Chapter 4

The next morning, the door to my cheap motel room was pounded on so hard it sounded like it would splinter.

I opened it to find Joey and his mother standing there, their faces cold with fury.

Joey stormed in, his face dark. "Cersei, what did you do to Valerie at the hospital yesterday?"

I looked at him, so ready to accuse me, and found it utterly laughable.

"I think that's my question to ask. She tried to push me down a flight of stairs, a crime I haven't yet reported," I said, my eyes like ice.

"You're still lying!" Joey roared, the veins in his forehead bulging. "Valerie came home last night in tears! She said her stomach hurt so much she couldn't sleep. You must be jealous she's carrying my pup, so you tried to hurt our baby!"

I laughed, but there was no humor in it. "I told you, I didn't do anything."

"Enough!" Joey cut me off, refusing to listen. "Valerie wouldn't even hurt a fly, let alone push you. And I'm not here to listen to your excuses."

He pulled a check from his pocket and threw it contemptuously on the table.

"Fifty thousand dollars." His eyes, devoid of any warmth, flickered to my stomach. "Take it and get rid of that mutt."

I stared at the check, a deep chill spreading through my entire body.

This was the man I had loved for three years. For another woman, he was willing to order the death of his own flesh and blood.

"I'm not getting an abortion," I said, my fists clenched. "This is my pup."

"Have you no shame?" his mother chimed in, her face twisted in disgust as she surveyed the shabby room. "Valerie is about to officially bond with Joey. She is his true mate! A pup from a cleaner like you would be a bastard, unblessed by the Moon Goddess! Its very birth would be a disgrace!"

"A disgrace?" I looked at her mockingly. "Is there anything more disgraceful than Valerie getting pregnant before she's even bonded to Joey?"

"Shut up!" Joey snapped, enraged. He took a step closer. "Cersei, I'm not negotiating with you. This is my final offer."

"If you don't get rid of that bastard, I will use my legal team to fight for custody after it's born."

"You have nothing now, not even a decent job. The court will never grant you custody."

"And when I get custody, I'll give the pup to Valerie to raise. He'll call another woman 'mother,' and you will never see him again for the rest of your life."

Give my pup to him? To be raised by that vicious woman who tried to kill me?

That threat crossed a line.

I looked at Joey's cruel face, my hand gently resting on my belly, feeling the faint heartbeat of my pup.

I realized I couldn't stay silent any longer.

For my child, I had to crush these worthless people before they could truly harm my pup.

I didn't scream or cry.

I calmly took out my phone, and right in front of them, I sent a mind-link, my voice steady.

"Father. I need you to come get me. Now."

After I sent the message, Joey's mother let out a shrill, exaggerated laugh.

"Oh, listen to you, putting on a show!" she pointed at me, laughing so hard she bent over. "What are you going to do? Call your poor daddy from the slums to come and back you up? What's he going to do? Get on his knees and beg us for mercy?"

Joey also sneered and shook his head, looking at me like I was insane. "Cersei, you're hopeless. I'll wait right here. Let's see what kind of 'big shot' you can summon."

I stood my ground, my back straight, looking at them as if they were already dead.

"Fine. Then you'd better not blink."