Chapter 13

The car pulled through the gates of the Harrington country estate. Vivienne was nervous. This would only be her second time meeting Sebastian's parents since the wedding.

The elder Harringtons' health was delicate, so everything across the last year had been video calls. Sebastian squeezed her hand. "Relax. They've been begging me to bring you home."

At dinner, Eleanor Harrington was beaming. She piled food onto Vivienne's plate faster than Vivienne could politely stop her.

"Please, really, I have plenty—"

Eleanor finally set the serving fork down. "All right, all right. You're so thin. Eat whatever looks good."

Conversation came around to the baby. Vivienne smiled, one hand on her stomach. "It's a girl. We're still finding our footing."

She and Sebastian had not planned on children. They hadn't been ready. But they had been careless one night and the universe had decided for them. Vivienne had not been able to let the baby go. Sebastian had held her and said okay, we keep her, we figure it out.

Eleanor patted her arm. "Don't worry about a thing. Arthur and I aren't doing anything. When she's born, she's with us. You and Sebastian keep your lives."

Vivienne's throat closed. "Thank you, Eleanor."

"Darling. Family doesn't say thank you. I never had a daughter. You are mine now."

Arthur, kind-eyed, added from across the table, "The most important thing is your health. Don't stress about the baby."

He shifted the conversation to life in London. Under the table, Sebastian stroked the back of her hand the whole meal.

He stepped out to take a call. Vivienne was laughing at something Eleanor had said when he disappeared down the hall.

On the terrace his face had gone cold.

"I can't believe they had the nerve to come here."

His tone was almost pleasant. "If they're shopping for a lesson, don't be polite."

"Yes, sir."

At that moment, on the front lawn of a second Harrington property, Julian and Killian had shown up with a squad of men and were actively smashing things. Vases. Urns. Windows. Two years of rage out on glass.

They were ringed almost immediately by men in black.

Killian laughed, unruffled. "Finally. I was starting to think nobody was home."

The lead security man's voice dropped. "You are picking the wrong fight."

"Bring Sebastian Harrington out. And Vivienne. I want to see her. Or we file charges."

Security smiled coldly. "Mr. Harrington and Mrs. Harrington don't take drop-ins."

He lifted his hand. Security moved. Every man Julian and Killian had brought was pinned within seconds.

Killian went still. "What did you just call her."

Julian's color drained. "When did my sister become anyone's wife."

Security already had the police on speaker. "Trespass. Criminal mischief. Let's let them cool off downtown for a bit."

Killian lost it. "I am her fiancé. Harrington is holding her against her will. You should be arresting him."

Julian went for his name. "I'm Julian Ashford. Use your head."

Cops in New York did not care for men like Julian Ashford. The officer pulled out his phone and played the security video of them destroying a foyer.

"Your evidence being—"

Julian held up the photograph of Vivienne. "This is my sister. Help me get her out and we can work something out."

Killian: "My family and I—we're the Thornes. My engagement was public record. I'll cooperate. But my fiancée leaves with me."

The officer looked at the photograph. "A picture isn't evidence. That is." He pointed at the destruction on the screen. "Let's go."

They were dragged off.

At the main Harrington estate, Sebastian finally told Vivienne about the incident. She had been bracing for something like this.

"Once I was back on the continent, it was a matter of time. Don't worry so much. They can't do anything to me anymore."

His eyes tightened. He palmed the back of her head. "Don't worry. I have it."

She didn't want to see them. He would make sure she never had to.

He decided quietly that every person who had ever humiliated her was going to pay.

Later, he sent Isabelle Harrington—his cousin, also pregnant—to take Vivienne to the prenatal spa upstate. "The therapists there specialize in pregnancy. It'll be good for you."

Vivienne smiled. "Okay."

He kissed her forehead. "Good girl."

Isabelle cleared her throat pointedly. "I'm right here. You're allowed to consider my feelings."

Sebastian waited until the two of them were laughing before he left.

He was not surprised Julian and Killian had escalated this fast. Killian in particular had been trying to muscle his way into a Harrington Group deal by forcibly buying up a stake. It was sloppy. Desperate.

That evening, at a business reception, Sebastian said mildly, "As I understand it, Mr. Thorne hasn't inherited the Thorne holdings. Is he in a position to negotiate?"

Killian's face went dark. After two years of erratic behavior, Gregory wouldn't hand him the company.