Page 180 of Forbidden Forget-Me-Not

“For our family, your new family, and for perception.”

“You’re unbelievable.” I tightened my grip on my clutch. “I suppose that is the one good thing about marrying Julian. I’ll never have to see your face again.”

My chest ached as I said it. Father flinched, but I meant every single word.

He opened his mouth to respond, but the car slowed as we approached the venue. The restaurant glowed like a beacon in the dark.

“I rented the entire place for tonight,” Julian said, voice filled with arrogance.

If he expected praise, he wouldn’t get it from me.

The car stopped, and the doors opened. Music drifted in from the waterfront. Julian offered me his hand. It was in my best interest to play along now that we had an audience. I allowed Julian to help me out of the limo and lead me down the walkway.

Julian hadn’t merely reserved the restaurant. The Harringtons had taken over. Their guards lined the entrance, far more than usual. Men in dark suits with earpieces stood in pairs, scanning not only the street, but the rooftops above.

The amount of security present seemed odd for what amounted to an engagement party. Julian and my father had been tight-lipped about their business dealings, and not for the first time, I wondered if I wasn’t marrying into a family more corrupt than my own.

The sea breeze brushed a strand of hair against my cheek. Flashes went off somewhere to my left. Of course, Julian had brought in photographers. Everything would be documented, and the thought of Goran seeing the photos turned my stomach.

The rich aroma of food filled the air along with laughter and the clink of crystal. I felt it then…a flutter of dread that refused to be ignored. It had finally hit me that I was walking toward something inevitable.

For just a moment, my knees shook as my fight-or-flight instinct screamed at me to run for the limo.

A weight pressed against my chest, making it hard to breathe. Julian didn’t notice as he led me through the doors. The live string quartet near the windows played far too loudly, and the scent of roses and white lilies was so thick it almost masked the salt in the air, making me gag.

Spotting the washroom, I yanked my arm free from Julian’s grip, not caring who saw as I sprinted inside to the first available stall. Faintly, I heard Sven arguing with Julian and my father as I threw up.

My sapphire-blue dress pooled around the stark white porcelain, mocking me. Everything in my stomach made a reappearance, and then I was left heaving. Flushing the toilet, I leaned against the wall, eyes closed, trying to catch my breath and hoping I wasn’t about to be sick again.

“How far along are you?”

Terror washed over me like a bucket of icy water. My eyes snapped open, and I turned to see my father standing near the door.

Straightening my dress, I walked out to the sink.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I had bad seafood for lunch, that’s all.”

He chuckled and moved closer.

My heart raced as I washed my hands, then rinsed my mouth. I was trapped.

“Kaylani, do you think I am a fool? I have four children. I know the signs. With the boys, your mother was always sick at night, but with you, it was far less. That makes me think you’re having a boy. Now, answer me. How far?”

I grabbed a small towel from the stand and dried my hands, eyes shifting toward the exit that felt miles away. Finally, they returned to his face.

“You’re mistaken. I’m sorry Mother had such a terrible time, but⁠—”

“Enough,” he growled, his voice taking on a hard edge that made me tremble.

My hand flew to my stomach before I could catch myself.

His eyes tracked the movement. “How far?”

“Nine weeks.” My voice barely rose above a whisper.

He swore a long string of curses, spinning away from me and gripping the edge of the sink. My bottom lip trembled as I reached for his arm.

“Please,” I begged.