Page 104 of Forbidden Grumpy Boss

“No, thanks. I’ll pass.”

The muscles in his jaw twitch. I can see he’s barely holding back from snapping. But he swallows whatever retort was on his lips. Instead, he folds his hands, leaning closer, his tone icy.

“Emotions don’t get you anywhere, Leah.” He shakes his head. “Feelings? They pass. You know what remains? Legacy! Legacy remains!”

“Want to talk about legacy?” I touch my belly, and Dad’s gaze drops, following my hands. “I’m pregnant, Dad.”

“NO!” he yells and draws people’s attention in the shop. “You’re pregnant for him?”

The word falls out of his mouth like it’s something filthy. He looks at me, his shock barely concealed behind an angry veneer.

I bite my lip, resisting the urge to throw my coffee at him. “Yes. And I’d appreciate it if you could treat this like actual news, not some scandal for the tabloids.”

Harvey’s mouth thins to a hard line. “How could you be so careless, Leah? I raised you to be smarter than this.”

Raised me?

“Oh, please, Dad. You don’t get to act all disappointed now. You checked out of parenting years ago. This isn’t a disaster. It’s my life.”

Our voices have risen, and people are glancing over. I feel a flash of shame, but it only lasts a second. Let them see him for who he really is.

He scoffs, clearly rattled but hiding it behind a sneer. “Your life? You’re ruining your life, Leah. And as for Silas? I have no problem with continuing to ruin his. I’ll take every chance I get.”

The way he says it, as if this child—my child—is nothing but an inconvenience, makes my stomach twist in revulsion. “Go ahead. If that’s the kind of father you want to be,” I say, my voice shaking. “All it’ll do is make me hate you more and make your grandchild hate you too.”

His face darkens, and I can tell he’s losing control. “Silas was a mistake, Leah. One you’re better off leaving behind.”

“Funny,” I reply, unable to keep the bitterness out of my tone. “You act like he’s the reason we’re lost. But no, he’s not. I’m not with him right now, and I still can’t stand you.”

There’s a beat of silence, and I think for a second he might actually feel something, but then he recoils as if I’d slapped him. Before he can recover, the barista comes over, eyeing him with suspicion.

“Miss, is everything okay here? Do you need help?” he asks, looking at me and then giving Harvey a hard stare.

Harvey waves him off, his usual arrogance back in place. “Mind your own business. I’m her father.”

“Thisis my business,por favor.” The barista isn’t fazed. He looks right at me again. “Ma’am?”

I smile, relieved. “No, actually, I’m fine. Thank you,” I say, pointedly ignoring my father.

Harvey clenches his jaw, his fury simmering. “Whatever you need for the baby, I’m going to be there, but I—”

“I don’t need you, Dad.”

“You’re going to do this alone?” He looks at me like I’m crazy.

“If I have to, yes.”

“Leah—”

“Just go, Dad.”

He stares at me, and I don’t know if I’m crazy, but he doesn’t look angry anymore. He looks . . . concerned—scared, even.

“You can’t raise this baby alone.”

“Watch me.”

I stare him down, watching him storm out, his presence leaving a trail of cold tension in his wake. The air feels lighter when he’s gone, though I’m still shaking from the confrontation.

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