Mom is still eyeing her with disapproval, but takes the glass and the pill. “Thank you, dear. Now, please apologize to your sister.”
“What sister?” She scoffs at me. “That’s a perfect stranger. What’s that name you’re using now? Mia Summers or something?”
“Winters.”
“Right. Guess the movie star route didn’t take.”
“That’s enough, Ginny,” Dad barks. “You’re stressing out your mother. You know what it does to her heart.”
“Remind me, when did she start having those heart problems? Oh, right. Around five, six years ago, was it?”
My own heart clenches. Guilt floods me like never before.Five, six years ago—that’s when I left. When I cut off all contact so that Brad could never find me.
Tears start welling in my eyes. I try to speak, but the words don’t come. And what could I even say?I’m sorry?Sorry doesn’t cut it. Not for something like this.
My oath swims before my eyes:First, do no harm.
But Ididdo harm. I broke my mother’s heart—literally.
“What?” Ginny crosses her arms. “Nothing to say?”
“I—”
“I don’t believe we’ve been introduced.”
I blink. Suddenly, Yulian has stepped between us, his hand outstretched in greeting. On the face of it, he looks polite and courteous.
But his tone is as cold as hell itself.
I watch Ginny shrink on herself. Not by a lot, but enough. “Right. And who are you supposed to be?”
“Yulian Lozhkin.” He shakes Dad’s hand first, then Mom’s. Finally, he gets to Ginny. “Mia’s partner.”
“Lozhkin?” My dad’s eyes widen. “ThatLozhkin? From StarTech Industries?”
“That’s me.”
“Oh, please,” Ginny hisses. “What’s next? She’s got the Tooth Fairy in her pocket?”
“Eugenia Sophia Collins, stop embarrassing yourself,” Mom scolds her. “He was on Forbes, remember?40 Under 40.That’s him, alright.”
Ginny takes a better look. Suddenly, her eyes widen, cheeks coloring with shame.
“A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss Collins,” Yulian says, but his voice hasn’t gotten one bit warmer. “Like I said, I’m Mia’s partner, and the father of her child.”
Ginny gives him the quickest handshake in the universe, as if Yulian’s hand could burn her. “Father?” Her brow knits. “Wasn’t that Brad?”
“Herotherchild.”
“Bullshit,” Ginny scoffs. “There’s no crib, no?—”
“You’re pregnant?” Mom asks, her voice filled with wonder.
I drop my gaze to my belly. “Yes,” I whisper. “Baby’s due in June.”
She throws her arms around me again. “Oh, that’s wonderful, honey!”
My dad pats me on the back, a huge grin on his face. “Well, well. Looks like we’re going to be grandparents again, huh? Though I’d love to meet ourfirstgrandkid someday.”
