Billionaire's Island Bride(36)
“Supposed to be?” Robyn lifted an eyebrow. “Sounds to me like you’re not sure. Maybe you’re in over your head?”
Erin frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means, what’s a girl like you doing with a man like him? You’re not even in the same class.”
So there it was. The gloves were off now. No need for pretenses anymore. The fight was out in the open.
“You don’t know anything about money,” Robyn continued, the veil gone from her face now contorted with spite. “You’re out of your league here.”
Erin felt her heart tighten. It was true. She was like an alien in this world of riches. But still, Robyn had no right. “He’s my husband,” she said finally, her voice strong and defiant. “No matter what you may think, he’s mine and I’m part of his world.”
“We’ll see about that.” Robyn sat back in her chair, her expression smug.
“Meaning?”
“Meaning we’ll just see how long your husband keeps you here once he finds out about the real you.”
Erin gasped. “You wouldn’t.”
“Try me,” Robyn smirked.
“You would break up a marriage just to soothe your ego?”
“I just want Dare to know exactly who he married. That’s only fair.”
Erin took a deep breath. The nightmare had begun and it was far worse than she’d expected. She knew Robyn had not come to the island to be supportive. She’d even expected a little flirtation, but this? To threaten to reveal a secret she’d shared in confidence, a secret that could jeopardize her marriage?
She decided to use her wild card. Her face calm, she looked Robyn in the eyes. “You would break up a marriage even though I’m expecting Dare’s child?”
That did the trick. Robyn stared at her, her face frozen in shock. “You’re pregnant?”
In answer Erin got up and unbuttoned the loose jacket she’d been using to hide her condition. The bump in her belly was now obvious through the cotton fabric of her blouse.
“My God.” Robyn looked at her belly and her face grew red. “How could I have missed that?”
The tension was suddenly too much for Erin. She walked over to the counter as a sudden wave of nausea washed over her. She sucked in a deep breath, willing her churning stomach to settle. She couldn’t afford to show weakness. Not now.
She had her head down when she heard Robyn’s voice again. It seemed to be coming from far away. “Now I see what happened. You devious little witch. You knew exactly what you were doing, didn’t you?”
The venom in the woman’s voice was like a knife thrust into Erin’s belly. Why did Robyn hate her so much? With shaking hands she reached up and took a glass from the cupboard then filled it from the tap. She took a few sips then drew in her breath and turned around. Now she was ready.
“Robyn, I don’t know what I was thinking when I allowed you to come here. Obviously it was a big mistake. I want you to leave.” Erin made her voice strong and bold even though she felt almost ready to pass out.
“You…want me to leave?” Robyn spluttered. “You’re throwing me out?”
“Yes,” Erin said, her voice surprisingly calm. “You came here knowing that you held the handle while I was holding the blade. You planned to use that against me, make me submit to your desires, even if it meant flirting with my husband. Even stealing him. It’s not going to happen.”
Robyn pushed her chair back, making a long scraping sound on the marble tiles. “Oh, so we’re tough now, are we? Don’t care about our reputation anymore? One word from me and this doll’s house can come tumbling down around your ears.”
The nausea was coming back. Beads of perspiration popped out on Erin’s brow and again she had to turn away. She couldn’t take this, not now, not in her condition. “Robyn,” she whispered as she struggled to keep her breakfast down, “please leave.”
As Robyn stormed out of the room Erin held on to the counter then made her way back to the table where she sank gratefully into the chair. She sat there for a while gulping in air then she gathered just enough strength to get up and grab a can of ginger ale from the fridge. It was the only thing guaranteed to dispel her nausea.
It took a whole ten minutes for Erin to return to normal. Still, she did not move. She sat there thinking. And thinking.
What was she going to do now? She’d just upset - no, angered - the one person in the world with the power to create a mess of her life. Well, the one person outside of Dare DeSouza. She had created a real enemy.