‘Go on then,’ Rian smiles at me encouragingly.
Killian and James exchange a look of concern. Ivy clasps her hands together expectantly. Scarlett sits straighter in the chair. Even the kids fall quiet in the corridors.
‘I’m pregnant,’ I blurt, as heat floods my cheeks.
Chapter Twenty-Six
ZARA
A stunned silence follows.
‘You’re what?’ Killian growls, his fist banging on the table.
My mother gasps, rubbing the space over her heart as the colour drains from her face. My father, in contrast, is turning an awful shade of purple as he chokes out a strangled sound beside her.
‘Is this some sort of joke?’ James demands, tossing his crisp white linen napkin down on the table. His eyes blaze black and dangerous.
‘It’s not a joke.’ I fall back into my seat before my trembling legs buckle beneath me. I drag my hands through my hair. ‘I’m fifteen weeks. The baby is due on October twentieth.’
‘Oh, thank goodness you’ll have recovered in time for the wedding,’ Avery squeals, then clamps a hand over her mouth. Killian fires his fiancée a rare glare.
‘How is this even possible?’ My father demands.
‘Well, Daddy, you’ve got six children, so I’m pretty sure you have a firm understanding of the process,’ I force a brightness that I certainly don’t feel.
I hate disappointing them.
I’m the overachiever.
Not the one to bring shame to their door—except to them—that’s what exactly what I’ve done.
‘Don’t get smart with me, child,’ my father barks.
‘I don’t mean to be smart, Dad. If I was smart, I wouldn’t be in this situation. Obviously, it came as a surprise, but I’ve had four weeks to get my head around it.’
‘You’ve known for four weeks?’ My mother cries. ‘Why didn’t you come to me? I could have helped you.’ Huge fat tears roll down her cheeks.
‘I don’t need any help. I’m doing this alone.’ My chin juts out, my tone thick with determination. ‘I’ve made my peace with it.’
‘Who is the father?’ Killian’s voice is low and lethal.
I pause for a long beat, taking in the disappointed looks from my family. ‘I don’t know,’ I whisper.
‘What the fuck, Zara?’ Caelon yells. ‘How can you not know?’
‘Are there that many possibilities?’ My father snaps, eyes narrowing. He turns to Killian. ‘I thought you kept tabs on who she dates?’
‘There’s only one possibility.’ I swallow the lump forming in my throat as the image of California’s gorgeous face forces itself to the front of my mind. ‘I had a holiday…’ The word fling almost slips out, but thankfully I realise ‘romance,’ is a better fit.
‘Tate.’ Killian yells to my bodyguard, who is lurking somewhere outside the door. ‘You’re fucking fired.’
‘Don’t, Killian, please, it’s not his fault,’ I beg.
‘Well, it wouldn’t have happened on my fucking watch.’ His face contours in hard, angry lines. ‘So, tell us all about this “holiday romance” of yours.’ Sarcasm drips from his tone, and it does something to me, deep inside my soul.
He’s such a hypocrite. He had his own holiday romance while he was supposed to be protecting Avery. It’s okay for my brothers to have consensual sex, but not for me.
I’m so fucking sick of being babied by my entire family.
