The Marriage Ultimatum (City of Dreams Series) (24 page)

He shook his head emphatically. “I stopped believing that some time ago. Seeing you with Alex disabused me of that idea pretty quickly. But I had to hang onto it, to keep you close. Who knows? Maybe it was Pieter who planted that story. It could’ve been his off-base way of ensuring Alex was looked after. And yes, I’ve always wanted you, Sabrina. From the moment I saw you, you hooked me like a fish on a line. But you deserve someone very different from me.”

“Different? Oh, someone who loves me back you mean…” She nodded, finally catching his meaning and scrambling off his lap to stand facing him, her back to the door ready to flee. In the space of a moment, she’d lost all hope.

“No!” he said. “Damn it, I love you. How could I not? You pulled me in from the first moment. I had nightmares and you saved me inside of them. You know why you need to go. I’m a bastard.”

His voice lowered. It seemed nothing would ever lessen the shame.

“Please, come here?” he asked.

She sat on the chair directly facing him.

“I wasn’t even left at the orphanage. Pieter and I were found on the streets. Do you know what that means? They didn’t even bother to take us to some place semi-safe where we’d have a roof over our heads. They couldn’t have cared less. When I had the chance, I escaped that place and found my way, our way, to a tanker that eventually brought us west. We changed our names. I was, I still am, so ashamed. But this is who I am. You deserve to know. And you deserve better.”

“You love me?” The rest of what Vlad had said was so much blather at that moment.

“Sabrina, do you hear me? I have no idea what I come from, except that it’s a place so low our parents just abandoned us. I have no experience or memory of family or caring. I was left on the streets when I was four years old. I’m piss poor fatherhood material, husband material, too, for that matter.”

“You’ve told me this. Can’t you see it doesn’t matter? Those experiences, your childhood, you survived and you’ve thrived. You’re an amazing father to Alex.” She had tears in her eyes for that abandoned little boy.

“Vlad, look at who you are to us. Actions mean more than labels. You did your best to take care of Pieter, and let’s just say he was probably always a handful.” She smiled into his eyes. “You took us both on, and Alex adores you. For God’s sake, you pulled him from the sea, saved his life. You’re what they call a natural.”

“I have one more thing to say.” He took her chin and forced her now buoyant eyes to meet his solemn gaze. “If you wanted to, you could leave me now and lead a very good life, never struggle financially again. And with your own money.”

“What do you mean?” Now what was he saying?

“Because I happen to know that your father, Billy Boyd, was apparently a late blooming modern artist out West. Some of his recent works have sold in the millions. And with the art market the way it’s been recently, you’re a millionaire several times over.”

“What?” This was too much to take in on top of everything else.

“He died. Your father was a rising star sculptor when he died. He had no will, but you are his only living kin, his blood and it all goes to you. When we married, someone handling his estate must have spotted your name in the media, and I was contacted a couple of weeks ago on your behalf. You’re a multi-millionaire, Sabrina. You don’t need to stay with me to ensure security for Alex and our unborn child. I release you from that asinine contract. I only did it to keep you close. Once I had you, it was impossible for me to let you slip away. I knew I had to tell you, but I thought, with this kind of financial security there’s no way you’ll want to stay with me. You won’t need to. And so I was waiting for the right moment to mention it…”

He waited, even now, unsure of her reaction, his face blank of all expression, as she absorbed that huge piece of information.

So her father was dead, too. She and Vlad had only each other now and their growing family. And that was all she wanted. All she needed. Her smile beamed, and when she stood and opened her arms, he immediately scooped her up and settled her back onto his lap.

“So?” he said his voice still devoid of emotion. He needed to hear the words.

She snuggled deeper in his arms, put her lips to the side of his neck, planting little kisses there as she spoke.

“So, I love you. Only you. On top of that, I would never do a thing to hurt your foundation work overseas, because you do good for so many kids who are like us, like both of us. I’m staying right here, Vlad. Forever. I have everything I want or need. We’re a family. And I think I’ll use that money from my dad to explore a photography career.”

A word about the author…

Romance is alive and well in the Big Apple, and Charlotte O’Shay shares every single spicy tale.

Her City of Dreams series includes
The Marriage Ultimatum, A Model Engagement
, and
An Illicit Affair.

Enjoy the ride as New York’s hottest heroes and most fearless heroines find their happily-ever-afters.

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