Chapter 21
~Ayden~
Just as I eased away from Mia, I saw someone moving in my peripheral vision. When I focused on who was advancing in our direction, I realized it was Chris. “Mia, Ayden. Welcome back.”
“Thank you, Chris.” Mia greeted him with a smile as he joined us.
His attention switched to me a second later. “Glad I caught you guys. Have you checked your mail yet?”
I held up my hand. “I know what you’re about to ask. I just received my results a few minutes ago.” This time, I showed Chris the letter. “I’m not the father.”
“I’m glad to hear you received the results. My colleague called to let me know the letter was on the way, but it was a few days ago. I received some reports I requested yesterday, so I thought maybe your letter came too.”
Chris’s response increased my curiosity. “What kind of reports did you request?”
He pressed his lips together and rubbed the back of his head. “I’m not at liberty to say.”
“Can I at least ask a question?” Once Chris nodded, I glanced at the letter again. “Did you ever confirm if Izzy miscarried before the night of her accident?”
“Again, I can’t say anything without breaking—”
“It’s okay, Chris. You don’t have to say anything. At least you know. Still, I can’t help but wonder if it’s what you suspected.”
We stared at each other a moment without saying anything. I didn’t expect Chris to respond, but he knew I was providing him with a way to answer me without using words. When I saw him nod his head, I knew I’d been right.
I wished we were able to use the information against Izzy, but we couldn’t. She would sue Chris, and I wasn’t about to let him take the fall for helping me learn the truth. Still, I had to find a way to protect Mia and our baby from her.
“Thanks for all your help.”
“I’m glad everything worked out for you, Ayden. Mia, you should swing by my office tomorrow. We’ll do an ultrasound and see how the baby is doing.”
“Thanks, Chris.” Mia smiled as she caressed her belly. “We can come in around nine if you’re available.”
“I’ll be there.”
Waving as he left, we watched Chris walk toward the arena. After a few seconds, I folded the letter and stuck it in my back pocket. Part of me wanted to find Izzy and confront her with the truth. All it would do is stress Mia, and she didn’t need anything weighing on her right now.
“What are you thinking, my husband?”
Pushing the thoughts to the back of my mind, I stroked her cheek and forced myself to smile. “It’s nothing. I was just thinking about how I wish we could confront your sister with what we’ve learned. We can’t though, and you don’t need any stress.”
“I know you’re angry. Believe me, I am too, but you’re right. Now isn’t the best time. We still don’t know if Izzy’s on medication. Judging by the way she treated us earlier, I have a feeling whatever she’s on isn’t helping.”
Her body warmed mine as I pulled her against me. “Do you want to go to the arena and check in with Max and everyone, or would you rather spend the rest of the evening in our suite? I could go ahead and move my things like we talked about at the cabin.”
“How about we say a quick hello to Max. I’ll set up a meeting with him for tomorrow, then you and I can come back to the condo and move your things.”
I rubbed my nose to hers. “Sounds like the perfect plan.”
As we laced our fingers together, we walked across the paved road, past the water fountain, and headed toward the arena. Music filtered from the building as a band performed. I wasn’t sure if there was a concert happening tonight or if someone was rehearsing.
We were only a few feet past the entrance to the community when I spotted Izzy standing outside the arena’s main doors. She was speaking to her father, and by the way she swayed her neck side to side, it appeared as if she was unloading on him. Shane’s face pinched as he listened to whatever complaints she was voicing. I had a feeling that Mia and I were the topic of their conversation and the source of Izzy’s frustration.
Good. Being the source for a change was nice. God knew she had frustrated Mia and me enough.
“What the hell is my sister doing now?”
Irritation sounded in Mia’s voice. Her body tensed when she saw her sister. The heat of her hand faded from mine as she moved toward Izzy and their father.
“Mia, don’t.” I fell in step with her hoping she would change her mind and avoid the conversation. Deep down, I knew better.
“I have to see what’s going on.”
By the time we were a few feet from Izzy and Shane, Izzy’s voice rose higher. “So that’s the real reason you left on Christmas. Instead of spending time with me, you flew to Flagstaff to be in your favorite daughter’s wedding.”
“I don’t have favorites. You’re the one who chose to distance yourself from your family, even when you were living here. I’ve tried to help you, Izzy. I still am.”
“Please.” Izzy crossed her arms as she shook her head at her father. “You don’t give a shit what happens to me. You never have.”
“You’re wrong.”
“I can’t believe you were a part of their wedding.” Izzy placed her hands on her hips. “How can you like the man who knocked up one of your daughters while dating the other?”
“You’re a liar, Izzy.” Mia walked toward her sister and father just as both regarded us. My ex-girlfriend’s eyes widened like she’d been caught stealing something, then they narrowed on Mia.
“Shut up, Mia. No one invited you to this conversation. This is between Dad and me.”
“I’m sick of your lies, Izzy. You know damn well that Ayden wasn’t the father of your child.”
My face grew hot. We’d decided not even five minutes ago that we weren’t going to have this conversation with Izzy. Now here we were. The rigidness of Mia’s body filled me with concern. She didn’t need this stress.
