Cameron opened the drawer where Marti had pulled out the pregnancy test kits and found one left. He took it out and put it on the counter.
“You have only one choice. Take the test and prove you’re pregnant. Right now. Either way there isn’t going to be a wedding. Take the test, now, and if you’re pregnant we’ll settle on custody arrangements and payment. If you aren’t, you can leave here and I never want to hear from you again. Refuse to take the test, and I’ll take you to court and make you take the test. If it’s positive, I’ll sue you for full custody and I’ll win. If it’s false, I’ll sue you for fraud and make sure you pay me back every dime I gave you to pay off your bills.”
“Cameron, I already told you I saw the doctor and they did the test. I’m pregnant. We’re supposed to get married today.”
“No wedding, Shelly. Not today. Never. I’ve spent the last two months hurting the woman I love because you claim you’re pregnant and all I wanted to do was give my children a whole family. Now prove it. You aren’t leaving this bathroom without peeing on the stick.”
“I will do no such thing.”
“Yes, you will, because it’s the difference between leaving here on your own, or leaving here in a police car. I’ve already contacted my lawyer. If you don’t pee on the stick, I’ll proceed with fraud charges, and since you benefited financially from the fraud, you will be charged and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
“It’ll be in all the papers if you do that.” Shelly tried to make him change his mind. “You and Merrick don’t want that kind of publicity.”
“Pee on the stick, or I’ll be the first one to call the newspapers. You won’t get out of this house without the press following you everywhere and waiting to find out the results of the test. You’ll have exactly what you want, all the attention focused on you. You won’t have the money though. I’ll never marry you. No millions for you. No mansion for you. You won’t be the queen of the castle. Two princesses already live here, and that suits me just fine. I don’t need a witch spoiling things anymore.”
She’d never heard him like this. So far, she’d been able to talk her way out of things and get him to take her side. He wasn’t buying it this time, and she had nothing left to bluff with.
“Fine. You win. I’m not pregnant. I never was. I’m on the pill. How’s it feel to be played for a fool?”
“Feels like shit. I almost lost my friends, my daughter is upset, and I’ve treated the woman I love more than my own life like crap for two months when all she’s done is love me and Emma. All because you lied. Pee on the stick.”
“I told you, I’m not pregnant.”
“You could be lying and come back after me later for child support for some other fool’s baby. You aren’t leaving until you prove it one way or another. Pee on the goddamn stick,” he shouted.
He planted his feet, stood with his arms crossed, waiting for her to comply with his demand. Humiliating her wasn’t his goal, he didn’t care about her feelings at this point. Time to get rid of the trash and go after Marti.
She peed on the stick, knowing this was the end. She wouldn’t get what she wanted. “You know, I quit my job. I don’t have any money. I’ve already given notice on my apartment. I have to have everything cleared out by the end of the month.”
“You should have thought of that before you lied.”
“You could at least give me a little something to get by until I can get a job and a new place.”
He took the pregnancy test and watched the windows. The results were negative and the test confirmed with one line it had worked. He glared at her with pure hatred surging through his chest and mind.
“Had the test been positive, I would have paid you a king’s ransom to get the baby from you. You aren’t fit to be a mother. It’s negative and you won’t see a dime.”
Sam waited behind Cameron. “You should have taken the million George offered you before he died. Now you’ve got nothing. As it should be, if you ask me.”