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<b>Chapter </b><b>124 </b>
Elena’s POV:
“You’re… pregnant?” Dimitri asked, his voice filled with disbeliet, his eyes widening in an exagerated disy of incredulity as he stared at Mie, then
<b>back </b>at me.
Mielle gave <b>a </b><b>small</b>, almost imperceptible nod
The study descended <b>into </b>a heavy, suffocating silence, the only sound the cistant thumping of the music from the ongoing party outside. The seconds stretched into what felt like an eternity before Dmitri finally spoke again, his toneced with anger. “Why the hell didn’t you just take morning after pils?” He demanded, his voice rising in usation, and I had to physically restrain myself from throttling the entitled jerk.
“I did!” Mielle blurted out, her voice surprisingly fem despite the tears that still glistened in her eyes. Her unexpected reply caught both Dmitri andme off guard.
I turned to look at her, my own surprise evident, and saw her meeting Dmitri’s usatory stare with a tear filed but resolte gu “I did take them. That’s why I had such a hard time believing I was actually pregnant when the test came back positive. Her voice trembled slightly, but the conviction in her words was undeniable.
I wanted to sigh, a wave of weary frustration washing over me. What a truly messed up situation. It seemed like all forms of birth control were magically failing for everyone around me. First my UD, and now Mielle’s morning–ster pills. It felt almost surreal.
But I didn’t have time to dwell on the statistical improbabilities before I spoke, my focus returning to the immediate task at hand. “Give me the paper, Miele” She looked at me, her eyes still red–rimmed, then wiped away a stray tear with the back of her hand and nodded. She reached for the big had given her earlier and pulled out the folded waiver forms the doctor had provided. Her hands were still shaking as she offered them to me
I took the forms and turned to face Dmitri, my gaze unwavering “Sign this, Dmitri.” I <b>said</b>, my voice low andmanding, brooking no argument. He looked at the papers, then back at me, his expression incredulous,
“What? What is it?” He <b>asked</b>, a suspicious frown creasing his forehead. I looked at him as if he <b>were </b>particrly dense. “A paternity acknowledgement form, Dmitri. The first step towards <b>getting </b>the necessary medical care <b>for </b>Mielle.”
“I’m not signing that fucking thing, Elena. He frowned, pushing the papers away with a dismissive wave of his <b>hand</b>. “What if the child isn’t even mine<b>? </b>What if it’s <b>Lazar’s</b>?” He questioned, his eyes darting towards the door, a hint of panic flickering in their depths. <b>I </b>grit my teeth, my anger threatening to boil <b>over</b>.
Before I could unleash the scathing retort that was already forming on my tongue, the door to the study clicked open. I frowned, turning back to see Lazar standing in the doorway<b>, </b><b>a </b>set of keys dangling from his fingers. He entered the room, shutting the door quietly behind him before moving forward silently. With an almost <b>casual </b>gesture<b>, </b><b>he </b>took the papers from my outstretched hand, his gare never leaving Dmitri’s agitated <b>face</b>.
It <b>was </b>weird. Lazar was truly thest person I wanted to talk to right now, not with the unsettling knowledge <b>of </b>our potential <b>blood </b>rtion <b>hanging </b>in the air if he <b>was </b>my uncle, then wouldn’t that make the baby in Mielle’s womb my cousin? The thought was so ridiculous that forcibly pushed it out of my head, refusing to dwell on the truly bizarre implications. Fortunately<b>, </b>Lazar spoke<b>, </b>breaking the tense silence. “It can’t be ine, Denitr.”
I looked at him, my brow quirked in question, but it was Dmitri who reacted with immediate hostility. “Why the fuck not, Lazar” He demanded<b>, </b>his voice tight with agitation, taking a step towards his friend.
<b>Lazar </b>remained utterly calm despite it’s rising anger. “Have I <b>ever </b>lied to you, Dmitri? He questioned, his tone even. Then, be turned <b>eyes </b>meeting mine. “I have cystic fibrosis. It causega condition that makes it impossible for me to father a child. The baby is certainly not n finished <b>with </b>a shrug, as if stating a simple, imefutable fact,
<b>“Fuck</b>” Dmitri exploded, clenching his jaw, his face flushed with anger. “I’m still not signing that fucking thing. Elena, The child isn’t mine either, I’m telling your
“Stop creating a ridiculous scene, Dmitri! We need you to sign the papers so that Mielle can get an abortion! No one here <b>is </b>asking you to take any kind of responsibility, you absolute bastard!” I <b>sngered</b>, my voice dripping with contempt. He went utterly still, his eyes narrowing dangerously
“Excuse me? I’m creating a scene?” He scoffed, his toneced with disbelief and indignation. He ruffled his hair and i frowned while looking at his hands
Tue <b>24 </b>JuF
that were now twitching madly.
“You can just get any other random guy to sign that thing! And get her a fucking abortion! It’s not like they need DNA evidence or anything to verify paternity!” He shouted, and my eyes widened in shocked disbelief. instinctively moved back, pulling Mille with me, just as mitri’s handswept out, knocking the small table beside him, sending the ssmp crashing against the wall, shattering into a shower of sharp fragments.
Mielle flinched violently, letting out a small gasp of fear. I couldn’t help but gape at Dmitri in utter disbelief and disgust. His callousness, hisplete Lack of empathy, was staggering.
“Are you fucking insane, Dmitri?” I screamed back, my anger surging, hot and fierce, “You’re the father, <b>you </b>spineless coward! Why would anyone else sign these papers? What in God’s name do you think she’s going to do with them? Ask for your fucking inheritance?” I finished, my voice raw with fury as he red at me, his eyes bloodshot with alcohol and rage.
“Elena, I think, let’s just go,” Mielle whispered, her voice trembling, her hand clutching mine tightly. I shook my head, my gaze still locked on it.“, Mielle.” Who did this arrogant bastard think he was, acting all high and mighty when most of this mess was entirely his fault?
“I don’t care what you do with it, Elena. Get the hell out of my house. I’m not signing those stupid papers.” He said, his voice cold and resolute, and frowned, my frustration reaching its peak
“Do you really want to take this that far, Dmitri?! This could all be fucking over in a minute if you would just engage your brain for once” I yelled, my patiencepletely gone.
Dmitri turned away from me, his back rigid. “Get out, Elena<b>.</b><b>” </b>
“Do you want to fucking involve the courts, Dimitri?! Do you even realize that this would be a police case if we involvewyers said, taking a step towards him. He reacted instantly, his anger ring.
My arm instinctively pulled Mille further behind me, shielding her, but Dmitri never reached for her. Instead, he grabbed my shoulder, his grip surprisingly strong, pulling me roughly towards him as he fumbled with the lock on the door behind
He swung the door open with a violent jerk and shoved me out of the room. This time, my surprise was soplete that I was unable tond on my feet.
Inded squarely on my a
ass in the middle of the hallway, the impact sending a sharp jolt of pain through my spine. <b>Several </b>partygoers, drawn by themation, gaped at me, their drunken amusement slowly turning to a stunned silence. Mielle gasped, rushing towards <b>me</b><b>, </b>her <b>face </b>etched with concern. But then, belone she could reach me, I felt a warm, firm hand grasp my shoulder, <b>helping </b>me to sit up. I stiffened, the familiar scent of the cologne instantly registering in my senses, and a confused frown creased my forehead.
Was I actually hallucinating? I snapped my head back, my heart pounding in my chest, and whispered, my voice filled with disbelief and a strange mixture of longing and trepidation, “Niki?”
How long had it been?
AD