Page 97 of Malicious Wedding

Instead, it’s like a weight settles on my shoulders.

“Thank you,” I tell my mother. “I’ll take care of the funeral and make sure Father has a service worthy of him.”

“Thank you.” She lets out an exhausted breath. “Now, I’m going to go lie down for a little while. Ashlyn, good to see you.” Mother walks off, moving stiffly.

Leaving me alone in the hall outside of my father’s bedroom door.

“Do you want to go in?” Ash asks, slipping her hand into mine.

“Not at all.” I pull her close and kiss her. “You know this makes you the boss’s wife now, right?”

“Unfortunately.”

“Please, you like the power. It’s been getting to your head.”

She rolls her eyes. “I still can’t stand to give the staff any orders without apologizing first.”

“That’s because you’re still a decent person, but we’ll fix that.”

She laughs, leaning against me. “Things will change now, won’t they?”

“No, they won’t.” I pull back and kiss her. “I won’t ever change, not with you.”

Her smile unties all my knots, smooths out all my sharp edges, and eases the burden of what’s to come.

Chapter43

Ash

Two Months Later

I takethe test in Smoke’s bathroom. When it comes out positive, I nearly faint.

“Okay then,” Bernie says, squinting down at the little lines. “Looks like you got knocked up.”

“Don’t say it that way!” I lean against the wall, heart racing. “This wasn’t planned. I mean, we talked about having kids and I know he wants them, but still.”

Her eyebrows arch. “You’ve been using protection, right?”

“Uh—”

“Then how the hell are you surprised right now? With the way you two are humping all the time—”

“We arenothumping!”

“—It’s a shock you haven’t gotten pregnant sooner.” Bernie puts the test down. “Go on, take another. Then when that comes up positive, we’ll go talk to your husband, okay?”

“Okay.” I take a deep breath. “It’ll be fine, right?”

“Ash, that man worships you. He’sobsessedwith you. When he hears that you’re pregnant with his baby, he’s going to lose his freaking mind with happiness.”

A little grin crosses my lips. “That’s a good point.”

“Take the second test to be sure.”

I do as commanded, and sure enough, I’m pregnant.

Fitz picks me up a little while later. Bernie swears not to tell the others for a while—not until we’re out of the early danger zone. Back at Carson’s house—my house now, I have to keep reminding myself of that—I sit in the kitchen nervously waiting for him to get home.

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