Dad gave me a hard stare with his steel-gray eyes, then glared at Erin. “Alistair and Erin, I’ll be frank. I’m disgusted, absolutely disgusted with both of you.”
“Alistair doesn’t deserve to be called a Scott,” my brother spat, curling his lips.
Erin sat on the other side of the room, far from Oliver, hugging her frail frame in solemn silence.
“Is it true?” I asked. “Are you pregnant?”
All eyes were on the woman, who took her time to absorb my question before uttering the words I dreaded to hear. “It’s true, Alistair. The child is yours.”
“Erin, I want you to tell me the truth. Are you positive you’re pregnant?” Dad questioned.
“Of course, she’s telling you the bloody truth.” Oliver shouted, stretching out his tattooed arm to point at Erin. “You know I can’t have children.”
“Oliver.” my mother scolded.
“Jesus fucking Christ.” Oliver shouted, running his hands through his dark curls.
“For goodness’ sake, don’t take the Lord’s name in vain.” Mom exclaimed.
“I was in Asia for nearly a month, and when I came back, I found out my wife cheated on me.” Oliver pointed his finger at Erin. “She’s pregnant with my brother’s child.”
“You were busy fucking prostitutes on every business trip you were on. Why would I infect myself with God knows what disease you’ve got?” Erin retorted. Her brown eyes narrowed at Oliver.
“That’s bullshit, Erin, and you know that. Stop lying and admit you slept with my brother because you’re still in love with him. Just great. Our relationship is a fucking lie.” Oliver fired back.
“And you,” he pointed at me, “are a traitor.”
“Oliver, I’m sorry. It was a mistake,” I said, crossing the room to face my brother.
His fists curled, muscles straining under his sleeves, his jaw locked as he glared at me. I felt the heat of his breath just before the sneer cut across his face—then white-hot pain exploded through my eye as his fist connected.
“Fuuck.” I staggered back, adrenaline surging, shock tearing through me.
“You’re filth for sticking your fucking prick into my wife.” My brother stalked to the other side of the room as he shook his reddened fist.
Mom placed one hand over her chest as tears rolled down her cheekbones. “Stop it. Please, stop it, both of you.”
Dizziness slammed into me, pain flaring around my eye socket. My legs wobbled, fighting to keep me upright. I pressed a hand to my throbbing temple and forced the words out, each one meant to cut.
“Erin was never in love with you, Oliver. You knew she was mine years ago. You were the idiot who married her.”
“I never raised you boys like this,” my father proclaimed. “Erin, is my son, Alistair, the father? Not any other man? A lover outside the family, perhaps?”
“Alistair is my baby’s father,” she answered.
“I never trusted you, Erin,” Mom said, letting out a heavy sigh as she watched Oliver sit down to bury his head in his hands.
“You never gave me a chance,” Erin hissed back. She wrinkled her nose and raised her upper lip in contempt. “Worst mother-in-law on the planet.”
“You know what happened years ago,” my mother interjected. “I gave you a chance, but you lied to me. To this day, you’ve never admitted it.”
I glanced at Erin, whose face faded into sickly paleness.Was there something I didn’t know about her? What was Mom on about?
“That’s enough. We’re here to resolve a challenge,” Dad bellowed. “The challenge is, who will Erin raise the child with?”
“I’ll take the responsibility,” I volunteered, raking one hand through my hair.
“Erin and I will raise the child together,” Oliver butted in. “We’re a family, and we need to stay united.” He walked over to Erin and sat beside her. “Call me crazy, but I love you. I don’t care about the past. I’ll take care of you and the child. Whatever you need, I’ll give it.”
