Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
Michael
Last night, Britney let me stay but refused to talk about anything. She’d clearly been thinking half the night.
After she finally got to sleep, I refused to wake her. She needed to be protected.
And the time had come for me to take control. So when I woke up, I called a meeting of the minds.
Time to set my sister straight and let my parents and our legal teams know that everything was set in stone. My voice would be steady from then on.
When Britney came downstairs in sleep pants and a T- shirt, I stood and asked, “Are you up for breakfast with my parents?”
Her eyes widened, but she nodded and tugged on her shirt. “Of course. I need five minutes.”
Perfect. Our unborn child needed to be protected from any more drama from my family, which meant I needed to get everyone in line.
She came out in a paisley-print chiffon maxi dress with a black underdress.
We headed to the car, and minutes later, we walked up the steps to the entailed London house.
As we headed to the dining room, Britney clutched my arm and said, “Bernadette?”
I tensed, not having expected my sister there. My parents were sitting with her at the dining room table, set for five.
I held Britney’s side and said, “You are unexpected. We’re having a family sit-down as you upset my wife last night, sister.”
My sister let out a small laugh. “Your wife?”
My parents looked down into their tea cups.
I held Britney’s chair for her to sit. “Yes, she is legally my wife and future mother of my child, and no matter what you threaten, these are facts that won’t change anything.”
She cocked her eyebrow, raised her tea glass, and asked, “Are you sure?”
My mother’s face pinkened, and my father coughed.
Britney tapped the table. “Would you like my doctor’s number so you can go steal his medical files?”
Bernadette pressed a hand to her heart. “I don’t have to steal anything.”
Britney sat back and shook her head. “Right, you can just email someone who does your dirty work for you.”
Bernadette stood. “I don’t have to be here.”
“Sit down,” my mother said.
For the first time in my life, both my mother and sister acted like they needed to hear my words.
Bernadette fluttered as she sat. “Mother?—”
“The marriage is legal whether you approve or not.” My mother said.
My father quickly added, “Your brother is here, and he has something he intends to tell us.”
Good. The time had come for me to take responsibility and get everyone on board. I nodded and said, “Exactly. As the oldest and the rightful heir?—”
“You don’t want the responsibility,” Bernadette interrupted.
I glared at my sister. “And you don’t get it either way. If something did happen to me, my heir becomes next in line now.”
She shook her head. “If she’s pregnant.”
My mother whispered to my father, “At least we were told.”
I sat opposite her and folded my hands on the table. “Do you honestly think I could make a trillion dollars and anyone would believe I’m stupid, sister? Making the family the victim of gossip gets you nothing. So now, Britney is pregnant, it’s mine, so that will be the last time you question her.”
Her face pinkened. “You can’t be serious right now.”
Good. She heard me. “I’ve never been more serious. Mother and I have agreed she is to give her staff a yearly clothing allowance to keep up with fashion for their black-and-white-only uniforms, and she is not going to be deciding other people’s clothes anymore.”
My mother’s face was pinched, but she nodded. “I will reside in the dower house when it’s time.”
I hoped that would be forever as I wanted nothing from this house.
Bernadette then said, “Father?—”
My father shook his head as he said, “Michael is my son and my rightful heir.”
Tears rolled down my sister’s face, and her lip curled as she said, “You sold my hand away in a debt years ago, and you still haven’t fixed any of it.”
Britney asked, “What?”
I blinked, unsure what Bernadette meant. Britney stared at her too.
Bernadette lifted her chin and said, “Father sold me. I’ve done everything I can to get out of the betrothal. He was supposed to ensure I was provided for, but it seems he’s not keeping his word even there.”
So that was one more thing I needed to handle. I turned and asked, “Father?”
He also cried but swiped it away. “It’s true. But that was not supposed to affect you or your future as I promised to handle it before I pass.”
My lawyers could pay off whatever this debt was if this was what was fueling Bernadette’s rage. None of us knew how to talk to each other, which had caused more tension on top of the lack.
I nodded. “I’ll fix this as well, but I’ll need his name and exactly what happened.”
“You’d help me?” Bernadette asked. “Just like that?”
I took a deep breath. I gestured to the woman I wanted to be better for. “In exchange, you stay away from antagonizing Britney or our growing family.”
Britney grunted and said, “Michael…”
“One minute,” I said, wanting to get to the bottom of this mysterious man and be done with all the secrets.
Britney stood and cried, “I can’t wait!”
I jumped out of my seat and held her waist. “Are you okay?”
She shook her head. “I’m in pain.”
My mother pressed a hand to her heart but otherwise stayed in her seat.
Britney winced, and my heart raced.
I held her as I told my family, “We will continue this discussion another time.”
My father stood and nodded.
As we made it out to the waiting car, she clutched me and said, “I don’t want anything to happen to the baby.”
I helped her slip inside as I said, “Let’s get you to the hospital, then.”
She cried and held my hand. As we rushed into the emergency room, she cried again, “Michael…”
“Just hold on.” I kissed her forehead.
At the station, I told the nurses, “My wife is pregnant and in pain.”
They took her in but told me, “You’re going to have to wait here.”
Not being with her was like a pain in my chest. I paced the waiting area as our friends piled in.
Charlie asked me, “Michael, what’s going on? Is Britney okay?”
I nodded. I’d brought her to the surprise meeting, which caused her to stress. Whatever happened next was on me. I’d hurt the only woman that mattered to me.
“They aren’t letting me in,” I said.
Hope added, “She’s not answering her texts.”
Hours passed as we sat in chairs.
Then the nurse who’d stopped me earlier waved for me and said, “Family only.”
“I will let her know you’re here,” I promised all our friends.
As I walked the halls, my mind raced with all the possibilities.
Finally, we entered Britney’s room. She was sitting on the bed, and her face was blotchy from crying, clearly. I took the seat next to her.
She curled her legs to her face and asked, “Michael?” She continued crying.
I whispered, “Britney, what’s happened?”
She sniffled but then shook her head. “We were so wrong. We need to stop now.”
I was so lost. “What are you saying?”
She stopped crying and stared at me. “I’m saying I’m heading back to New York, and we can annul the marriage.”
I should have told her my plan for the day, but I inched closer to the bed and asked, “Why? What happened in here?”
She took a deep breath and pressed a hand to her heart. “I’m checking out. It’s time to end this, Michael.”
My own body was trembling. “Did something happen to the baby?”
“It’s me. I can’t deal with any of this anymore,” she said and turned away in tears.
I had no idea what had happened other than her shutting me out.
If I asked a nurse of a doctor and found out we were no longer with child, then I would be lost. I wasn’t ready to hear whether this was the end or not.
Nurses directed me out of the room, but I needed to tell Britney when I knew she was okay that the pregnancy didn’t matter as much as she did. I loved her.