Page 46 of Forced Prisoner By the Bratva

My brows arched at her words, and my eyes moved to the statement on the paper to see for myself. She wasn't kidding.

I lowered my head, rubbing my forehead as a thousand thoughts overlapped in my mind.I'm gonna be a father? So soon?My fingers combed my hair backward as I tried to process the whole situation.

“We should have used protection that night,” she said, her voice flat and dripping with regret. “Or maybe you shouldn't have come in me. At least we wouldn't have made the huge mistake.”

Her words stung like a bee, especially since I believed we had shared something that night.

I felt my anger fade, replaced by a sense of responsibility now that we were expecting.

“Well, this ‘huge mistake’ isn't yours to bear alone,” I said, staring into her eyes. “We'll face the consequences together.”

She squinted, her eyes narrowing to mirror her confusion. “What consequences?”

I paused for a moment, savoring my next words, knowing it would spark her defiance. But I didn't give a shit. Perhaps this was a good thing—a silver lining in this dark cloud.

“What consequences are you talking about, Erik?” she demanded, her tone curious and impatient.

“There's a baby on the way now,” I began, holding her gaze, my voice firm and audacious. “That being said, there will be no divorce between us.”

“What? No!” she protested, her voice rising as defiance blazed in her eyes. “You can't be serious! We had a deal!” she shouted at me, her voice faltering under the weight of her pain.

“That deal was before your pregnancy!” I replied with the same volume, my voice overshadowing hers. “There's a baby coming, and I will not have it raised in a broken home,” I added,taking a few steps toward her. “So, I suggest you get your shit together because forever is a long time.”

She shook her head, tears streaming down her cheeks as her lips trembled. Defeat was etched in her gaze as she glared at me, speechless. She wasn't in support of this, but she knew she had no choice. My tone was laced with finality, leaving no room for debate.

Starting now, this baby was my number one priority, and its arrival would change everything. Was this a change we were ready for? Perhaps not. But we didn't have a choice. The baby's interest must come before ours.

Despite our differences, we'd have to figure out a way to coexist in this house, at least for the baby's sake. Henceforth, she was stuck with me, just as I was stuck with her.

Chapter 19 – Tessa

The dinner table was ablaze with warmth and laughter, accompanied by the occasional clinking of silverware. My family and Erik's sat together in what was supposed to be a celebration of joy.

The air was charged with the soft hum of conversations as the sweet aroma of several delicacies wafted through the air. The chandelier lights cast a warm glow over the elegant setting, highlighting the smiley faces and gentle laughs of our families and close relations.

I sat in silence, hands clasped together in my lap, a forced smile twitching at the corners of my lips. My gaze shifted across the dinner table, where each person’s grins and chuckles felt like mockery to me.

My heart was shattered into a million tiny pieces, and there was absolutely nothing that I could do about it. It took every ounce of strength in me to remain glued to my seat and not leave to cry my eyes out.

Erik had announced that we were expecting a baby, and that was the reason for this “celebration.” His announcement had sparked a flurry of congratulations and celebratory toasts. Dad was super excited, his eyes shining with mirth as he smiled at me from across the table.

Of course, he was excited. This baby would somehow strengthen the alliance and the family business. That was all he truly cared about anyway: the business, the empire he had built. Maybe part of him was indeed happy to be a grandfather. But that didn't change the fact that he was also pleased because the alliance with the Tarasov family would be more solid with the arrival of a child.

Once again, I was the sacrificial lamb. How much would I have to sacrifice for a family that didn't even deem me worthy?How devastated would my life have to become before they would be satisfied?

I felt my tear glands charging up, but I wouldn't let them pour. No. Not now. My teeth gritted discreetly, and I blinked my eyes, pushing the tears back inside.

Zoya's fingertips touched my lap with subtle motion, and I shifted my gaze to the beautiful girl by my side. I retained my smile as we locked eyes, hers boring into mine with a glint of concern flashing in their depths.

She shot a quick glance around the table as if to make sure no one else was paying attention to us. Zoya met my gaze again, and her voice dropped to a low whisper. “Are you okay?”

Her words struck me harder than I expected, and nothing could have prepared me for her questioning. I believed she wanted to tell me something or inquire about my brother, with whom she had been engrossed in conversation since dinner began.

The chemistry between my brother and Zoya was undeniable. It was so palpable that even the blind could sense it. I knew for a fact that if they continued on this path, they wouldn't have to worry about a failed marriage.

Honestly, a part of me envied what they had. The duo had clicked like two plates of steel pulled together by a magnetic force from the first day they met. I hadn't seen my brother as happy as he was when around her. It was like she somehow brought out the best in him, and the two of them were always smiling at each other.

Every so often, when chatting with other family members, they would exchange hidden glances and smiles with one another.

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