Page 199 of Beautifully Reckless

“You’ve ruined everything!” she screams. “You don’t realise what you’ve done!”

“Well, shit, Mum!” I scream back before I can stop myself. “Maybe that’s because you haven’t told me anything!”

Standing on my tiptoes, I try to see past the wall of men, barely able to catch a glimpse of her face. “Why don’t youtellme what I’ve done?”

“There has to be a ceremony.” Minister Banes pushes through Daniel, Donny, Craig and the goons from earlier, silencing my mum’s wails of protest as he grips her shoulders. “Priscilla, I’m sorry. Without a ceremony, youknowwhat will happen.”

“What will happen?” I shout, sick of not understanding what this is all about.

No one pays me any attention, their eyes trained on the minister and my mum.

“I’ll marry him.”

I stiffen at Maggie’s voice, peering past the men to watch her step forward, her smile hopeful as she looks up at Daniel.

What the?

“I’ll sacrifice myself for our family, Mum. Not like Abbey.” Her last words come out as a snarl.

“No!” I shake my head, grabbing at Daniel, trying to pull him away from her. “You’re too young to get married, Maggie! You don’t want to marry him. He’s a vile monster!”

“There’s still the baby. I want to know if it’s mine!” Donny sneers, his words making the entire room tense.

Banes slowly turns his stare to Donny, a deep crease forming between his brows.

“What do you mean?” Banes barks. “Daniel is the father.”

Both Donny and Craig scoff, while behind them, Ian Allen rolls his eyes, and Karl Stone, Daniel’s father, levels a death glare at his son.

Wait… does the ministernotknow?

“Look, Daniel is my mate and all.” Donny steps forward, his eyes trained on the minister. “But that kid in her gut could be mine, Craig’s, or Daniel’s. Hell, there’s at least three more guys she’s been screwing too.” He shrugs, like casually branding me a tramp is no big deal, and shit… I think I’m going to be sick. “I’m surprised Priscilla didn’t fill you in on what her daughter has been up to.”

All eyes snap to my mum, her mouth opening and closing like a fish before she manages to mutter something that makes sense.

“I didn’t know any of this, Minister Banes. I swear.”

That lying bitch!

I take a step back, stunned.

I don’t understand what’s happening. Why is Donny bringing this up? What does this have to do with the wedding? With my baby?

“Donny must be mistaken,” Karl Stone cuts in, shoving past Donny to stand beside Daniel. “My son has done everything that’s been asked of him. He deserves this.”

Deserves what?

“She’s pregnant out of wedlock,” Ian Allen snaps, taking his nephew’s side. “And there’s a one in six chance Danielisthe father. It won’t work unless you’ve got the right two bloodlines.”

Right bloodlines? What the…

My hands are shaking so badly I have to wring them together, trying to calm the tremors.

“Exactly,” Donny adds. “So even if you can use Maggie, since she’s from Abbey’s bloodline, she can’t marry Daniel unless the baby is actually his.”

Minister Banes narrows his eyes as he thinks.

“Well… since Abigail and Maggiearethe same bloodline, it could still work. You’re right about that.” His voice is cold and calculating. “We just need to confirm who the baby’s father is. Then the ceremony can still be performed.”

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