Cormac sneered. “Privacy?”
The way he smiled was particularly creepy, “You married me with a bastard in your belly and now you come lecturing me about privacy?”
“I-I…” Loredana wanted to explain but she was suddenly at a loss for words.
Cormac stood and his steps seemed almost robotic. Each step seemed to change the atmosphere of the room. Then an angry frown creased his forehead.
“Tell me, what do you want?”
Cormac didn’t know what to think. Did she want him to be the father of her illegitimate child and make the child be the first grandchild of the Mendelsohn family?
Was the previous deal merely a way to trap him?
The more he thought about it, the more his face darkened.
Loredana’ lips pressing into a thin line and her body quivered. She walked backward until she ran into a wall with her hands covering her abdomen, fearing that Cormac would hurt her child.
“I didn’t mean to hide it from you. The marriage was only a short-term arrangement, and that’s why I-I hid it from you. I swear I don’t have any ulterior motive.”
Cormac’s tone seemed to become thick with eerie intimidation. “Oh? Really?”
Loredana didn’t move her hands covering her abdomen, trying to come up with a plan. “I’m certain that this kind of thing definitely can’t be muddled through. If I have any deceitful or wicked thoughts, I swear
I’ll die miserably. Moreover, if I cause you any trouble Mr. Mendelsohn, I think you’d have many ways to kill me, right?”
Although her movement was subtle, Cormac couldn’t help but notice it. He glanced at her covered abdomen before looking back up at her face.
“Why didn’t you tell me about this before?”
Cormac wouldn’t believe her so easily. Her hands protecting her abdomen slowly clenched into fists.
The child was unexpected for her too, but it was her child, after all. She’d already lost her brother, so she wanted to give birth to her child in his memory.
In the future, she would be with her and the three of them could live together just like in the past.
When Loredana thought about everything that happened that night, she couldn’t help but tremble and she wiped her cold and clammy hands on her shirt. “I-I also just found it out not long before…”
She hadn’t even told her mother yet. She didn’t dare mention the battery of tests she had done in the hospital. She didn’t want to leave the paperwork in the house, as she was afraid Maxina would find it.
She didn’t expect her pregnancy to cause such a huge commotion. The last thing she wanted was for
Cormac to think she was trying to deceive him.
She was still very young, but she surprisingly… How promiscuous was her private life?
Cormac’s face looked immensely dark, and he spoke in a warning tone. “You better be obedient for this one month, if I find out you’re making trouble…”
“No, I’ll not cause any trouble. I’ll be obedient, and if I do anything out of line, I’ll be entirely at your disposal,” Loredana hurriedly promised.
Even if she couldn’t gain his trust, she wouldn’t let him doubt her motives. She was already in a difficult situation, and it would be too detrimental for getting her things back if she had another enemy.
Cormac stared at her with probing eyes, as if he was judging the credibility of her words.
Knock knock…
The two of them turned to the door and Coral’s voice called through the door. “Breakfast is ready.”
Cormac stopped staring at Loredana and swallowed his anger. “Clean up the floor, I’ll see you downstairs.”
Before he’d finished speaking, he turned around and left the room.
As soon as Cormac left, Loredana’ legs went weak. She braced herself against the wall behind her and held onto a low cabinet while she regained her strength. As soon as she felt strong enough, she squatted down and picked up the clothes scattered around the floor.
When she saw the ultrasound, tears trickled down her cheeks and dropped on the pictures. She wiped her face and told herself that she couldn’t cry as crying was a sign of weakness. She couldn’t be weak.
Her mother and the baby in her belly needed her.
She folded up the picture and put it in her bag. Then, she changed into her clothes and headed downstairs.
There was already no one in the dining room and there was an empty coffee cup plate on the table.
That meant that Cormac was already done eating and left.
Loredana heaved a sigh of relief, glad she wouldn’t be pressured into spending time with Cormac.
She took a seat at the dining table and ate a delicious meal.
*****
After breakfast, Loredana left the house. She’d promised her mother she visit as soon as she could be afraid that Maxina would worry about her.
As soon as she arrived, Maxina stopped her at the door. “The young master of the Mendelsohn family…”
“Mom.” Loredana’ tone was very heavy and she didn’t want to talk about any of it. “He’s a very nice person. Please don’t worry about me.”
Maxina sighed. Her daughter had grown up, was thinking for herself, and wasn’t interested in listening to her mother anymore. She couldn’t help but feel disappointed, “I’m just caring about you.”
She was afraid Cormac would treat her daughter badly.
Loredana hugged Maxina. She didn’t mean to do so but she was just too exhausted after spending so much effort to confront Cormac and convince him she meant him no harm. “Mom, I’m just a little tired, I didn’t mean it.”
“I know, I don’t blame you.” Maxina could feel her daughter’s exhaustion. “If you’re tired, go to sleep for a while.”
Loredana nodded. Even though she didn’t want to sleep, she was really tired. After going to her room, she fell asleep without realizing it.
At noon, the lunch Maxina made was ready and she woke Loredana up to eat.
Once Loredana sat at the table, Maxina served Loredana some rice. “I made the meal with the fish you like to eat.”
Maxina felt guilty for her daughter. Although she’d given birth to her in a good place, she’d been unable to give Loredana a good childhood and she let her suffer together with her.
Loredana looked at the sour-sweet fish cooked by her mother on the table. It had a faint sweet and sour taste which she used to love to eat. However, when she caught a whiff of the smell wafting toward her, her stomach churned
She couldn’t prevent the moan from escaping. “Urg…”
“Lola.”
Loredana had no time to explain. She covered her mouth and made a beeline to the washroom, lowering her body to the sink and retching.
New Book: Beginning with a Daring Encounter
Celsie was tired of being labeled as an introvert, workaholic, and dull virgin by her friends. Determined to prove them wrong, she made a bet that she would do something daring on her 25th birthday. Now that the day had arrived, it was time to fulfill her promise. On her daring to-do list, there was one task: a one-night stand with someone.
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