Scarred Seductress

Blood and Shares

“What did you just say?” Selene's voice shook as her blood drained cold, the paper slipping from her hand and reaching the ground.

The doctor's eyes lit up.

“Congratulations, ma'am….”

Selene's body lurched into motion and she lowered herself, taking the paper back into her trembling palms. She ran her eyes desperately over it, desperately hoping it had nothing to do with what the nurse had said.

“Congratulations once again, ma'am…”

Selene forced a smile onto her face as her mind spiraled, her heart trembling, curling between her lips.

She had to think of something, and fast too. In a moment, Matteo would not only catch wind of the pregnancy but also the truth that she wanted nothing to do with this baby.

Marina's frantic eyes found Selene's pale face, a thousand and one questions echoing in her head at once. Did the nurse just report Selene was actually pregnant?

“I'll go convey the good news to—”

“No!” Selene blurted in a sharp breath, cutting the doctor off.

The doctor glanced briefly at the nurses' also surprised faces, confusion settling in at Selene's reaction.

“Is everything okay, ma'am?” he asked.

Selene let out a dry chuckle and pressed a nod.

“Of course… I would just love to share the good news with him myself.” She stuttered.

The doctor hesitated for a moment.

“So leave that to me,” she added, pouting her lower lip in a pleading gesture, her begging eyes steady on the doctor's face.

“Fine.” He heaved and stepped aside.

“I'll be in my office then.” He mouthed.

A quiet breath escaped Selene as he walked away, taking the nurse with him.

“f**k,” Selene cursed, her fingers threading into her hair as her feet carried her around restlessly.

“Let me have that…” Marina snapped impatiently, pushing forward and snatching the test report from Selene.

Selene paid no mind to her, her stomach tightening with fear, frustration, and dread.

“You're… you're pregnant?” Marina's voice blared as her eyes lifted to Selene's face, a cold trail of chills pouring down her spine.

“But… but… but…”

“Please, Marina… back off and let me think.” Selene hissed.

“Let you think?” Marina chuckled bitterly, beginning to pace too.

Selene scoffed bitterly, snatching back the report from Marina and just about to brush past her when Marina's hand seized her, halting her in her tracks as her eyes bored daggers into her.

“I should have seen it in you, Selene… so this was your plan all along?” she sneered.

Selene yanked herself free, exhaling a calming breath to stop herself from losing it on Marina. She had one problem and one problem alone—the baby.

“How dare you scheme for a place you don't belong, Selene… you've wanted Matteo all along, haven't you?” she spat, venom dripping from her voice.

Selene's eyes found Marina's face, tears pooling in her eyes as her mind spiraled. If only Marina knew what she actually wanted.

“You think that brat of yours can take my Quinn's place?” Marina fired, dry and broken chuckles ripping from her throat.

Selene looked away.

“Get rid of it, Selene… or watch me tear your life apart…”

“I have no intention of keeping the child, Marina… you have no reason at all to feel threatened.” Selene said and pressed a small smile. “You have absolutely no reason to worry, ma'am… your son's place…” She stopped herself with a hand clasped over her lips, blinking nervously.

Marina's face stiffened.

“I mean your daughter… your daughter's place remains hers.”

Marina's suddenly shaking hands clawed desperately at the sides of her dress as Selene's confident eyes glinted with a slight hint of mischief.

For a woman as scheming as herself, she could see it in Selene's eyes—she knew something.

“Have a good day, ma'am…” Selene mouthed and inclined her head in a slight bow, about to quietly walk away when Marina blurted,

“Get rid of it before my very eyes, Selene, and I'll give you anything!”

Selene's feet faltered to a slow stop.

“Anything at all, you just name it!” Marina continued in a breaking, shaking voice.

Selene shook her head as if to pay her no mind when Marina blurted again,

“You want power, don't you? Money? Name it and I'll give it to you… as long as you stay away from the Morettis… it's my Quinn's birthright…”

Selene scoffed. “If I wanted power, Marina… then there's no better ticket to it than this baby.”

“You'll be fine for life… you'll never have to worry about anything, just name it.”

Selene's lower lip curled between her teeth as though contemplating something as Marina closed in, breath sharp and ragged, desperation dripping from her countenance.

“You'll give me anything?” Selene asked.

Marina nodded quickly.

“Anything… anything but my daughter's place.” She begged.

Selene let out a low, condescending scoff, her eyes steady on Marina's face as she made up her mind to herself, nodding to the thought of it.

“I want major shares in your father's company, Marina…”

Marina's eyes widened in their sockets.

A slow smile curved Selene's lips.

“What do you think, Marina… willing to give back what your father stole from my mom just to keep your brat’s place?” Selene muttered under her breath, her eyes steady on Marina's sweat-streaked face.