Page 30 of Tiago

Claire joins us.“What’s going on?”

Ryder pulls her into his arms and quietly brings her up to speed.

I’m focused on my girl and how upset she is.“Baby…”

She shakes her head.“No.I’m serious.I don’t like your attitude.It’s freaking me out.You don’t have to believe her, but you do have to ask for a paternity test and make sure.You can’t just shut the door in her face.”

I take a step forward, my heart clenching.I hate how she’s looking at me.It’s my fault, but I need her to listen.

She shakes her head and moves farther out of my reach.“No, Tiago.Don’t touch me.I can’t believe this is happening.You’ve been talking non-stop about wanting to have a child with me, andthisis how you react to the news that you might already have a kid you’ve never met?That doesn’t make me want your sperm anywhere near my uterus, Tiago.”

Ryder and Claire back out of the entryway, leaving us alone.

I stand still, not wanting to make things worse.I draw in a deep breath.“Please come upstairs to our room so I can explain better, baby,” I say as calmly as possible.

She shakes her head.“I think I’d rather go home.I’ll see if Dallas or Ryder will take me.”

My blood stops pumping through my veins.“Reagan, baby, please don’t leave.Let me explain.”

“Explain how an ex-girlfriend just came to your house and told you you’re the father of her child, and you shut the door in her face?I don’t see how you can explain that.”

I’m desperate, so I yank open the front door to see if Silvia has left yet.She has not.In fact, she’s having an animated discussion with our groundskeeper, Andre.

I have to fix this, so I leave the door open and jog down the steps before stomping toward Silvia.

“What the hell are you doing?”I demand.

She spins around.“Talking to Andre,” she says with a fake smile.

Andre’s eyes are wide, and he takes a step back.It’s obvious he’d been corralled by Silvia and would rather be anywhere else.

I meet Andre’s gaze.“Ryder has some questions about the awning we spoke about earlier.”

He gives a quick nod and rushes away toward the side of the mansion.We never spoke about any awning.Andre is sharp.He knows I was giving him an opportunity to escape the crazy.

I turn toward Silvia.“Do you have a birth certificate?”

“Of course I have a birth certificate,” she spits out.

“On you?”

“No.Who carries around birth certificates?”

“Money-hungry bitches who think they can get their hands on some guy’s inheritance by showing up with a legitimate claim.”

She gasps dramatically and sets a hand on her chest.“This is why I never told you about Joey.You’re not a good person.I didn’t want him to know you.”

“That’s a lie, and you know it.If anything, I was way too good of a person.Such a good person that I was snowed under by you and had no idea you were sleeping with half of New York while I was dating you.Such a good person that I believed you every time you made excuses not to sleep over because you were too tired or had to work early.Such a good person that I gave you the benefit of the doubt for months even though my cock was nowhere near your pussy.”

Another audible gasp from Silvia.“That’s not true.We had sex.”

I shake my head.“Silvia,youhad sex.So much sex that you don’t even remember that you weren’t having it withme.”

She looks legitimately shocked, as though she honestly didn’t realize how long we’d gone without sleeping together.“We did.”

“We didnot.Now, let me explain how this is going to work.You’re going to get in your car and leave my property.Think hard about what you want to do next.I do not want to see your face again until you have a paternity test in your hand that proves I’m the father.I’ll get my bloodwork done today and turn the results over to my lawyer.Stop in town and leave your information with him.You can’t miss his office.It’s on Main Street.Thomas McAndrews, Attorney at Law.”

She’s pale and trembling.“Why must you be such a dick about this?He’s your son.”

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