A DEAL SEALED WITHOUT ME

Giselle's POV

 Dad smiled, a peace, satisfied smile. "That's my girl" he said.

Nicholas immediately jumped into the conversation to elaborate more. " The entire city will be there, Gigi." Nicholas said, his voice filled with an almost boyish enthusiasm. "Politicians, business moguls, aristocrats, all the prominent families in the city." My heart swelled a little at the thought. It was finally happening.

For years, I had been the hidden heiress, the whispered name in the society circles. People had speculated about me. Painted their own version of who I was but no one had eventually see me. Even if they did, I didn't look it. Until now.

"This will be a grand debut," father added, his voice rich and stead."And as the Von Heiress, you must look your absolute best. We've arranged for the best designers, jewelers and stylist." 

I sat up slightly, my excitement growing. "Father, I don't need a grand entrance." I said, though deep down, I knew I didn't entirely mean it. "You underestimate how much this means," Nicholas countered. "You are the most influential woman in the City. People have been for this moment for years." "Says a man who lives under disguise." I replied before letting out a chuckle, shaking my head. I knew Nicholas felt attacked but someone needs to tell him we're not far apart from each other. His the most influential young man in the city but everything thinks his invisible. 

My birthday party. The entire city in attendance. Everyone eager to lay eyes on the woman who had been shielded away all these years.

And yet, as I sat there listening to their excitement, something dark and unspoken weighed heavily on my chest. A Sercet. A secret I had not yet dared to voice. My pregnancy.

I wasn't sure how my dad and brother we're going to take it but I knew I had to tell them the truth but not now. Not well they were still celebrating my return. At that instant I was feeling nausea and fatigue but I had to control myself not to let them notice. I wanted to tell them. I wanted to break it to them right now. To tell them that everything they were planning , everything they were excited for , might not turn out the way the imagined.

But then, a cold, sharp thought cut through me. What would they think? What would father say?

Lord Benjamin Von Howard was a man of power, pride and legacy. He had spent years cultivating the prefect image for his family. A divorced pregnant daughter will not only shock him. It will disappoint him. And Nicholas. My dear protection brother. The one who had swore to destroy Patrick for what he had done for me. What would he do if he knew that despite it all, I still carried Patrick's child? My stomach twisted with uncertainty. So I kept quiet. I simply smiled and let them continue.

"You don't have to worry about anything Giselle, " Nicholas reassured me. Stepping closer and placing a comforting hand on mine." This birthday isn't all about celebration, it's about justice." "Justice?" I echoed.

"For what that bastard did to you" he growled his jaw tightening. I sighed already knowing where all this was going. "You don't have to do anything, Nicholas," I said softly. He shot a sharp look at me."Don't tell me you're defending him, Giselle."

"I'm not," I replied my fingers absentmindedly tracing the embroidered patterns on my silk sheets. "But he isn't worth your stress. He'll fall when the time comes."

Nicholas frowned. "That's not the point. He used you. Betrayed you. And he thinks he can get way with it."

I met his gaze, my voice calm but firm. He won't get away with anything." I said. "Men like him always self-destruct themselves im the end. You don't have to waste your time on him. Nicholas studied me for a moment before letting out frustrated breath. "You're too soft Giselle."

Father, who had been quiet for awhile suddenly lean forward. His expression was unreadable, but something in his eyes made my heart skip a beat.

"There's something else we need to discuss," he said. I straightened. "What is it."

He exchanged a glance at Nicholas before looking back at me. " I had a meeting with an old friend of mine today. A very powerful businessman. His son has shown interest in you." My stomach dropped. My lips parted slightly but no woods came out. Father's expression remain neutral."He's well educated, well mannered and his family is one of the wealthiest after us in this city. He would be a prefect match for you Giselle." 

I felt like the air has been knocked out of me. This wasn't happening. I had just walked away from one betrayal, and now I was being handed off to someone else? Like a deal being sealed behind my back.

"Are you saying you want me to marry him?" My voice was barely above a whisper. "Not immediately." Father replied smoothly "But it would be wise to consider it." I swallowed hard. I was pregnant with another man's child. And my father wanted to marry me off to someone else. I couldn't let this happen. I couldn't... But before I could even begin to find the right words, Nicholas spoke up.

" You don't have answers right away," he said giving me a reassuring smile. "We just wanted to you to be aware." My fingers curled the sheets. I felt trapped. Trapped between duty and truth. Between who u was supposed to be and who had become.

How I'm I going to tell my father that I'm pregnant for Patrick, the same man he warned me about. And Nicholas, how disappointed he'll be to hear that I still want to keep the child of the bastard. And for the first time in my life, I wasn't sure what to do.