with an uncontrollable twitch. His clenched fist, resting on the table, was white-knuckled, the bones pressing hard

against the wood. “What did you just say?”

Nathan, too consumed by his own nerves to notice the storm brewing in Damon, repeated his question hastily: “I

said, could Anya possibly be your daughter with Yulia?”

He couldn’t finish his sentence before a solid punch collided with his face. His nose felt like it was about to shatter.

“Damn it.” Nathan clutched his throbbing nose, bending over and tears streamed down his face. It wasn’t the pain

that made him cry. It was totally sheer reflex.

Damon had no sympathy for him, stepping closer as Nathan stumbled back, pleading. “Hold on, hold on, man, this

really sucks.”

Anya, perched on the table, blinked her wide eyes, not quite grasping the situation. She’d assumed they were just

messing around.d1

As she turned to follow Nathan’s retreat, confusion clouded her gaze. When she saw the blood trickling between

Nathan’s fingers, she let out a startled yelp. “Don’t be mean to Nathan.”

Anya scrambled to her feet, flailing her little arms, jumping anxiously on the table.

Nathan, noticing the blood gushing from his nose and Damon still fuming, backed away, looking for an escape. “I

was just asking. Just tell me yes or no. Even if she is your daughter, I wouldn’t tell Chloe, man.”

Damon’s face went from dark to downright thunderous.

Nathan sighed desperately, nearly in tears as Damon closed in on him.

“We’re blood, man. If I keep mum and you keep mum, and Yulia keeps mum, Chloe will never have to know. We’re

family here, right? What’s yours

eyes tight, took a step forward, and grabbed Nathan by the

gut.

is mine, and yours…” He paused, his entire body

Yulia sent him into a rage,

Nathan not get it? How could he picture

stay cool. I messed up, I really did. I shouldn’t

of Damon’s willpower to suppress the fury inside. He raised his eyes, and

shivers down

me, does Anya really look like you? I’m just being realistic here. Isn’t it better to

of your wild days?”

brain-dead? She looks like me? Have you ever considered who you look

blurted out, then took a deep breath. “You’re not suggesting that Anya’s dad’s

teeth grinding was all too

“Can I… can I go clean up this bloody mess?” He figured

make it

him a cold stare but

gently grasped Damon’s wrist and nudged it aside.

those pristine hands.”

smell, man. You don’t want

you?”

and

table, watching Nathan run with his bloody nose until he was

left alone in the study.

meeting Anya’s wide-eyed look.

shivered, blinked back tears, but they swelled over the brim. Without a need for pretense, the moment

Anya burst

of a child’s sudden crying had an indescribable piercing power. Damon felt

Chloe were chatting when Anya’s cries startled them. Realizing it was Anya,

upstairs.

you stay here. I’ll check

with care, and she was already

though worried, didn’t heed Yulia’s advice and followed.

belly.

Anya’s sobs

pausing. Chloe’s eyes widened in surprise to see Damon at the top of the

one arm, the other wiping away her tears with an awkward tenderness. She realized it might be the

holding a

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