Page 43 of Bought By the Ruthless Pakhan

A storm was gathering in those eyes, like a current that had been suppressed deep underwater, slowly rising to the surface.

"You have a child?"

"Yes." I zipped my bag. "He's four. Very sweet."

"And his father?" Each word seemed squeezed through clenched teeth. "Do you love him?"

My fingers tightened on the bag strap.

How could he ask that?

Did I love my child's father?

I didn't even have the courage to admit he was that father.

Right now, I could only straighten my back and answer with forced calm. "The kid's father and I had a one-night stand. Love doesn't come into it."

"Impossible." He denied it too fast—like a reflex. "Anna, you're not the kind of person who does one-night stands!"

Aren't I?

But isn't that how we started?

The auction, the price, one night.

He bought me. I handed over those nights. Fair exchange. Simple transaction.

I turned my face away, not daring to meet his eyes.

He gripped my chin, forcing me to look at him. "You're lying."

I slapped his hand away. "Why would I lie? Ivan, we're nothing to each other now. You can go ahead and check if you want. I can't lie about having a son."

In that instant, I could see Ivan's eyes turn red.

His breathing got heavier, each breath dragged up from deep in his throat.

All the air in the room felt sucked out. Light filtered through the window onto the floor, but it offered no warmth.

My head was buzzing.

Reason stretched like a taut wire, reminding me not to give in.

He had a wife, a family. I couldn't be the other woman. Especially when he and his wife had no respect for me. To them, I was just some gold-digging girl.

I continued. "I need to go home. Please move."

He didn't move. The cold air around him hit my face. "I don't believe you."

My heart clenched.

What was he holding onto?

I bit my lower lip, swallowing back the heart trying to leap out of my chest. "What's not to believe? Don't forget how we met."

I pushed against his chest, trying to squeeze out of this suffocating pressure. "I could do it with you, I could do it with others, too."

Chapter Twelve