Page 67 of Bound For You

My eyes widen. “Oh, Juan’s wife. It’s nice to meet you.”

She smiles again but its forced, making me confused. “So, what made you choose their names?”

Okay, she’s acting weird.

“Well, Anthony was my adoptive father, and Dimitri because of how amazing he’s been to me and who he’s been to Sergi. They’re close.”

Her eyes darken, making me furrow my brows.

“And the beautiful little girl there.”

I raise a brow at her; she’s angry but I just don’t understand why.

“My adoptive mother was Natalie, I just wanted to add in Sergi’s heritage, and Iris because Iris was his mother, so she deserved to be honored.”

Anger covers her face, making me tense. Juan comes through the front door and sees my expression. His eyes darken when he sees his wife stand and tower over me.

She explodes just as Sergi enters the room. “She does not deserve to be honored, that is my granddaughter, not hers. She kept my son from me, like the selfish bitch she was—myson. If the cancer hadn’t killed her, I would have.”

My blood boils at the pain is see on Sergi’s face at the horrendous crap that woman is spewing. I gently rise. Juan moves around his wife, not looking at her, and takes Natalia from me while Maria takes Anthony, glaring at Valerie.

I get in the bitch’s face. Well, I come up to her shoulder, but I don’t care.

How dare she?

I point at her. “Howdareyou? He is notyourson; he is Juan’s son. He is Dimitri and Maria’s son. He was and willalways be Iris’s son. Not yours. She didn’t keep your child from you because he was never yours. She was a loving and caring mother, who adored her son. She worked her butt off to provide for him when his biological father chose his deranged wife over him.” I look over to Juan and wince at him, because I love the man dearly. He smirks and nods for me to continue.

Phoebe snorts. “I really like this side of my friend, Serg.”

He smirks and I roll my eyes. Valerie is looking at me coldly, but I don’t care, she’s made me angry. “Just because your husband strayed and got that woman pregnant, doesn’t mean that the baby is automatically yours. The baby was hers. She left him with a family when she died, she ensured he was going to be taken care of. As far as I’m concerned, you are not welcome nearmychildren. They are Juan’s grandchildren, not yours. You’re a bitter, old woman, who needs to open her eyes and realize the damage she has done, because I can tell you, my husband will want nothing to do with you. Now leave!”

She goes to take a step toward me but stops when Sergi stands behind me, and both Damian and Alexandr stand on either side.

Damian sneers. “I believemoya sestraasked you to leave.”

She looks at Sergi and I go to grab her, but he wraps his arms around my waist and kisses my head.

In a cold voice, he states, “You think I haven’t heard of the crap you’ve been saying about my mama? Even if Papa wanted something to do with me, you still wouldn’t have been my mother. No one can replace her, and Maria is my close second. She took in an angry and confused teenager after he walked into his home to find his mother dead. You are nowhere close to them, and after this, I don’t want you anywhere near me or my family.” He looks to Juan. “You’re always welcome, Papa, but not your wife.”

Juan smiles and nods. “Of course, son.”

Phoebe walks up to the woman. “I have never been more disappointed in you,TiaValerie.”

Valerie pales, then sneers at me, like it’s my fault, and goes to open her mouth.

I twist to Sergi. “Why am I always getting the blame when women open their mouths?” He snorts and lightly kisses my lips.

Juan states, “Time for you to leave, Valerie. Go home and we’ll talk when I get home later.” She pales again, then storms out and Juan sighs.

I rasp, “I’m sorry, Juan.”

He smiles at me and shakes his head. “She’s been like this for months; I just didn’t want to deal with it. I don’t think she’s even forgiven me for getting someone else pregnant.” Sergi growls at the thought.

Dimitri kisses my head, then steals his grandson from his wife, making her scowl, so she goes over to Sofia, who is just standing there gaping at the drama, and takes Rora out of her mother’s arms. We all laugh. Maksim is happy in his uncle Al’s arms, while I notice Mila sulking, so I head over to her.

I lean down and whisper, “What’s wrong, my little darling?” She smiles at the nickname as tears fall down her cheeks.

I wipe them away, as she sobs out, “I’m not the favorite anymore.”