Page 21 of Deceitful Lies

“How is everyone today?” I ask cheerfully. “Is Sonya stopping by?”

“Yes, we’re taking Emma shopping,” replies Eva, her smile weakening. “Oh, would you like to come too?”

I see the sullen look on Emma’s face. She’s not ready to forgive me yet. “No,” I reply. “I have things to do here.”

It’s silent as we busy our mouths with food. Andrei glances at me and then motions to the maid to take my empty plate. She dutifully fills it with avocado, eggs and toast, and a strip of bacon. The smell reaches my nose and my throat spasms. Oh shit, not here.

The chair falls over as I jump and run as far away as I can, but it happens too quickly. I only make it to a hedge. I gasp a few times and then vomit, looking trashy as I kneel on the ground. Emma reaches me first, demanding to know if I’m okay. And then Eva and Andrei. The women fawn over me as Andrei coldly hands me a cloth napkin to wipe my face.

He kneels beside me, and the gentleness returns to his touch. “It’s okay, Paige. It’s okay. I know it’s been rough.”

I hold my stomach, not daring to look at him as I stay kneeling on the ground. Emma helps me up and leads me back to the table. The maid hurries toward us with a wet washcloth as Natasha appears, from where, I don’t know. I look weak and foolish. Poof, the pakhan’s wife has disappeared in a cloud of smoke, and Old Paige has returned.

“What happened?” demands Natasha. “Check the food.”

Eva lets out a laugh. “It’s not the food, silly girl. She’s pregnant.”

“Pregnant?” Natasha twists her mouth. “Pregnant? You mean with a baby?”

Eva hugs me. “Of course with a baby. What else could it be? A giraffe?”

They all stare at me, displaying a range of emotions on their faces.

“Congratulations, Paige Geraldovna.” Natasha’s cool returns. “And to you, Andrei Vasilyevich. May your child bring you much joy.”

Natasha hurries away toward the house, and Dmitri opens the door for her. I watch as she tells him the news, and his reaction sums up what he has always thought of me. He rolls his eyes.

“Mamechka, Emma, will you excuse us?” Andrei’s voice sounds like thunder over my bowed head. He grabs a chair from the table and places me in it.

And the ball of sick weaves into a tight knot in my churning belly. I don’t dare look at him.

“Is it true, Paige?” he asks softly. “Are you pregnant?”

I nod, and then sniff. “I haven’t known long. I haven’t even taken a test. I didn’t want this … not now.”

“When were you going to tell me?” he asks.

Lying would only add to our troubles. “When I wouldn’t have been able to hide it.”

He lifts my chin in his hand, and there is tenderness in his gaze. “I will be a good father.”

There are no good fathers. Yours and mine are proof enough.

Instead, I shake my head. “How? All you know is the Bratva. You know nothing about loving a child.”

It drains my control not to say loving anybody. I don’t want to hear his response. I don’t want to know the truth.

This marriage is supposed to be fake, but now it’s all too real.

***

Quickly, I learn that I don’t have to act like a badass to earn respect; all I need to do is get knocked up by Andrei. Soft pillows are placed behind my back, and my feet are propped up on an ottoman. The cook makes a special ginger tea to settle my stomach. The guards who once scowled at me, placing terror in my heart, now wait on me hand and foot.

Nothing I wanted is denied except my freedom. As long as Andrei’s baby is in my belly, I will be forever joined to him. The thought terrifies me, but it also offers a little security. Whatever his original plan for me was, it’s forgotten. Now, I am to be the mother of his child.

Sonya sweeps into the ballroom where I once tried on my wedding dress, and despite everything that has happened, this is my favorite place in the house. She sprints toward me and gives me a bear hug as a guard drops multiple stuffed shopping bags on the table.

“Andrei opened an account atBaby Haven.” Her voice is breathless as she pulls baby clothes out of a bag. “I picked neutral colors since we don’t know the gender yet.” Sonya holds a little onesie to her chest. “It’s so cute. They have so many things.”

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