I nodded, "I know, but not yet."
"I'll call him, ask to meet with him. I'll show him the picture and tell him," Dad decided.
I snatched the picture back. "You do that, and he will want the same arrangement with me that you had with Alex's mom, and, since I'm not married, that puts me right back in the same situation our marriage did. I've made up my mind. He can't know."
Marshall stood rigid. "I'm going to tell him, Mora. He has a right."
"No, he doesn't," I argued. "He threw away that right when he lied on the annulment papers about us consummating the marriage." I pointed to my stomach. "This baby was conceived immediately after the ceremony, Dad. He took me to another room and made me his wife in every way and put his child inside me. Then you turned up and destroyed it all."
I took a deep breath, trying to calm down. Marshall looked ready to go and kill Darius.
"I don't want to argue with you, Dad. This is your grandchild, and I want you to be a part of its life, but if you tell Darius about this child, if you cause me even more pain, I will cut you out of my life." I lowered my voice and lifted my eyes to Dad’s. "He chose money over me. He didn't even fight for me, Dad. I don't want him in my life in any way."
My dad's face fell. He put his arm out for the scan again and I handed it to him. He looked at the picture and gave a sad nod. "Okay, Mora, we will do this your way, but Dare will be listed as the father on the birth certificate and the child will carry his name. You will always let the child know who its real father is, and the moment the child wants to meet him, you will arrange for it to happen. They are my requirements to let this happen."
I nodded. "I would never prevent my child from knowing its father, Dad. I'm not Eliza. I just can't do this with him right now," I swallowed.
Marshall pulled me into his arms and hugged me. "I'm so sorry, Mora." He held me tight. "I'll support you in this however I can."
I nodded and let him hold me a little longer. "I'm sorry too, Dad," I sobbed. "I'm sorry for disobeying you six years ago."
Marshall held me tighter. "I've said it before, Mora. You are too like me for your own good."
I nodded. "I want you with me when I tell Alex. He's going to try and kill Dare."
Marshall nodded. "Yes, he is."