Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 77265 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77265 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Why is he hovering over me so much? Does he always do this? Did I stupidly mistake it as love and adoration when my brain was in its fog?
I force a confused look on my face and then turn to look at my freckly faced captor. “Why not?”
He scrutinizes my doe-eyed expression and it’s difficult not to flinch under his intensity. Then he raises a hand to brush a strand of hair away from my face. “Because I said so, love.”
The endearment has my insides shriveling up.
It’s then I realize it was never his to call me.
It belongs to someone else.
Goose bumps flash across my skin as I recall lips on my neck and a strong, firm body pressing me into the mattress. A man, much larger and powerful, drives into me with possessive need. The fragment of a memory consumes me.
Love.
It has to be Caius.
I’m his love, not Seth’s.
But because I can’t reveal my hand to this monster masquerading as a good father, loving husband, and successful doctor, I don’t challenge him. The real Romy would argue her case. This plastic version of her knows her place.
“Okay. I’m sure I can make chocolate chip cookies again since that’s your favorite.”
He nods, pleased at my acquiescence. “Thank you.”
I close my eyes when he kisses me, trying not to gag at the way his tongue rapes my mouth. Bile creeps up my throat and I wonder if he’ll take it personally if I puke on him. I could always blame morning sickness.
Thankfully, he pulls away and gives me a gentle smile I once trusted. I’m now fully aware of the evil that lurks beneath.
“Daddy, can you push me on the swing?” Kaitlyn asks when she bounds into the kitchen, full of life and energy.
Is he really her father?
I don’t believe that.
Is Caius her father?
“Mommy needs my attention today, sweetheart,” Seth says. “I’m sorry.”
“I’m fine,” I say quickly. “About to start dinner. Go ahead. It’s stopped raining. Who knows when we’ll get a break from the weather again.”
I make the mistake of glancing at his phone sitting on the bar. His eyes burn into me. I’ve been caught.
“I don’t think Mommy is feeling well,” Seth explains to her. “I think the baby might be sick. Why don’t you get your matching game and we can play that?”
Kaitlyn, bless her, crosses her arms over her chest and pouts. “I want to swing, though, Daddy. It’s been raining forever.”
She’s too adorable to tell no, and I’m praying he caves. With a soft sigh, he relaxes his shoulders and nods.
“Go grab your rain boots,” he instructs. “Sunshine stays inside, though. I’m not giving that dog another bath this week.”
Sunshine, from her spot on the floor by the back door, lifts her head and her ears perk up.
“I’ll bathe you if you get dirty,” I say to our dog.
Kaitlyn runs off to grab her boots and Sunshine scrambles to her feet to chase after her. Everyone in this house knows that dog goes wherever she goes. Even in the mud. Even when Daddy says no.
I inwardly cringe.
He’s not her daddy.
Caius is.
I think.
As soon as she’s gone, Seth prowls over to me. He cups my cheeks and tilts my head up to look at him. His eyes bore into me, probing the depths of my troubled mind as if he has VIP access.
“Tomorrow, we should head to the lab.”
The scowl that crosses over my features is instant and I can’t even fake a neutral expression. Again, I’m caught. He misses nothing.
“You don’t like that?” He arches up an auburn eyebrow. “Why’s that, love?”
I want to crawl out of my own skin every time he calls me love.
“Would you like getting poked and prodded?” I ask in a forced, teasing voice. “I already have one on the inside doing that to me.” I sigh heavily. “I think this pregnancy is just getting to me. I’m sorry if I’m being grumpy.”
He relaxes at my words. “You’re growing our daughter inside you. You’re allowed to have off days.”
Not your daughter.
Mine.
Alarm bells clang inside my skull as if to say, “Winner! Winner! Winner!” I know he’s not the father. The knowledge is there, if only just a feeling at the moment, but it’s there. I don’t know all the details yet, but I know I’m getting closer.
Seth kneels to talk to my belly. It’s something he’s done a lot, but it never bothered me until now. Before, I thought it was endearing. That he was a doting father. I’m disgusted by his actions. I want him far away from me and this baby.
“My grandmother’s name was Trudy. You like the name Trudy, Trudy?”
To think I was almost set on letting him name my baby that.
I’ll be long gone before this baby is born and she will not be called Trudy.
“It’s a cute name.” I pat his gelled hair to assure him I think he’s delightful and that I love him. I’m a liar.