She stared at the mansion, her throat tightening, her mouth dry. Of course she thought this might be a mistake, but she wouldn’t stop. She would let them know she was strong.
Straightening and pulling her shoulders back, she headed up the stone steps and knocked on the front door. It was only a second before a servant opened it and allowed her inside. Nothing was really said as he led her to the sitting room, as if he knew why she was here. Although no doubt they had seen her pull up from the many security cameras stationed on the property.
Once in the room all she did was stand there, so nervous but knowing she was doing the right thing, making the right call. It was only a few moments before she heard footsteps, several of them. She turned and made sure to keep her expression stoic.
She would not show these people emotion.
And then Ian’s father and mother came into the room, their icy demeanor aimed right at Lucy. For long moments nobody said anything. They just stared at each other, as if this was a war between them.
Perhaps there was.
His mother opened her mouth to say something, presumably, but Lucy just shook her head and cleared her throat, which had the mother staying quiet. Lucy took a step forward and stared right in their eyes, looking between them, making them know that this was serious, that she would not be stepped on.
“First, Ian doesn’t know I’m here, but I will tell him.” Lucy stared at the mother first. “You don’t know me, don’t even want to get to know me, yet you want to pass me off as some kind of home wrecker, as if I am a stain on your family’s name.” Lucy looked at the father then. “I love your son, and he loves me. And this baby growing inside of me is your grandchild whether you both like it or not.” She looked between the two of them. “The fact that you told him that I should get rid of it, that he should get rid of me, has me so hateful toward you that it took a lot for me to come here today. But I needed to stand up for myself, needed to make it known that I would not be pushed aside.” Her heart was thundering. “When it concerns this child growing inside of me I will do whatever it takes to ensure they are loved and protected.”
“How dare you—”
“I’m not finished,” Lucy said in a hard tone. She continued to look between the two of them and took another step forward. “Whether you’re in our lives or not is not an issue to me. I couldn’t care less. And although I should keep my child away from you, surely you’re not that heartless and cold that you would not want to know your own grandchild.” She didn’t phrase it like a question. “But if you can’t accept the life I have with Ian, that we love each other, and that we will have this child and many more, then you can just both…” She looked between them again, gritting her teeth, her back ramrod straight. “Then you both can just fuck off.” She heard the mother gasp, and watched as she lifted her hand and placed it on her chest, as if Lucy had just stabbed her in the heart.
The father stayed silent, his expression void of emotion.
And then Lucy smiled at both of them. “I hope both of you have a nice fucking day.” And then she turned and left, grinning all the way as she went down the steps and into the back of the car. The driver pulled out away from the house and she leaned back on the seat, so damn proud of herself, and so excited to tell Ian that she’d stood up for them, for their baby.
She had no doubts he’d done the same, would do the same. But she wanted him to know that she could hold her own, that she didn’t need him to fight her battles.
And the look on their face when she swore at them made her day. Hell, it made her whole damn year.
19
“I wish I could have been there to see their faces. I bet they didn’t have a fucking clue what hit them.” Ian burst out laughing, pulling Lucy against him. Damn, he’d never thought for a single second that this sweet woman would have been able to put his parents back in their place. She had done it though, and from the smile on her lips, she was happy to have done it. Ian was proud of her.
At least now he knew without a doubt that she could take care of herself.
“I don’t think they’ll be coming around anymore,” she said.