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He cuts lint in his eyes "This is my baby"

"No, this—"

"Our new son will be na his fist down on top of the desk, his lips snarled

"And what if it's a girl?"

He ignores my question and continues "If I ever hear you say otherwise—if you so ret the day you met me I can, and will, bury you"

I’m silent Michael leans forward

“And if you ever want to keep any semblance of a father - one who hasn’t been publicly huine, with a wife that’s left hie - if you want to keep your parents as the darlings of society, then you’ll keep your mouth shut, dear wife,” Michael says quietly

That was the final dagger It's no use arguing This will be Michael's baby, and no one will ever think otherwise I know Michael's a powerful e, and connections I don't want anyone to get hurt—especially not my father or Lance There's no way I'll ever tell him that this is actually Lance's baby He can't know I don't even want to think about what he'd do to Lance if he knew I'll take this knowledge to rave

"It's no secret that I don't have any interest in you whatsoever," he says His voice is cold and distant, and even though I've known this to be true for our entire e, it still hurts to hear him say it "But it's important that we keep up appearances for the public—for the sake of this can You will not compromise my bid for mayor"

I watch as he pulls a cigar frohts it I never see hiht he quit I watch as blue ser be hiding and carrying this secret from Michael, but on the other hand, I know I've only been partially honest and that still sits inside of me like a boulder

He exhales and continues, "You can't go public" He's like a lion that has cornered its prey He can feel that power, and it spurs him on He's opportunistic, and he's out for blood

"I understand," I say, resigned and submissive

"Good Now let's have this baby"

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Lance