The Billion Dollar Mistake

11. Lucien Can't Be Widowed

"I know she's not lying." He shrugged, lacing his fingers together.

"How?" I furrowed my brow.

"I was with Eva when she first told her. She never said how far along she was, so I figured it was someone else's." He explained. My anger started to creep to the surface. He was hiding something and I couldn't pinpoint what it was. "I didn't put two and two together until earlier when she revealed that she was four months and you just had a 'meeting' with 'Harper Raye Inc.' this morning."

My jaw dropped. I felt numb. Stupid.

How could I not see that one? She used her real name.

But you forgot her name.

I leaned back with a huff.

"God dammit." I breathed. "And here I thought it would be you."

"I made Eva piss on like seven sticks before I left." Ruger chuckled. "I got scared when she said it was normal not to show."

I laughed a genuine laugh. We were too alike for our own good.

"Lucky bastard." I shook my head.

He tipped his glass to me before taking a drink. A part of me was happy that I could potentially be having a kid on the way.  That's the one thing I've wanted since I was a teenager. But the only problem is that I want kids by Nat, even if we're dysfunctional as fuck.

A redemption.

"Do you think she'll keep her?" I asked, slowly. I was honestly afraid of his answer. I didn't know if I'd be able to go through life knowing I let my daughter suffer through the system. Especially to appease a woman I barely like most days.

Hopefully she'll give her to me. I'm sure Nat wouldn't mind.

Especially if she looks like me.

Shit, what are you doing?

Don't. Get. Attached.

"Her?" He quirked an eyebrow.

"It's a girl." I replied, looking away.

"I don't know." He drawled. "She didn't seem too happy. At all, really."

Is it really that bad?

Am I really that bad?

"She wasn't." I confirmed solemnly. "She referred to pregnancy as the 'nine month walk of shame.'" He grimaced.

"Ouch."

"Tell me about it." I mumbled, rubbing my temples.

We fell into silence when our food came. I could barely focus on the plate in front of me. I raised my gaze to see Ruger staring at me.

"Do you want her?" He asked, looking directly into my eyes.

I would take her in a heartbeat.

"I would love to have her." I sighed. "But Nat would kill me."

"There's only one thing we can do." He grinned over his knife.

"What?" I leaned forward. He leaned in closer with an evil grin.

"Kill Nat."
----

"Baaaabee."

"Daddy."

"Baaaaabyyyy!"

It took two hours to tell Ruger that killing my wife was a terrible idea.

I'm starting to regret that.

"Are you listening to me?" Natalie whined, in front of me.

"Sorry princess, what?" I asked, secretly wishing she would get mad and leave me the fuck alone.

"I had the worst day." She pouted. "My stylist dressed me in three different greens, which usually wouldn't be a problem, but I wasn't going for the monochromatic look. I wanted an even color like,"

But that's- nevermind fuck it.

"A blade of grass." I finished for her. She gave me a frown. I flashed what I think was a cheeky smile. She giggled and swatted at my arm.

"Oh! That wasn't even the worst." She complained. "I broke my nail!"

I sighed. Why couldn't she break her neck.

"What was that?" She cocked her head.

"I said we should get that fixed." I dodged, getting out of the bed.

"Eeek!" She shrieked scrambling off of the bed. "You always know what I'm thinking."

"Gotta keep my lady looking nice." I said dryly. She tried to kiss me; I leaned away from her. She didn't even notice as she rambled about needing a Ruby ring to match her new lingerie set. My ears perked. "New lingerie set?"

She twirled around and held up two shopping bags. I mentally rolled my eyes. Her addiction to lingerie didn't usually extend to the bedroom that we shared. Aside from the initial try on, I rarely got to see the new pickups alone. She would often wear lingerie in front of our company. I guess to make it seem like we have a hot sex life.

Even though I get more turned on by watching paint dry.

I sighed and decided to play the good husband role. I strode toward her with a devilish smirk on my face. She bit her lip as I grabbed her chin.

"Model for daddy." I whispered in her ear, my lips grazed her ear slightly. Her breath hitched in a whimper on my shoulder. I smirked and leaned back.

You're an asshole, Roma.