CHAPTER 142: BABY’S FIRST KICK ( DAMIAN’S POV )

"Would you care to explain this, dear?"

My knees hurt.

My belly is aching.

My head is throbbing.

Yet, my health state is the least of my problems.

My real problem, that was silently threatening my life with her gaze, was sitting in front of me.

Humiliating.

That is how I’d describe the situation.

Lucrezia was laid on a massage table, covered by a barely long enough towel as two beautiful men were working on her body with fragrant body oils.

She was resting her chin on her hands as she pointed down with her gaze at the spread images on the floor.

Different angles of Caleb kissing me.

F-ck. I am dead meat.

"Go on, dear, explain."

"I-I did not consent to that kiss, madam Akna."

"What an odd thing to say. You are aware that you are an omega, right?"

"I—Yes, madam Akna."

"Obviously, since you spread your legs and got pregnant, right? And you walked on your own two legs with an alpha in a hotel room, am I right?"

"You see, madam Akna, I—"

"Yes or no answers only, dear!"

Despite her overlined, over-filled lip curving into a smirk, the tonality of her voice was nothing less than threatening.

"Yes."

"So you were aware of the risks."

"Caleb is your employee, I didn’t think—"

"I was not expecting any thinking from you dear. As it did for your whole life, your pretty face saves you from such a dreadful action."

"Madam Akna, I didn’t cheat on Killian. I swear."

"He cheated on you. It’s only natural that you want to get revenge."

"I swear it’s not like that! I love your nephew!"

"Love? Dear, love doesn’t exist. You just glued yourself at my nephew’s hip since you were a kid. Like a tumor. I guess my nephew’s treatment irradiated you enough to search for another hip."

"I don’t—"

"I know he is the father."

"What?"

Lucrezia’s face twitched slightly, though the movement was subtle against her smooth, unmoving skin. Her lips pressed together, and her eyes tightened faintly at the corners.

"Do not make me repeat myself, Damian! You will only worsen your situation!"

"Caleb is not the father!"

"How do you know?"

"I am Killian’s mate. I have his mark on my neck! I am carrying his child!"

"Hah."

Lucrezia smiled amused at my display of desperation.

F-ck.

F-ck this family and most of all-

Scr-w you, Caleb, for ruining everything for me!

"I’ve got to admit, dear, your emotional outburst was quite convincing. We will see who the father is upon the birth of the child. That doesn’t change the fact you were in a hotel room with another alpha, kissing."

"Madam Akna, I have no romantic interest in anyone except your nephew!"

"Odd, dear, the pictures tell another story entirely."

The pictures scattered across the floor, maybe twelve or fifteen of them. Every single one showed Caleb and me.

In each, his mouth was pressed to mine, his hand on my cheek. His other hand was on my belly, rubbing it gently.

I could see the curve of it clearly in the shots, the way it strained against my shirt.

My own face in the photos made my stomach turn. My eyes were wide, my lips parted, my cheeks flushed.

There was a shine in my expression I couldn’t deny.

I looked excited.

I looked flustered.

I looked like I was leaning into him, letting him touch me, letting him hold me like that.

My hands were on his shoulders in some, on his arms in others. The angle of my body told its own story, one I didn’t want to face. I moved my gaze quickly from one photo to the next, but it didn’t help.

The feeling grew heavier in my chest. My breathing picked up. I could remember none of the moments, yet they were there in full detail.

The proof was scattered at my feet, and I couldn’t look away, even though I wanted to.

Lucrezia was right.

I looked like I was enjoying it thoroughly.

"Well, dear? Not going to deny anymore?"

"I- I was pent up. That is all there was to it. Killian is angry with me. He wouldn’t even look at me, let alone touch me."

"Everyone’s fault, but yours, huh?"

"I-"

"Oh, don’t start whimpering now. Fine, I guess pheromone instability is a thing for you, freaks of nature. I will make sure Killian will clean his act. But you won’t see Caleb ever again!"

"Yes, Madam Akna. Thank you!"

"Don’t. One more mistake, Damian, and both you and the kid won’t see another day. Now get out of my face. I am in a bad mood!"

I left without looking back.

My steps were quick, unsteady, my hands tightening around the strap of my bag.

The air outside felt sharp against my face.

I reached the car, opened the door, and got in. The seat felt cold.

I started the engine, the low hum filling the silence. My fingers gripped the steering wheel harder than I meant to.

The street ahead blurred as my eyes burned. I blinked, but the tears pushed through anyway.

They came fast, sliding down my cheeks, making it harder to see.

My chest felt tight, each breath uneven. I pulled the phone from my pocket with one hand, my knuckles white on the wheel with the other.

My thumb shook as it found the contact and pressed the screen. I lifted the phone to my ear, swallowing hard, trying to steady my voice before the call connected.

"Hello?"

"Hi, Damian, I didn’t expect you to call."

I didn’t say anything. I couldn’t.

"Are you ok? Your voice sounded weird and now you are not saying anything. What’s wrong?"

"She knows."

"Who knows what, baby?"

"Lucrezia knows. About the kiss. She has pictures."

Just silence on the other end, the faint hum of the car engine filling the space between breaths.

I waited, holding the phone against my ear, my hand starting to ache from the grip.

No voice came.

No sound at all.

Then the line went dead.

The flat tone cut through me, leaving only the quiet of the car. I lowered the phone slowly, staring at the screen, the reflection of my own face blurred by fresh tears.

The emptiness settled in, heavy and cold.

No one was coming.

I was alone.

As if you heard me from inside my belly, you had your first kick.

Reminding me that you exist.