“Mia, it’s okay. We know the truth.”
“Yeah. Right.” Izzy rolled her eyes then glared at me. “How could you marry her without telling her the truth?”
Fire shot through every part of my body. Izzy was baiting me. I knew better than to react to her accusations, but my anger blinded my judgment.
“I told Mia the truth. You’re the one lying, Izzy, and I finally have proof.”
The smug expression she wore faded. Her brows drew together as she looked me up and down. “What proof?”
Without saying a word, I pinched the edge of the folded paper and slid it out of my pocket. One firm shake of my hand opened the letter. Then I smoothed the crease and shoved it in Izzy’s face.
“Your lies come to an end today, Izzy.”
Her eyes darted side to side as she read the words on the paper. When her icy gaze made it back to me, I knew she had finished. “I don’t see how it’s possible to have a DNA test run when I didn’t give a sample to Chris before I miscarried. This test is nothing but a feeble attempt to discredit me. It’s not going to work, Ayden.”
“Oh really?” I scoffed at her remark and handed the paper to her father. Judging by the way he was staring at the letter, I knew he wanted to read it. “You’re right about one thing, Izzy. You didn’t give a sample to Chris, but you did sign a paper giving him permission to collect and test a sample. The remains of the pregnancy were removed during the procedure you had the next day. Lucky for me, we were able to run the test from the sample Chris collected.”
“You did what?” Izzy’s nostrils flared as her hands fell to her sides.
“I didn’t stutter. The DNA test is legit. The baby you miscarried didn’t belong to me.”
Izzy didn’t say anything. She stood there staring at the paper in her father’s hand. Her eyes shifted to me, then Mia, and back to me again. With no warning, she rushed up to me, slapping her hands against my chest. Then she pushed me.
“You asshole!” She swung at me, mis
sing my face but making contact with my shoulder. “You had no right!”
Her words incited me. “I had no right? Bullshit. You’re the one who lied about this. I had every right to know if I was the father after all the accusations you made.”
When she drew back to strike me again, Shane interceded. “Izzy, that’s enough.”
She didn’t seem to hear him. Her eyes locked on Mia as she pointed her finger. “And you . . . I bet you’re the one who paid for the test, aren’t you? What a great sister.”
“Think whatever you want, Izzy. You always do.”
Jerking loose from her father’s grasp. Izzy continued glaring at Mia. “You better stay the hell away from me.”
“Don’t worry. Ayden and I want nothing to do with you.”
Izzy shrieked as she rushed Mia. Before she could reach her, I stepped between them. Fists struck my chest repeatedly as Izzy lost control. She was yelling, crying, and cursing to the point I couldn’t understand anything coming from her mouth.
Once again, Shane pulled her off me and held her arms so she couldn’t reach me. “Izzy, stop this nonsense.”
Nothing he said broke through to her. Her face pinched as she fought to get away from him. The more she struggled, the harder he held on.
“I hate you!” She pointed at me. “Both of you.”
“Enough!” Shane’s voice boomed around us. He grabbed Izzy by both arms and made her face him. “Your sister didn’t pay for the DNA test. I did.”
Izzy quit fighting him. Her mouth fell open, but no words escaped. All she did was shake her head at her father. His admission had her in shock. I was sure of it because I had the same reaction.
From the moment Chris told me that someone paid the bill, I questioned who it was. It never occurred to me that Shane would be the one, especially since he didn’t know I was having the test performed. At least I didn’t think he knew. Guess he found out.
“How did you know I was having a DNA test performed?”
“I didn’t know at first.” He shoved his hands in his pockets and gazed at the ground. “I called Chris to suggest he run a DNA test, if possible. That’s when he informed me that you already had one done. When he explained the results and said the test needed to be sent to a different lab, I offered to pay the cost.”
As the news sank in, Izzy jerked away from her father. She took a couple of steps backward and shook her head. “I can’t believe . . . You guys can go to hell. I’m done with this family.”
“Izzy, stop. How can you justify what you did?” Shane waited for her to answer, but she didn’t. She extended her middle finger at him, Mia, and me, then she ran towards the condos.
Once she disappeared from our sight, Shane turned toward me. His jaw flinched. “I’ll give her a minute to calm down before I check on her. Are you okay?”
He motioned toward my chest with his finger, but I nodded. “I’m fine.” I wrapped my arm around Mia and pulled her close. “Are you okay?” She nodded, but it didn’t relieve my worry. I could feel her body trembling. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.” Her voice shook as she leaned her head on my shoulder. “I just want her gone.”
“Not yet, Mia.” Shane massaged his temples then dropped his hand to look at his daughter. “Your sister needs help. I’m doing what I can to make sure she gets it.”
“I know, Dad. Just keep her away from us. She’s lost it.”
“Which is why I’m going to suggest to her doctor that he hospitalize her. She needs round-the-clock care.”
Mia didn’t say anything else, but I wanted my father-in-law to know I was appreciative of what he did. Focusing on him again, I extended my hand and shook his. “Thank you, Shane, for paying for the test. I wasn’t sure how I was going to afford it, but I would have sold something.”
