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 is mine,

step forward, and grabbed Nathan by the collar, followed by another punch

gut.

yours…” He paused, his entire body tensed, his

Nathan associating him with Yulia sent him into a rage, itching

Nathan not get it? How could he picture his woman with another

gotta stay cool. I messed up, I

suppress the fury inside. He raised his eyes, and those dark,

shivers down Nathan’s

being realistic here. Isn’t it better to

of your wild days?”

like me? Have you ever considered who you

a deep

Damon’s teeth grinding was all too

I go clean up this bloody mess?” He figured if

make it

cold stare but

and nudged it aside. “You don’t want the blood to

those pristine hands.”

“The smell, man. You don’t want Chloe to catch a

you?”

let go, and Nathan seized the moment, sprinting for

fretted on the table, watching Nathan run with his bloody nose until he was out

she slowly turned to Damon. They were left alone in the study. Damon

meeting Anya’s wide-eyed look.

tears, but they swelled over the brim. Without a need for pretense, the

her, Anya

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

when Anya’s cries startled them. Realizing

upstairs.

here. I’ll check on

and she was already on the move, reaching the staircase

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

belly.

Anya’s

in unison, pausing. Chloe’s eyes widened in surprise to see Damon

with an awkward

seen Damon holding a child, and with

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