes barely landing anywhere. I'm restless as fuck.

“Why does she have to be so stubborn?”

“From what I've heard, you're not the best listener yourself.”

“Come on, Sheila, now's not the time to joke around. She came to me for help and won't even let me do that! What am I supposed to do?”

“I don't know. Just leave her alone, I guess?”

Leave her alone? What good will that do anyone?

“You know I can't do that.”

“I know.” She nods and walks farther into the house.

I remain standing, wondering where she's going but not having it in me to ask. Fond as I may be of her, she's still aware of what Sheila is keeping from me, and she won't tell me.

I'm not holding it against her because I know her loyalty is to her niece, but what's happening with Peter right now will not go away if I don't know what she's hiding and how he can use it to get to her.

Sheila walks back in, a pitcher of iced tea in her hand alongside a bottle of whiskey. She never runs out of iced tea, does she? I can't believe she's made it since they got here yesterday.

“Which do you want?” she asks, presenting the objects in her hands.

“I’ll take the tea,” I say with a smile on my face.

She addresses me skeptically, a smile teasing her lips. “You sure?”

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