Or figure out about them?
7
ANNA
One Week Later
I find him in the twins’playroom.
He’s crouched down next to Alexei, examining the elaborate tower of blocks my son just built. Mila sits a few feet away with her dolls, watching them both with uncertain eyes. Neither of the twins is speaking. They just stare at Luca like he’s a puzzle they can’t solve.
My blood goes cold.
“What are you doing?” My voice cuts across the room.
Luca looks up. His expression doesn’t change. “Talking to the children.”
“Mila. Alexei. Come here.”
They scramble to their feet immediately and run to me. I put a hand on each of their shoulders and steer them toward the door. “Go to your rooms,” I tell them. “I’ll be there in a minute.”
Mila looks back at Luca once before disappearing into the hallway. Alexei doesn’t look back at all.
Once I hear the click of their bedroom door, I gesture for Luca to leave the playroom as well. “We’re not talking about this here. In their space.”
He shrugs. “Fine.” And he grabs my arm and pulls me down the hallway after him until we reach his office. He practically throws me inside, closes the door behind us, and turns to face me. He’s standing with his hands in his pockets, perfectly calm. Like he didn’t just invade the one space I’ve tried to keep separate from him. “So talk.”
“You need to stop doing this,” I say.
“Doing what? Speaking to children who live in my house?”
“They’re my children.”
“They’re living under my roof. Eating my food. Protected by my security. That makes them part of my household, whether you like it or not.”
“That doesn’t give you the right to corner them when I’m not around.”
“I wasn’t cornering them. I was introducing myself. Something you’ve made impossible for two weeks.”
I cross my arms. “They don’t need to know you.”
“Why?” He takes a step closer. “What exactly do you think I’m going to do to them?”
“I don’t know. That’s the problem.”
“I’ve given you no reason to think I’d harm children.”
“You forced me into this marriage. You threatened my family. You bought me like I’m a piece of property. Forgive me if I don’t trust your intentions.”
His jaw tightens. “This arrangement benefits everyone. Your parents keep their company. You and your children have security and resources you couldn’t provide on your own. I get a legitimate public image and control over Kestrel Maritime. Everyone wins.”
“Except I didn’t want any of this.”
“What you wanted was irrelevant. Your father made decisions that put your family in an impossible position. I offered a solution. You accepted it.”
“Because I had no choice.”
“You always had a choice. You chose your children’s future over your pride. That was smart.”
