Page 84 of My Damaged Protector

I know she didn't miss the Ian slip-up, but he has nothing to do with this, and it was a stupid mistake saying his name. It won't be repeated.

“Your aunt certainly didn't let out the news, and neither did your father because he's been stuck in bed for days now, so that leaves us with your step-siblings. Which of them do you think would be desperate enough to want to do something like this just to ensure you don't back out on your words?”

Well, I don't know, let me think.

Is it Peter, who hunted me down just a few hours after agreeing to save our father, or Lauren, who I know had nothing but fake love for me and got pissed off when I wouldn't continue with her charade of wanting to get to know me?

I don't really know. My gut says it's Lauren. She looks capable of it. But I don't want to throw anyone’s name out based on what I think.

“I don't know. I don't know either of them that well.”

She makes a noncommittal sound and chews on her lips. She hasn't once written down anything I've said so far, and I point that out.

“Well, that's because you've not really told me anything I can write down. I think you know which of your siblings sold you out, but you won't tell me out of some misplaced loyalty. But it's alright. If you won't tell me anything else, then at least tell me why you changed your mind about saving him? What did the doctor say to you?”

Silence falls over the room. Exchanging a skeptical look with my aunt, she gives me an ‘I told you this would happen’ look.

Swallowing, I turn to face Claire. “It’s a blood compli?—”

“… Blood complication issue, I know. That’s what we've been reading on the news, but you and I both know that's not true.”

I should have listened to my aunt.

I shouldn't have allowed this.

“If you don't believe me, then there's no reason for us to continue with this. Please leave,” I say in a final tone and get on my feet.

Claire stares at me for a few seconds, trying to gauge if I'm serious. Whatever she finds makes her get on her feet, too.

“I really wish you would trust me with the truth, but it's fine. Like I said, I am here to help you, and I can't do that if you don't want me to, so I'll leave. But here's my card. Call me if you change your mind.”

She walks up to me and hands me her card. I take it, but she doesn't release it, a determined look on her face.

“Are you pregnant, Miss Brown?”

“What?” I blurt out, shocked to my core.

Shit.

My aunt tries to come between us, but it doesn't stop her from speaking.

“I've been doing some research, and one of the reasons I found that a woman can't donate bone marrow is because she is pregnant and can lose the pregnancy if she undergoes a bone marrow donation surgery. So, is that why you can't save your father?”

Goddamn it.

“Well, are you pregnant or not?” She presses on, looking at me meaningfully.

She's not asking me this because she isn't sure. She's asking me because she wants me to corroborate what she already knows.

Well, I'm not going to give her that satisfaction.

“I can't tell you that,” I finally say.

She nods and finally releases her hold on the card. “Then I guess I'm going to be keeping your secret until you're ready to tell it yourself. Have a nice day.”

She walks out of the house, leaving me with my jaw literally on the floor. When the door closes behind her, I snap into action.

I don't know what just happened, but I'm not sticking around to find out what happens next.

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