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He narrows his eyes as if he can see the reason for the topic change. Sometimes, he reads me so well that it terrifies me, because now, he has the power to annihilate me if he chooses to.
The power to lock me up in an asylum and marry another woman who can give him children. Maybe someone from old money like Gemma.
The thought brings bile to the back of my throat. “But you could’ve taken it easy on Papa.”
“He wouldn’t respect me if I did.”
“I still don’t respect you and never will, punk.” Papa tugs me away from him and kisses the top of my head. “Are you divorcing him anytime soon, princess?”
“Sorry to disappoint you.” Eli pulls me back to his side. “But we’ll be happily married for your lifetime and beyond, Uncle.”
“Don’t call me that.”
“My son can call you whatever he pleases.” Uncle Aiden stands by Eli’s side and crosses his arms, a mischievous gleam igniting in both father’s and son’s eyes. “Aw, don’t tell me you’re upset you lost to me?Again.”
“I’ll bury you and your son six feet under right here and now.”
“Papa,” I whisper.
“I’d like to see you try,” Uncle Aiden says.
“Dad,” Eli says with a note of reprimand. “Let’s take it easy on Uncle Cole. He put so much effort into driving a wedge between me and my wife for nothing. Surely, we can be magnanimous.”
“Absolutely, son. He can be taxing when acting petty.”
“Word.”
“Eli!” I elbow him and try to go to Papa, but he tightens his grip around my waist, forcing me to remain in place.
“I’m here to stay, Uncle. So either you accept that and the beautiful grandchildren we’ll give you, or you drive yourself to an early grave by giving yourself heart issues.”
“Grandchildren, Cole.” Uncle Aiden grins wolfishly. “For your information, we’ll be sharing those.”
“Many of them, too,” Eli says, caressing my waist. “My Ava wants at least three.”
“This little—” Papa lunges at Eli, or I think he does, because I’ve checked out.
The world turns into a buzzing mess. My heart throbs and no air reaches my lungs.
A gentle stroke of a finger against my throat brings me back to the present. Eli, Uncle Aiden, and Papa are staring at me intently.
“You okay?” my husband asks, his brow furrowed.
I let my trembling lips flatten in a smile. “Yeah. I could use sitting down, though.”
He walks me to a bench and kneels in front of me, then passes me a bottle of water.
As I take a sip, his fingers rub my knee over my dress. “Do you need to take your pills?”
I nod and start to retrieve them with a shaky hand. He strokes my hand, bringing my movements to a stop, and then brings out the bottle and hands me two pills.
I take them and remove my glasses, letting them fall onto my lap.
My heart rate slows down to normal after a while, even though my fingers are grasping the bottle of water in a death grip.
“Better?” he asks, his fingers touching my pulse and my cheek.
I nod.
