Luther’s fists clenched, his face twisting with fury. "You don’t know what you’re talking about."
"Don’t I?" Vander let out a cold chuckle. "Then why don’t we ask Cheryl?"
Silence. Everyone turned to look at me, and Vander gave me a look that silently urged—this was my moment to speak up.
“I’m pregnant.” I finally said.
The room was suffocating. The moment my words left my lips, the entire ballroom turned into a war zone of whispers and gasps. The tension was so thick I could taste it, bitter and electric.
Luther’s expression barely changed at first. He stared at me, his eyes dark and unreadable, like he was waiting for the punchline to a sick joke.
Then I gave it to him.
“It’s Vander’s.”
Silence. A deafening, crushing silence.
And then—chaos.
Catherine sucked in a sharp breath beside Luther, her nails digging into his arm. The murmurs turned into an uproar, voices overlapping, clashing, breaking through the heavy tension like shattered glass.
Luther’s entire body went rigid. His breathing turned ragged, his hands trembling at his sides—not with fear, but with fury.
“What did you just say?” His voice was barely above a whisper, but it carried through the hall like a blade pressed against my throat.
I swallowed hard, my heart hammering so violently it hurt. But I couldn’t back down. This was my only way out.
“I’m carrying Vander’s child,” I repeated, my voice steadier this time. “And that means I have no place here anymore. Our bond is over, Luther.”
The words were a death sentence. Luther lunged.
I barely had time to react before he was on me, his grip vice-like as he yanked me close, his fingers digging into my wrist so hard I thought the bone might snap.
“Liar!” His breath was hot against my skin, his fury vibrating through me. “You think I’ll believe that? You were locked in my basement, rotting in filth. When the hell did you have time to spread your legs for my brother?”
I flinched, but I refused to let him see my fear. “I had time,” I bit out. “Enough time to find someone who actually wanted me.”
Luther’s grip tightened. For a second, I thought he might throw me to the ground right there, humiliate me in front of everyone.
Then Vander stepped in.
His hand landed on Luther’s shoulder, his voice calm but firm. “Let her go.”