Chapter Thirty-Nine
Olivia
I love her for gifting the world with you.
Liam’s words from last night play in my head over and over again. His voice earnest and raw, and his eyes bright, he spoke them as though my presence is what makes the world beautiful.
I hope he’ll always feel that way, but I’m not sure if he’ll still have affection for me after witnessing how far I’m going to go with my revenge.
But I have to make sure Hugh and his family pay for what they did to Mom…
and also ensure they never get back up. Give them even the slightest opening and they won’t just lash out at me but at the baby.
After all, they always seem to know where I’m most vulnerable, and now… the baby is it.
Kick them in the balls if that’s what it takes. Nothing’s off the table, especially now.
I lay my hand over my belly. Baby, I won’t lose you like I lost Mom and Pochi.
“By the way, there’s something I should tell you,” I say.
He gives me a hesitant look. “What?”
“Tyler came by. He was upset to discover that Brielle isn’t the rich heiress he assumed her to be.”
Liam’s eyebrows snap together, and he tenses. “Did he hurt you?”
“He was dragged away by security before he could do anything.”
“I don’t like it.”
“He’s just worried. Gambling debts. He was hoping to use Brielle’s money to pay them off.”
Liam shakes his head. “What a fool. Still, I don’t like it. Should we get bodyguards? Maybe I should start driving you around.”
“Don’t. You’re a busy man, and you’re already working so much. I don’t want you to come even later than you do now because you’re spending too many hours acting as my chauffeur. As for bodyguards, I don’t want people hovering over me. I hate the idea of being watched.”
He looks at me for a moment, then sighs. “But it’s for your safety.”
I squeeze his hand. “If I can’t handle it on my own, I’ll ask you for help. I promise.”
“Okay. I don’t like it, but…okay.” He stares at the floor, then shakes his head. But when he looks up again, I can tell he’s accepted my decision. “By the way, can I tell my brothers about the baby?”
“Of course.”
“Good. Just wanted to make sure, since you were so secretive about the wedding. My family will be thrilled.”
I kiss him. “Tell ’em all. I want everyone to know about our baby, Liam. And I want it to receive all the blessings from your family.” Nothing but curses will come from Hugh.
“I’m on it. Full-page ads in the Los Angeles Times and the New York Times.”
I gasp and smack his shoulder. “Don’t you dare!”
He laughs. “Just kidding. Anyway, let me tell them.”
I rest my head on his shoulder as he texts them the news and angles the screen so we can read their responses together.
–Liam: We’re pregnant.
–Finn: Who’s we? You mean Olivia, your poor wife?
–Liam: Yes, WE. Her and me. Us, together.
–Gideon: Right. Like YOU’RE gonna do any of the work.
I giggle.
–Gideon: Regardless, congrats!
–Rhys: Congrats!
–Roarke: Awesome. Just keep this baby away from Czarina or else she’s going to want to turn her into a Mariinsky ballerina.
I tilt my head. “Who came up with that nickname for your grandmother?”
“Rhys.”
I recall the glasses-wearing brother. The oldest one, and quite serious. “Wonder if he has one for me.”
“Probably something like The Perfect Wife for Liam.”
I chortle. “Way too long. Try again.”
He kisses me, his eyes twinkling shamelessly. “He’ll make it into an acronym.”
–Finn: How do you know it’s a girl?
–Roarke: Just a feeling.
–Xavier: When’s the baby shower?
–Silas: He just found out. It won’t be for a while.
–Xavier: I need to prepare gifts. One for Max and one for Olivia.
–Liam: I’ll let you guys know.
–Rhys: Another Kingswood baby! But don’t tell Dad. He wants to use them to distract Czarina, so he can do shit we don’t want to know about behind her back.
I make a face. My baby isn’t going to be a tool for Auric’s use. If he comes anywhere near them to use against Sorcha, he’s going to have a fight on his hands.
Of course, that’s easier said than done. Hard to be a fighter when morning sickness strikes three weeks later. Water is the only thing that stays down, but everything else? Instant ejection.
Liam cringes as he pats my back. “This sucks. Why don’t you take some days off? Actually, just start your maternity leave now.”
“I can’t,” I croak.
“Can’t? Can’t? You are growing the most precious life on this planet!”
I rinse my mouth, then turn to Liam, who’s staring at me like I have something terminal. “Lots of women experience morning sickness. It’s fine.” I cradle his cheek and run the pad of my thumb under his worried eye. “It’s only been like a few days. I’m sure I’ll get better.”
“Bullshit. Your company needs a better maternity leave policy.”
I laugh softly. “Nobody has maternity leave for a woman who’s in her first trimester. Come on, Hubby. It’s fine. I promise.” I hug him and rest my chin on his chest, then flutter my lashes at him. “If it gets too bad, I’ll let you know and talk to my doctor. I promise.”
“Fine,” he says glumly. “But I still think your company could use a more generous policy.”
Laughing, I pull out a box from my purse. It arrived by international overnight delivery from Paris. “Close your eyes.”
He does, immediately.
Smiling, I open the orange box tied with a navy grosgrain ribbon and pull out a tie that is the exact shade of Liam’s eyes. “Bend down,” I say.
He does, and I loop the bespoke Charvet tie around his neck.
“Wait, can I open my eyes now?” he asks, his eyelids fluttering.
“No. Shh.” I knot it into a classic Windsor, then stroke it down his chest. “Okay, now you can open your eyes.”
He looks down, shock flickering in his eyes. “This is stunning. How… When did you…?”
“The moment your assistant put that tie on you. Today, you wear this one. And only this one.”
He grins, then kisses me. “Deal.”
Soon after, Simon arrives to pick me up.
Although I quit asking him to come get me after my birthday celebration, Liam has changed his mind.
He wants Simon to pick me up, not because he thinks Simon’s feelings toward me are innocent—cue a huge eye-roll—but because he needs to make sure somebody’s with me in case of an emergency, and I won’t let him drive me, no matter how much he cajoles.
Simon hands me a tin of crystallized ginger, which I eye, torn between appreciation and annoyance since I won’t be able to enjoy it.
“She can’t eat anything,” Liam says.
Simon ignores him. “This helped my sister when she got pregnant. Try it, Olivia.”
“I see. Thanks.” I accept the gift without intending to consume it, but Simon waits, looking at me. Bracing myself, I take a piece and put it into my mouth, then give it five heartbeats. If it’s going to come back up, it’ll be before five—
Nothing. My stomach stays quiet. I raise my eyebrows. “Wow. I can keep it down.” I blink at Simon, then turn to Liam. “See? All good. You don’t have to worry so much.” I kiss his cheek then get into the car and wave.
He waves back with a bright smile and a hand on his new tie.
My mouth twitches. If I’d known he’d be this happy over such a small gift… Then again, it’s never too late to start giving him more presents. I blow him a kiss. “Simon, let’s go. We’re going to be late.”
He hops behind the wheel. “How long are you going to be sick, do you know?” he asks casually as he drives out onto the road.
“I have no clue. Mom told me I was an angel baby,” I say. “But she might’ve fudged a little to keep me from feeling bad.” She was that kind of person. Always sweet, always thinking of others. But in the end, being a good person wasn’t enough.
So I’ll be ruthless, I vow, laying a hand over my belly, even as my mind wonders what that would show my child.