Chapter 20
Nathan’s POV
I paced back and forth in the hallway outside my father’s office, my heart pounding as if it wanted to leap out of my chest. Lily had told me she was pregnant yesterday, and I needed a day to digest the news. Now, I had to tell my father—I’d rather he heard it from me than from anyone else.
Damn, I had scolded Lily yesterday for being so nervous, and now look at me–nervous wreck like a teenager. My palms were sweating from nerves, constantly wiping them on
my suit pants.
My father had warned me numerous times not to get involved with work girls, especially not to let them get pregnant. That warning hung over me like a sword, almost suffocating me. He had also told me to take care of Lily, something I had failed to do.
At least today my father was in the office and not at home. That meant I didn’t have to
announce this news in front of my entire family. I especially didn’t want to face my mother, Elizabeth, right now. Just the thought of her reaction made my scalp tingle.
“Nathan, are you running a marathon out there? Are you on drugs?” My father’s voice
startled me as it came from the office.
I took a deep breath, pushed the door open, and walked in, trying to appear calm. “Sorry to disturb you.”
“Are you here to keep me company?” My father raised an eyebrow, looking at me with a half–smile. “You never do this.”
I stood in front of his desk, my hands clenching and unclenching nervously from the tension. “I need to tell you something, but you have to promise not to get angry.”
My father paused his work, carefully studying me. He rarely saw me this fearful, and it clearly caught his attention. He slowly stood up, walking to a corner of the office where a liquor cabinet stood, taking out a bottle of whiskey and two glasses.
“You might need a drink too, because you’re going to need it,” he said, pushing one of the glasses towards me.
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Chapter 20
I downed the drink in one go, but the burning sensation in my throat didn’t ease my nerves. As my father turned away, I reached for his glass and downed that too.
“So, what’s so important?” My father turned back, finding his glass empty, but he just shook his head lightly, not reprimanding me.
I took a deep breath, mustering all my courage, and blurted out, “Lily is pregnant. You’re going to be a grandfather, congratulations.”
Honestly, I had practiced saying “I’m going to be a dad” in front of the mirror, but each time it came out like a question, full of uncertainty and fear.
My father’s expression froze. The silence in the office was suffocating, and I could almost
hear my own heartbeat.
“Lily is carrying your child?” he finally spoke, his voice surprisingly calm.
I nodded, unsure of what to say.
“Tell her to get rid of the child.”
I felt the world crumble beneath my feet. This response was something I had never anticipated.
“What? No!” I protested in astonishment, “We’re keeping this child.”
“Tell her to get rid of the child,” my father repeated, his voice still calm but with a fear I
had never seen before.
“Why do you always want me to stay away from Lily?” I questioned, confusion and anger intertwining in my heart, “Is this about you not wanting me to get close to her all along?”
A dreadful thought suddenly flashed through my mind: “Wait, she’s not some secret half- sister, is she?”
My father shook his head, his expression serious. “No, of course not.”
“She’s planning to move in with me,” I stated firmly, “I will take full responsibility, just as you taught me.”
“She cannot have this child,” my father said for the third time, “Tell her to get rid of it.”
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Chapter 20
“‘It‘?” I repeated in confusion, “Why are you referring to my child as ‘it‘?”
Avoiding my gaze, my father walked back to his desk.
“Unless you give me a reasonable explanation, I’m leaving,” I turned to walk towards the
door.
“Nathan, stop.” My father’s voice suddenly became low and urgent, he quickly rounded the desk, grabbing my arm to stop me from leaving, “Lily is a Donovan, Sean’s daughter.”
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