Chapter 12
1452words
The ultrasound wand glides across my still-flat stomach, cold gel making me shiver despite the warmth of Damon's hand in mine. After those positive pregnancy tests, I'm at my first prenatal examination.
The doctor studies the screen with intense concentration. Too much concentration. The silence stretches uncomfortably.
"Is something wrong?" I ask, anxiety creeping into my voice.
Damon's grip tightens almost imperceptibly. His face remains calm, but I sense tension radiating from him.
The doctor adjusts something on the machine, then smiles. "Not at all. I'm just making sure of what I'm seeing." She turns the screen toward us. "Ms. Rivera, Mr. Sinclair, congratulations. You're expecting twins."
"Twins?" I repeat, the word barely a whisper.
Two heartbeats flicker on the screen, two tiny forms nestled close together. My vision blurs with tears of joy and disbelief. After being told I might never conceive, I'm carrying not one miracle but two.
"Are you certain?" Damon's voice sounds strange—tight, controlled.
I glance at him, surprised by his reaction. His face has gone pale beneath his tan, his jaw clenched. For a moment, something like fear flashes in those amber eyes.
"Absolutely certain," the doctor confirms, handing me tissues to wipe the gel from my stomach. "I'd like to see you back in three weeks. With twins, we'll want to monitor you more closely."
As she leaves us alone, I turn to Damon. "You don't seem happy about the twins."
He takes my hand, his expression softening. "I am happy, Sienna. Very happy. It's just..." He hesitates. "Clara—my first wife—she died giving birth to twins. Neither she nor the babies survived."
My heart constricts at the pain in his voice. "Damon, I'm so sorry."
"It was five years ago." His thumb traces circles on the back of my hand. "But seeing those two heartbeats brought it all back. I can't lose you the way I lost her."
"You won't lose me," I promise, though I have no way of knowing if I can keep that promise.
Walking through the sterile corridors, I wrinkle my nose at the hospital's antiseptic smell—so sharp and chemical it almost burns my nostrils, with disturbing undertones of illness and medication that I've never been able to detect before.
As we approach the pharmacy counter, I freeze. Standing there are Lucas and Vanessa. Lucas spots us first, his eyes widening in shock. Vanessa turns to see what he's staring at, and her perfectly made-up face twists into a sneer.
"Well, well. Sienna. That didn't take long, did it?" Vanessa's voice drips with venom. "Two weeks after leaving Lucas, and you're already at the OB-GYN with another man?"
I feel Damon stiffen beside me, his hand at the small of my back tensing.
"Vanessa," I acknowledge coolly. "What a surprise to see you here."
"We're here for my first prenatal appointment," she says, stroking her still-flat stomach possessively. "Unlike some people, my baby was conceived in a loving relationship."
Damon steps forward slightly, his presence suddenly seeming larger, more intimidating.
Lucas's face pales as recognition dawns. "You are... Damon Sinclair?! The head of Sinclair Enterprises."
"You know me." Damon replies, his voice deceptively casual.
Vanessa recovers quickly, extending her hand with a practiced smile. "Vanessa Rivera. Soon to be Vanessa Grant. And this is my fiancé, Lucas."
Damon ignores her outstretched hand. "Ah yes. The man who drugged Sienna without her consent for over a year."
Lucas takes a step back, his face draining of color. "That's—that's not what happened."
"Isn't it?" Damon's voice drops to a dangerous purr. "Because drugging someone without their knowledge is a felony."
Vanessa steps closer to me, her eyes narrowing. "You should know what you're getting into," she says to Damon. "Sienna here is quite the gold-digger."
"That's rich coming from you," I snap. "At least I didn't seduce someone else's boyfriend."
Before she can respond, I pull out my phone and open my banking app. "I'm transferring the $500,000 you demanded for Lucas's share of Moonbrew. Right now."
Their expressions shift from smug to surprised as I complete the transfer in front of them.
"Moonbrew is now entirely mine." I say calmly.
Damon reaches into his suit jacket and produces a document. "My lawyer has prepared the paperwork. Sign here, and the transaction is complete."
Lucas has no choice but to sign, and Damon hands them their copy. "Oh, and Lucas? If I ever hear that you've been within a hundred feet of Sienna again, you'll learn exactly how unpleasant I can make your life."
"Oh, Vanessa," I say sweetly, "I also want you to come to our wedding. As my maid of honor."
She blinks in confusion. "Are you serious?"
"At my wedding with Damon. On the fifth of next month."
Understanding dawns on her face, followed quickly by horror. "The fifth? But that's—"
"Your wedding date? What a coincidence." I smile sweetly. "Oh, and you might want to start looking for a new venue. The Grand Ballroom had a last-minute cancellation... of your reservation."
"You can't," Vanessa hisses.
"Actually, I believe you'll find all suitable venues in the city are booked for that date." Damon's smile is all teeth. "Unfortunate timing."
Vanessa's face contorts with fury. "You think you've won? Daddy will—"
"Richard can't help you with this," I interrupt. "Not even he can outbid Damon Sinclair."
As they leave, Vanessa's parting glare promises this isn't over. The moment the door closes, I sag against Damon, suddenly exhausted.
"Are you alright?" he asks, his hand gentle on my cheek.
"That was... intense." I look up at him. "Thank you for backing me up."
His expression softens. "Always."
We collect my prenatal vitamins and make our way to the parking garage, where Damon's sleek black SUV waits with a driver standing at attention.
"Sienna," he says once we're inside, "I'd like you to move in with me."
The request doesn't surprise me as much as it should. After all, we're engaged, expecting twins, and I've just spent half a million of his dollars.
"Because of the babies?" I ask.
Something flickers in his eyes—that same shadow of fear I'd glimpsed earlier. "Twins can be... complicated. I want you to have the best care possible."
"What about Moonbrew?" I ask. "I can't just abandon my business."
"You won't have to. You can still work there as much as you feel up to it. I'll have a driver take you whenever you want. But please—" his voice drops, revealing a vulnerability I've rarely heard from him, "—let me take care of you. Let me make sure you and our children are safe."
Our children. The words send a warm flutter through me. Despite the bizarre circumstances, despite how little I know about this man, I'm carrying his babies. We're going to be a family—the family I've always wanted but never thought I'd have.
"Okay," I agree softly. "I'll move in with you."
Relief washes over his features, and he lifts my hand to his lips, pressing a kiss to my knuckles. "Thank you."
His phone rings, and his expression darkens as he checks the screen. "I need to take this. It's urgent." He answers with a curt "Sinclair," listening intently before his jaw tightens. "I'll be right there."
He ends the call and turns to me, conflict evident in his eyes. "I'm sorry, but there's an emergency at one of my properties that requires my immediate attention. My driver will take you to the estate, and I'll join you as soon as I can."
"It's fine," I assure him, though I feel a flicker of unease at the thought of arriving at his home alone. "I understand."
Damon gives instructions to his driver, then turns back to me. "Marcus, my head of security, will meet you at Silvercrest. He'll show you to your rooms and make sure you have everything you need until I return."
He kisses me briefly, his lips lingering against mine. "Make yourself at home, Sienna. Everything I have is yours now."
As the car pulls away from the hospital, I watch Damon through the rear window, already on another call, his posture tense. I rest my hand on my stomach, thinking of the two tiny lives growing inside me. My miracles. Our future. Whatever awaits me in this new life, at least I won't face them alone.
