Love Among The Ruins-Chapter 68

NADINE’S P.O.V

I stilled, my entire body going rigid at his words.

I schooled my face into a neutral expression, doing my best to make sure he couldn’t see just how badly I was panicking. My heart was pounding rapidly in my chest and worry wrapped around me like a vice.

"I don’t know what you’re talking about," I said after a long silence.

I knew he didn’t find out from my father. My father hated Rowan too much to admit that I was carrying his child. The last thing he would do would be to tell the General, especially not when they were trying to repopulate.

"Please, Nadine, there’s no need to lie. We’re all adults here."

I squared my shoulders. "I’m not lying. I don’t know about any baby."

He cocked his head to the side, obviously torn between believing me and calling me out on my bluff. The silence between us stretched thin, neither one of us willing to back down. I refused to be a pawn in his game.

"You’re a better liar than I expected. I would have believed you if your father hadn’t already confessed to telling you."

I kept my face impassive. "My father lied to you."

The corner of his lips pulled up into a small smile. "I detest lies, Nadine."

"Funny, so do I. If that’s all-"

I started to rise but he held up a hand to stop me. "Sit down, Nadine. I am not done."

His voice had gone from playfully soft to cold and harsh. It was clear that he was done playing games. I could have run, I could have risked it but I wasn’t stupid enough to think that it would come without consequence and chances were that Rowan would have to pay them, so I lowered myself into the chair.

"I will set up an appointment for you to get rid of the child."

"What?"

"Is your hearing impaired?"

I stared at him for a long minute, wondering if he was playing games or if he was serious. It didn’t make sense that he would want me to get rid of the child.

"Isn’t your entire plan to repopulate? You were offering extra benefits to people who got married and had children."

"I still am." He shrugged. "What’s the problem?"

"You do realize how hypocritical that sounds, right?"

He leaned forward on his elbows. "You will not have his child."

"Why not?"

"How do you think Caine will react to the news?" General Trent asked, his voice thick with curiosity and amusement. "Seeing as we don’t exactly have the best relationship, I don’t think he knows how to be a father."

"At least he knows what kind of father not to be."

His smile faded in an instant and I mentally hit myself.

Something screamed at me to apologize but I didn’t let the words leave my mouth. I didn’t regret what I said. I wasn’t going to sit back and let his father say stupid shit about him. Rowan was the kindest person I knew and if anyone would be a great father, it would be him.

When General Trent spoke again, his voice was cold and detached. "Careful, Nadine, I’m still your General."

I pursed my lips and leaned back into my chair, as far away from him as possible. He wasn’t touching me with his hands, but his stare was violating. It felt like he was seeing right through my skin and I hated it.

"You will not have Rowan Caine’s baby."

It wasn’t the words he said, it was the delivery, the cold and calculated way with which he spoke. No threats were spoken, but it was implied.

"No one has to know that the child is related to you."

"I don’t care about that. He can scream it from the surface that he is my bastard son if he wants."

"Then what is the problem."

He stood to his feet, walking around the table until he was standing next to me. "My problem, Nadine, is that you were supposed to be mine."

I pulled back, staring at him in confusion. I started to rise, eager to get out and end the conversation but his hand shot out, grabbing my upper arm and keeping me in place. The conversation had taken a turn that I didn’t expect. My skin crawled from where he touched me and I tried to pull back but his grip was so tight I knew I’d bruise.

"I think it’s time that I leave," I mumbled but he still didn’t let go.

"Why do you think you were kept safe all this while? Why do you think your father had as much power as he did?"

"Because he has money?"

General Trent snorted. "A lot of the people here have money, Nadine. Humans are dying out, we are the top predators and yet we are being hunted like prey."

"I don’t see what that has to do with me."

"We need to secure our future. We need to make sure that when all of this is over, we are still at the top. We need to ensure that we are the majority. We can’t have a bunch of nobodies taking over the world. We need to make sure that our children are the first to set foot on the new earth. Why do you think we started handing out the implant?"

I had never felt as disgusted as I did in that moment. He was staring at me like I was a piece of meat. I honestly could have thrown up.

"You were going to use me as some kind of human incubator?" I asked. "When were you going to consult me?"

"Oh Nadine, you don’t see the bigger picture. If you did, you’d understand."

He stepped closer. I tried to pull back but he still had my arm in a tight grip. He pulled me closer so my back was against his table and he was in front of me.

"I want to leave."

"No." His breath was so close. He smelled like mint and something else, something metallic. "You’ve always been different, Nadine. How do you think my bastard son was able to get you pregnant? If you had the implant, he would never have."

"But I got the implant. I remember-"

"You remember us giving you something. We made a few tweaks."

I felt sick to my stomach. "I’m going to throw up."

That was enough for him to let me go and step back.

Once I realized the opportunity that was handed to me, I ran towards the door. Trent was faster, his hand pushing the door shut just as I touched the door knob.

"Let me go or I’ll scream," I warned and he laughed.

"There’s no one around here. My office is isolated." He smiled as if he was enjoying my discomfort. "But, I’ll let you go for now."

He stepped back, his hands shoved in his pockets like nothing had happened. That only scared me more.

"Caine is waiting for you," he gestured to the door. "Although, it would be wise of you to not say anything about this conversation."

"You’ll never know if I tell."

He laughed. "If you still think I’m not watching you, think again. If you say a word to Caine about this, I will kill him. If you try to leave, I will kill him. You can run and try to hide, but I will spend every moment of my life hunting you both. Am I clear?"

I nodded. "Yes, sir."

"Good girl, now get out."