"I do love you, Ivy," Zeus confessed.
I dropped my fork in shock. How the Hell do you respond to someone like this? He's forcing me to stay here, telling me he's going to take my son once he's born, and now expects me to believe him?
"I want to trust you," I lied.
He guided my chin to meet his gaze. My heart stopped as I looked down at one of the largest diamonds I'd ever seen on a ring.
"Marry me, Ivy," Zeus proposed. My eyes widened in shock.
He's insane.
"Marry me, Ivy," he repeated, "Cartier Destinee Solitaire, Platinum with 4.99 carats."
I couldn't move as he slid the ring on my wedding ring finger. "I need Eric and Tanya."
He froze, and I could see the unhappiness on his face. "Why? I can give you what they never could."
"They're my family," I gritted, "I need them. I'm sorry, but my connection to them will never disappear. Let them move here if you want me to forgive you."
He shook his head in dismay, "That's too much to ask."
I added, "Tanya's son is off at football camp for the next two months so that he won't be here until then. "
"Ivy-"
"Do this for me, and I'll marry you," I lied. I needed them here. With them here, I could get away.
"Do you mean that?" he asked.
"Yes," I confirmed.
I looked into his eyes and tried my best to convey what he needed. He held my cheek in his hand and leaned in to kiss me. How sinister are you?
I'm worse, that dark serpent-like voice hissed within my head.
"I knew it!" A loud female voice from behind us broke the silence, "Did you just ask this whore to marry you?!"
"Who the fuck are you calling a whore?" I snapped while standing up.
"You!" she hollered while charging at me.
"Eve, stop!" Zeus warned while holding her back from me. He hoisted her by her waist, "She's carrying your little brother!"
Eve quit fighting to get to me and pushed her father away, "Unbelievable. You let this whore into our home, now you get the dumb bitch pregnant?! You're nearly sixty years old and can't be serious right now! You don't love her!"
I veered over the commotion to see Dimitri standing there. His eyes locked on mine like an animal in heat. I had never seen the two of them since I was living here, and I had forgotten they were living here since the castle was massive.
"What's wrong with you?!" Eve screamed.
"I'm going back with Dimitri in the cart if that's okay. I'm feeling tired," I faked.
"Are you alright?' Zeus turned to me, concerned.
"Fine, I just ate too fast," I evaded, "Plus, I came on your tongue so many times that I have no more energy left in me."
The horror look across Eve's face made it worth it.
"You are such a whore!" she sneered.
"Maybe," I taunted, "I was your man's first. Now I'm your father's. Maybe I'll fuck your son too. Funny how that works."
Eve tried lunging at me, but Zeus stopped her mid-flight.
"You fucking skank!" Eve cried.
"Dimitri! Please take Ivy back to her room!" Zeus asked.
Dimitri came over and took my hand without hesitation. We rushed back to the golf cart and drove off, leaving them behind, screaming at one another.
"You're marrying him?" Dimitri's voice broke my train of thought.
"Not willingly," I admitted.
"What do you mean? I told you to get the abortion, and you didn't listen to me!" he grew angry, "Now he's fucking you in the house I'm living in, and he knows it's driving me crazy. When I hear your moans echoing through the walls, it makes me want to kill him!" he confessed.
"Where the Hell is this coming from? I thought you were in love with Eve? I thought you wanted her, which is why you were done with Callista," I reminded.
"You think you're the only one living in that house against their will? The shit he has on me makes me his bitch whether I like it or not. Eve wanted me here, so he threatened me, and now I'm stuck here! The only good thing is Reign," he continued.
"If he weren't keeping me here because I'm pregnant with his baby, then I wouldn't be here," I cried.
"Don't cry, I'm sorry, Ivy," Dimitri's tone softened as he parked the golf cart and brought me to my room.
I sat on my bed crying uncontrollably.
"Shh, don't cry," Dimitri hushed while kneeling before me and wiping away my tears.
"How did everything get so fucked up?" I complained.
"It's my baby," Dimitri claimed.
"No, we did the test, and Rick told me it was Zeus's son," I denied.
"I saw the real results," he admitted.
Confused, I said, "No, there's no way..."
I racked my brain. There's no way he's that sadistic and twisted.
"It's my son," Dimitri repeated.
"Please make this stop!" I begged, "I can't do this!"
"You're stronger than you think. I've never met a twenty-five-year-old as strong-willed as you," he complimented.
"Why do I feel so helpless?" I cried.
Dimitri locked my eyes, and without pause, he placed his lips on mine and climbed on top of me.