hapter 14
After a few minutes, Marcus was left with Bianca and his father.
His father gave him a look of disappointment and disapproval.
Marcus hated that look. He gritted his teeth, and glared at his father.
“I’m very disappointed in you, Marcus.” His father said lowly.
Marcus clenched his jaw.
“Then get out also,” he snapped, scowling at his father. “You think I care about your disappointment? You were never proud of me to begin with. Alex was the perfect son!”
His father stared at him coldly. “You’re wrong. I was proud of you, but your actions have greatly disappointed me.”
Marcus scoffed bitterly and turned away. “Then leave. I don’t want to hear anything from you.” “No, I want to know exactly what happened! Where is Isabella?” His father barked sharply.
Marcus clenched his jaw, then he murmured bitterly. “Isabella is dead. Didn’t you hear me earlier?”
His eyes widened, and his mouth gaped in shock. “Are you serious? How did that happen? When did this happen?”
Marcus sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Today, some hours ago. Her beloved orphanage caught fire, and… and she died.”
He avoided his father’s eye’s guiltily as he spoke because he remembered what he had done.
His father narrowed his eyes. He knew Marcus wasn’t telling him everything.
“Tell me the truth, Marcus,” he said, his eyes pierced into Marcus’s. “What really happened?”
Marcus clenched his fists. Finally, he muttered, “I had to make a choice.”
His father stared at him. “What do you mean by that?”
Marcus swallowed. “There wasn’t enough time. The fire was spreading. I could only save one of
them.”
His father froze, and his eyes widened slightly. “One of them?”
Marcus nodded, then pointed towards Bianca, who stood silently at the edge of the room.
“She was pregnant, she was carrying my child. I–I couldn’t let them die. I had to think about the future, our bloodline.”
His father looked at him like he couldn’t believe what he was saying “So you let Isabella die.”
Marcus shook his head frantically, feeling frustrated as he tried to explain. “It’s not that simple! didn’t want her to die. But Bianca was right there, and she was hurt and pregnant.” He ran a hand through his hair. “I did what I had to do.”
His father gave him an appalled look. “So you let your wife die, for your…mistress.” He spat with disgust in his voice.
Marcus’s blood ran cold at his father’s words. “But father-”
9:28 pm GADD
His father didn’t say another word. He simply turned and walked away.
When Marcus’s father left, Bianca took a slow step forward. “Marcus-”
“Don’t,” he barked without looking at her.
She flinched at his harsh tone.
Bianca blinked rapidly, her lips trembled as she held her stomach.
“I’m pregnant, Marcus,” she whispered, her voice breaking. “Do you even care what this stress is doing to me?”
Marcus didn’t turn around.
Tears welled up in her eyes. “I’m carrying your child, and you’re pushing me away like I’m nothing. In case you forgot, I just lost my sister too, and now everyone is watching me and judging me.”
She released a sob. “You promised me that things would be different… that you would take care of me…”
She stepped closer, still crying. “I didn’t ask for any of this. I just wanted-” she cut herself off as she started sobbing.
Marcus finally turned to look at her. Her face was red from crying, and she looked so fragile.
He sighed heavily. Then, he walked to her slowly and pulled her into his arms.
“I’m sorry, you’re right.” He murmured softly, “I’m sorry.”
Bianca wrapped her arms around his waist as she sobbed harder.
Marcus held her gently, rubbing her back softly, but inside, his mind was far away.
Bianca pulled back slightly to look up at him with tears running down her face. “We’re going to be fine, right?”
Marcus blinked, then he looked down at her. She was the woman he had chosen, she was carrying his child.
But all he could think about… was Isabella.
He forced a nod. “Yes, we will.”
First thing he needed to do was to make sure that Isabella was really dead. He needed to see it with his own eyes, because he still couldn’t believe Isabella was gone.
