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“So, you’re settling for him because you can’t have me?”
“I’m not settling for him! I love him.”
“Excuse me if I’m skeptical.”
“What you are is none of my business.”
I reach over and take CJ out of his arms. Walking to his nursery without a word, I don’t care if Chase follows me, but he does, just as he did when I took care of Johnny and Arabella. I spare a glance and catch him leans against the doorjamb, watching me.
After I finish putting our son in his crib, I brush past Chase but not fast enough. He pulls me to a stop, but my momentum swings me against the wall, where he cages me between his arms as much as I don’t want it to happen, my belly clenches. His face is so close to mine.
“Steven, a poor substitute for me, and I don’t want him near my son.”
“Chase, I don’t care. I’m not looking for a substitute. I’m looking for a man who loves me and wants to have a family. You don’t want that. Go back to Los Angeles to your fiancé.”
“Not until we work out visitation,” he argues. “Now that I know he’s mine, I want to see him regularly.”
“Why? I don’t have to give you visitation. You didn’t support me through my pregnancy and the first four months of CJ’s life.”
“That’s because I didn’t know. You never told me, and if I didn’t see the announcement in the newsletter, I would never have known. Were you ever going to tell me about him?”
“No,” I say softly, but assuredly.
Chase backs away from me. His breathing is becoming heavier as he thinks about my admission, and I almost feel sorry for him. Almost. He has no control in this situation. CJ is my son, and I make the rules.
“What would your family think of that? Did you even tell them that he’s mine?”
“They’re aware.”
“Did you tell them that you never told me?”
If I tell him yes, it’s a lie. If Chase knew that I smeared his name by telling my family he was aware of my pregnancy and left anyway, he would be livid.
“It never came up.”
“You’re lying to me. I’m sure they asked what I thought and when they did, what did you say?”
Shaking my head, I walk away from him, but he grabs me by the arm, glaring at me with those bright blue eyes.
“Answer me, Megan.”
“I told them you knew.”
Chase throws his hands up. “What kind of monster do they think I am?! You told them that I knew you were pregnant and walked away?”
“It was for the best!” I hiss.
“For who? You? So you could save face?”
“Whether I was pregnant or not, you walked away. They could hate you just as easily for walking away as for walking away while I was pregnant.”
“But leaving and abandoning my child is so much worse.”
“Oh, excuse me for tarnishing your reputation.”
“I’m not concerned about my reputation. I’m concerned about how it will look once I’m involved again. I abandon you and then come back? I want you to tell them the truth.”
“Why can’t you just go back to Los Angeles and leave me alone? I’m not asking for anything from you. I can support myself, and once I’m married, I’ll have Steven.”
