When Rivals Love (Bayshore Rivals 3)

Even though it’s someone I know, it’s not one of the Bishops like I had hoped it would be. My stomach drops, and I feel like I might throw up as I watch Matt leisurely walk into the room. His gaze sweeps over the room before coming to rest on me. He doesn’t even look like he cares. All over again, I’m reminded of how I’m nothing but a pawn to my father.

“Matt, thank you so much for coming,” my father greets him, making it sound more like a business arrangement.

“No problem. How are you feeling, Harlow?” he asks, coming to stand beside the bed.

“Terrible, and you being here doesn’t help,” I snap at him. Not caring how rude I must sound. The last thing I want is to be surrounded by these people that don’t care if I’m happy or not, people that only want me to play a part in their shitty story.

“Ouch,” Matt smirks. He’s clearly not offended by my words.

“Be nice,” my mother scolds, and I barely restrain the growl as my lip curls with anger. “We’re going to give you two a moment. Don’t mess this up, Harlow. This might be your last chance to save yourself from complete destruction. Make the right choice, so that we don’t have to make it for you.”

My last chance? What the hell is that supposed to mean?

My parents leave the room, and Matt grabs a chair dragging it over to the bed. It scratches against the floor loudly, but he doesn’t seem to care. He takes a seat, the chair creaking under his weight. He’s only a foot away from me now, and I shiver at the thought of him being this close, especially after the way he treated me the last time I saw him.

Giving me a boyish grin, he says, “So, I heard you got knocked up by one of those Bishop brothers.”

“I don’t see how this is your business.”

Matt shrugs, “Your dad wants you to get rid of the baby, but I’ve got a better idea. A way that will allow you to keep it. Since the beginning, I’ve told you I was here to help.”

I’d laugh if I didn’t already have a headache the size of Texas, and it didn’t hurt to move. “Ha, doubtful. You’ve never wanted to help me. You’re a disgusting, selfish prick, and I want you to leave and never come back.”

What I have to say doesn’t matter to him. I know this. I’ve known it all along. Maybe I had hoped he would be different, that he would become a friend to me. That turned out to be nothing but a lie too.

Crossing his arms over his chest, he stares me down, his gaze hardening. “I’m being very generous to you and your family, Harlow. I’m still willing to marry you. I don’t mind that you’re having a baby, in fact, it’s one less thing I have to do.” He winks at me, and I gag, the thought… it makes me want to barf all over the floor.

“No one has to know who the real father is. I’m willing to raise it as my own, give it, and you a home, a life. I’ll protect you, ensure that you’re happy and healthy.”

I can’t believe him. Does he even hear himself?

“You’re a lunatic if you think I’m going to go along with this. I’ll never marry you. With or without this baby. It’s not happening,” I snarl. I have this impulse to scratch his eyes out, to do whatever I can to get him out of this room and away from me. I don’t need him or my parents. I can do this all on my own.

Matt chuckles a humorless laugh, “You are the crazy one. If you don’t do this, your father will make you get an abortion. He’s not going to let you have this baby any other way.” He pauses, and I’m hoping he’ll shut the hell up and get out, but he doesn’t. Instead, he opens his mouth again. “Do you know what kind of embarrassment this would be to him? A baby with his sworn enemy’s son? Hell, you don’t even know who the father is.”

“I don’t care. I don’t care what any of you think or say…” I whisper, all the emotions inside of me swirling together.

He unfolds his arms and runs a hand through his hair, before exhaling a deep breath, “Look, he’s not going to let you leave this hospital with that baby inside of you. Not unless you agree to marry me. The abortion will happen today, you have no say.”

“He can’t do that! He wouldn’t…” I argue, but even as the words leave my mouth, I know the truth is, he would. He is probably paying this hospital half a fortune to do this without my consent, or maybe he is just threatening them with whatever sick thing he can come up with. The lump in my throat thickens as I weigh my options. It feels like all hope is lost.