Page 145 of Revenge
“Because it’s you. Now talk or let me be. I don’t have time to waste with you.” I take a deep breath. I need to rip it off like a Band-Aid.
“Daddy, Viktor is asking for a paternity test.”
“Are you really surprised he would? He knows you, Fiona.”
“I can’t do it, Daddy. If I do, he’ll learn that the baby I’m carrying isn’t his.”
“For fucks sake. I know you aren’t stupid enough to have slept with another man since you returned from London.”
“No, Daddy. I was already pregnant.” I brace myself for whatever is coming. I might be his little girl, but this is business. The only way for my dad to get what he wants is for me to give birth to a Manarch. He’s said so, time after time.
“Always sleeping around. I don’t know why the hell I wasn’t given a son. I wouldn’t be dealing with half the shit you’ve put me through.”
“I’m sorry, Daddy. I didn’t mean?—”
“You never mean to fuck things up.” There’s a deep exhale and then shuffling. “I need you here in ten.”
“Daddy, I can’t leave the house. It will raise suspicion.”
“I wasn’t talking to you, Fiona. Go about your night as usual. Take the damn test, and I’ll take care of the rest.”
“But if I do, he’ll learn the truth.”
“He won’t learn anything.”
“What do you mean?” I’m confused.
“You’re lucky. You’re not the only person pregnant.”
“Does Viktor have someone else pregnant?”
“What do you think, Fiona? For fucks sake, think. You can’t possibly be that dumb.” He’s annoyed.
“Is Ava pregnant? How do you know? Do you know where she is?”
“I know everything. I’ll fix this mess you’ve made. You will behave and lay low. Take the damn test and leave everything to me.”
“Where is she? I want to know.”
“You’ve done enough damage. I’ll take care of everything.”
“Daddy, if he finds out she’s pregnant, he’ll leave me.”
“He’ll never find out she’s pregnant. Keep this shit to yourself. After this conversation, you’re to never mention her again. Stay clear of her. Do you understand?” I find myself thinking about what he just told me. “Fiona,” he screams.
“Yes, Daddy. I understand.” But I’m not sure I can. If she’s pregnant, I can’t just let her be.
“Good. Don’t call me again, and delete your call log. If Viktor is asking you for a DNA paternity test, it means he doesn’t trust you.”
“I know, Dad. Thanks for helping me.”
“Remember, Fiona, I’m not doing this for you. I’m doing this for the McIntyre name. Don’t you forget it.”
I don’t get a chance to say anything else. The cell goes dead. I would like to say that I’m surprised by how he’s acting, but I’m not. I might be the heir to the McIntyre name, but I’m expected to do what he says. I just can’t believe he didn’t tell me he knows where Ava is. She’s my biggest threat.
On top of that, she’s having Viktor’s baby. He has to see that Ava and that baby are a threat. A threat that needs to be eliminated. Once this mess with the DNA paternity test is done, I will find her and destroy her. She will not take what is rightfully mine and get her happy ending. I’m the true Mrs. Manarch, and no one will get in the way of that.
This past year has been hell. I have tried so hard to get what I want, but nothing seems to work. This is all Dad’s fault. His damn greed led to this. That first engagement party changed it all. Everything was going great before that. I was going to get what I had been working for. But Dad wanted the Manarchs out of the way so badly that he didn’t care for the consequences. He planned everything down to the second. Yet, things didn’t go as planned. I was supposed to convince Viktor to have the engagement party. Viktor was so dead against it. But I knew he loved me, so I used it against him. He was so naive in many ways.
