Page 73 of High Stakes

I take a deep breath and delete the message. “That’s it now,” I whisper to myself. “Let him go.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Aiden

It’s been a couple of weeks since I said goodbye to Bella. And me and Laurie have fallen into a comfortable routine. She does all the things I hate, like cooking, cleaning and shopping, and I go to the club and lose myself in promotions and other stuff that keeps me away from the house as much as possible. But today, I can’t avoid the twenty-week scan.

Laurie places her hand on my knee, as I drive us towards the hospital. “Are you a little excited?”she asks.

I can’t deny I want to know the baby’s sex. At this point, I don’t even mind if we’re having a boy or a girl. It’s taken me a while to get used to the idea, but saying goodbye to Bella gave me some sort of closure. I can finally look to my future. “Actually,” I tell her, as we pull into the hospital car park, “I am.”

She smiles wide. I know she’s been waiting for me to show some interest in this pregnancy. It hasn’t been easy for her to watch me try and get over Bella. “I know you want a boy, but will you be totally disappointed if it’s a girl?”

I smile, shaking my head. “Not at all, she’ll be my princess.”

I get out, rounding the car and helping her out too. Since her bumps gotten bigger, she’s

making sure not to overdo anything, including opening doors for herself. I smirk as she huffs like she’s the size of a whale, when in fact, she’s got a neat little bump and hasn’t put weight on anywhere else. Laurie kisses me on the lips. “I love you,” she whispers.

I take her hand and lead her towards the entrance. She’s been trying to get me to say it back to her for weeks now, but I won’t, I made that mistake with her years ago and she almost broke me.

As we approach the entrance, Laurie pulls back slightly. “Shit,” she mutters.

I stop and turn to look at her, amusement in my eyes. “What are you doing?”

“Marcus is here,” she explains, and I scan the carpark until my eyes land on Marcus Collins, Laurie’s husband. He’s standing casually by the entrance with his hands in his pockets and his grey hair shining in the sun, waiting for us to approach.

“He’s clearly wanting to speak to you,” I say, pulling her towards him, “How did he know we’d be here?”

“I take it you didn’t think I’d show?” he asks, keeping his eyes fixed to Laurie who’s staring at the ground. “Only, you didn’t tell the hospital you weren’t staying with me anymore and so they sent your confirmation letter.”

“Marcus, now is not the time,” she mutters.

“I wasn’t going to miss the babies scan just because we’re not together,” he says firmly.

“What’s going on?” I ask.

Laurie glances my way, her face is full of guilt, I know because I’ve seen that look on her, right before she told me she was leaving me for him.

Marcus sniggers, “Don’t tell me she’s taken you for a mug again, Aiden.”

“Laurie?” I demand. “What’s he talking about?” Even though I’ve already guessed.

“I should have known she’d turn to you once I kicked her cheating backside out,” he sneers. “Did she tell you the baby is yours too?”

Laurie begins to cry, and I snatch my hand away in anger. “I had nowhere to go, if you knew the truth you wouldn’t have let me stay.”

Marcus is laughing hard, and I resist the urge to punch him. “You really are a piece of work, Laurie.”

I grab her upper arm, shaking her, “Is he telling the truth?” I yell angrily.

“I don’t know who’s it is,” she cries.

“Bullshit,” says Marcus, “We’ve been trying for a kid for years,” he adds. “Did you have unprotected sex with her?”

My world is spinning . . . again. She’s lied to me . . . again. I release her and take a few steps back. “You fucking bitch,” I mutter.

“Please, Aiden. Don’t do this, we can be happy.”

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