The Temporary Boyfriend

Chapter 158: Is Lyvana pregnant for me?

Seraphina spat at his feet​.

"Help you?" she laughed bitterly. "You’ve dragged me through different holes in the ground like a common dog. Why would I help you?"

​Julian narrowed his eyes. He leaned down until they were eye-to-eye.

"You tried to kill me, Seraphina. That alone is worth a bullet to the brain." He stood up slowly, brushing a speck of dust from his sleeve. "But I’m feeling generous today. I’ll let you live, provided you tell my father everything you know about Andrew Thorne."

​"Fuck you," she hissed, her voice trembling with rage.

​Julian didn’t look angry, he looked amused. A wicked smile played on his lips. "I had a feeling you’d say that."

​He snapped his fingers. The sound of footsteps echoed down the stone stairs. A man appeared, holding a little girl’s hand. She looked about 6 years.

Seraphina’s world shattered. She lunged forward, pulling at her chains.

"No! Leave her alone!" she screamed, her voice cracking. "What is this, Julian? You’re kidnapping children now?"

​"Mummy!" the girl cried, her small voice echoing off the damp walls. The man gripped her hand tighter. Julian gave a dismissive wave for them to be taken back up.

​"Fuck you, Julian!" Seraphina screamed, her eyes growing wild. "You call this a choice?"

​"Well," he said, his tone as cool as the dungeon air. "I tried to appeal to your better self, but it seems you prefer the hard way."

​"How did you even find her?" freeweɓnøvel.com

​"Your father," Julian chuckled. "He sold you out the second I put a barrel to his temple. But since you’re the one who put him in that position, I’d say you’re even."

​The fight drained out of her, replaced by a cold, numbing dread. "Fine. I’ll do it. I’ll do whatever you want."

​"That’s my girl. You should be grateful I’m letting you keep your life."

​"When we’re done, you will let us go, right? Both of us!" she demanded desperately. "I need your word."

​Julian tilted his head, a mocking glint in his eye. "Tell me, does the girl’s father even know he has a daughter? Or is that another secret you’re keeping."

​"That is none of your fucking business."

He shrugged, turned around and walked toward the stairs.

​"Wait!" Seraphina called out. "Julian! Where are you taking her?"

​Julian didn’t answer. He simply continued up the stairs without giving her a second glance. Lyvana was waiting for him outside in her car, and he didn’t like her being around this place.

The heavy door shut behind him, and the lock clicked. She was alone again in the dark room.

​She slumped down on the small cot and put her head in her hands. Her heart was breaking.

....

​Isabel walked to her car. Just as she was about to get in, her phone rang. It was Lyvana.

​"Liv! Where have you been?" Isabel asked quickly. "Why didn’t you answer my calls?"

​"I’m sorry, Isabel," Lyvana replied. "I was asleep."

​"Well, your father sent me to find you. What was all that news on the internet yesterday? Are you really with Julian now?"

​"Yes," Lyvana sighed. "I will explain everything. We are on the way to the house now. We are almost there."

​"Alright then. Your grandmother is waiting, and she wants to know what is going on too. She also wants to know what you are going to do about the pregnancy."

"Is Lyvana pregnant... for me?" A voice said from behind her.

​Isabel jumped and almost dropped her phone. She spun around, her face turning pale.

​"Mark!" she gasped. "What... what are you doing here?"

​Mark didn’t move. He looked shocked, his mouth hanging open.

He stepped closer.

​"I asked you a question, Isabel. Is she pregnant?"

Isabel’s heart felt like it was going to burst through her chest. She looked at Mark’s shocked face and realized she had to fix this immediately. It wasn’t her place to tell Mark about the pregnancy.

​"What? No!" Isabel said quickly, waving her hand as if the idea was crazy. "Mark, you completely misunderstood me. I wasn’t talking about Lyvana."

​Mark frowned, his eyes still narrow and suspicious. "I heard you, Isabel. You were talking to her on the phone about a pregnancy."

​Isabel let out a fake, nervous laugh and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. "Yes, I was talking about Emily. She’s the one who is pregnant."

Mark stopped moving. He looked confused now. "Emily?"

​"Yes!" Isabel said, nodding her head fast. "It has nothing to do with Lyvana and certainly nothing to do with you."

Isabel closed the door of the car, and stepped towards Mark.

"What are you even doing here?" she asked, trying to change the subject. "You can’t just sneak up on people like that."

"I am here because I wanted to talk to you guys. I was right about Lyvana and her so called business partner. They are having an affair."

"Does it matter, you and that other woman are having a baby. So why are you even thinking about Lyvana? If she is with Julian now, that means she has moved on. And you should too."

Mark’s face tightened, his eyes flashing with a mix of guilt and anger. He didn’t like being reminded of clarisse, especially not now.

​"That’s different, Isabel. We all make mistakes. Lyvana cannot leave me, not after all we have been through. Like five years together, means nothing."

"You make it sound so simple," he said bitterly. "

Isabel crossed her arms. "No, Mark. You made it mean nothing the moment you cheated on her."

His expression darkened.

"It was one mistake."

"One mistake?" Isabel repeated sharply. "You got another woman pregnant, Mark. That’s not forgetting an anniversary. That’s blowing up an entire future."

"She won’t stay with him," he muttered. "This thing with Blackwood? It’s temporary. She’s angry right now. That’s all this is. She’s trying to punish me."

Isabel rolled her eyes, looking bored.

"Again with the ego, Mark. Listen. I understand you. But I can’t make choices for her. Ultimately, it’s her life and her choice. Now, please, just go away."

Just then, Lyvana’s white car pulled up and came to a stop right behind Isabel’s vehicle.