“You deserve the truth, just like I did all those years ago.” Releasing my hand, he glanced toward the community gate a moment then faced us once more. His shoulders slumped in defeat. ‘I didn’t want to say anything in front of Izzy, but there was another reason I called Chris.”
Mia perked up. “Why?”
He studied her face and wrung his hands together. After a long period of silence, I questioned if he would answer her. Then he looked into her eyes. “Ayden isn’t the only person who had a paternity test run.”
His answer confused me at first, but the longer I thought about it, the clearer the picture became. Had Wesley reached out to him about the paternity test?
“If you’re referring to Wesley, we know. He showed up at the cabin right before we left and told us that he was having a paternity test done. I guess he and Izzy hooked up around the time she got pregnant, but he isn’t sure if he’s the only one.”
Shane blinked a few times then cocked his head to the side. “That’s interesting to know. I’m curious to see his results.”
Now I was even more confused. “You didn’t know about Welsey’s test?” When Shane shook his head, I glanced at Mia. Her brows folded as she observed her father. She appeared as clueless as I was. “If you didn’t know about Wesley, who else do you know that had a test performed?”
Shane didn’t hesitate in the least when he answered, “I did.”
~Mia~
Ayden packed the last box from his suite and placed it in the bedroom closet. After he handed me the keycards, I knew it was official. We were living under the same roof, and not a moment too soon.
Now that we were married, there was no need for us to have separate suites. No one else was set to move in, but I had a feeling that my father was going to stick around longer than he initially thought. Perhaps he’d want to take the suite for himself.
When he came back into the living room, he led me to the sofa and sat beside me. I laid my head against his chest, listening to the beat of his heart. For the first time since we’d arrived home, we had a moment of silence. It was serene, and I wanted to enjoy it.
Ayden glanced around the living room with a smile on his face. When he caught me watching him, he caressed my cheek. “You realize you’re stuck with me now.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“Are you sure I’m worth the trouble?”
I knew he was referring to the incident with my sister. She sure put on a good show for us when we confronted her about her child’s paternity. As stressful as the moment had been, I was glad we didn’t wait. Now that the truth was out, Izzy had no way of hiding the lies she spread.
Ayden lifted my legs and placed them across his lap. After he removed my shoes, he massaged my feet. I moaned at the sensation he was invoking. I didn’t realize how much my feet hurt until he took off my shoes. Now they were throbbing. Between the heat of his hands and the pressure he was applying, the pain eased enough that I could enjoy the moment.
As I struggled not to fall asleep, a loud knock came from the door. I glanced at Ayden just as he held up his finger. “Let me see who it is.”
He eased my legs off his lap, placing them on the sofa before long strides brought him to the door. After looking through the peephole, he unlocked it. “It’s your dad.”
The door opened as Ayden greeted my father. Once he came inside, I picked up on the negative vibes coursing through him. Just one look at his rigid posture and set jaw, I knew something was wrong.
“Dad? Is everything okay?”
“No.” He waited until Ayden sat beside me, then he eased onto the edge of the recliner. His elbows rested against his knees as he rubbed his hands together. “I uh . . . You haven’t seen your sister, have you?”
My face tingled. Dad’s words alarmed me enough that I sat up straight and placed my feet against the floor. “Not since the scene she made earlier. Why?”
Dad jumped off the chair. He paced back and forth a few times and then stopped in front of us. “I went to check on her a little while ago to see if she had calmed down and would talk. Her suite is empty.”
“How empty?”
He regarded me as he shook his
head. “All of her belongings are gone.”
Ayden folded his hand over mine to calm me, but it didn’t help. Every nerve within my body pulsed in the same rhythm as my heart. Was my sister somewhere on the grounds hiding out in attempt to worry us?
“Have you checked with the few friends she has here? I’d say she’s pissed and hiding from you. She wants us to think she left.”
“Perhaps.” He tapped his bottom lip with his fingers as he concentrated on the floor. “But to play it safe, I’m increasing security patrols for the evening.”
I sensed Ayden staring at me, but I couldn’t face him. I was too busy observing my father, trying to make sense of what he was implying. “There’s something you’re not telling us. What is it, Dad?”
He huffed at my question as he shook his head. “I can’t believe I trusted her. I should have checked better.”
“Dad, what are you talking about? You’re worrying me.”
“I’m sorry, princess, but I can’t risk your safety or that of my grandchild. You were right about your sister.”
I jerked my head back. “I was right about what?”
Dad pulled something out of his pocket then stepped closer. My eyes fell on a pill bottle and the label with my sister’s name. I assumed it was the medication Izzy had been taking, but why was he showing it to me?
Before I could ask him, he opened the cap and spilled the tablets into his hand. They were strange looking. Some of the coloring had faded and a few appeared to have gotten wet.
“Is this the medicine Izzy is taking?”
“It’s what her doctor prescribed, but I found these stashed inside a bag in her bathroom. You were right, Mia. Izzy hasn’t been taking her medication. None of us are safe.”
Chapter 22
~Mia~
Love Deserved (Rock N Roll Heiress Book 3) Page 21