Kira was shorter than Deborah, but an outsider could easily have mistaken her for the bully and Deborah the bullied, given their body language. Kira caught the reactions of the men present.
The scowl on Austyn's face was matched by the frown on Damian's.
Kai stood behind her, but Kira bet the assistant was shaking his head at her disapprovingly.
Why did all men fall for this 'damsel in distress' act?
Deborah was the homewrecker here.This belongs to - ©.
Yet she just had to work up a few drops of tears and bat those Bambi eyes, and men would forgive her and ride to her rescue in a heartbeat. The furrow between Austyn's brows was so deep, Kira could see it from a mile away. Was he blaming her for picking on Deborah?
Kira couldn't understand it.
Wasn't he the one who told her that Deborah colluded with Santoro to hurt him?
Was he being so indulgent towards Deborah just because she was his ex-girlfriend?
Kira knew first loves got special treatment.
She just didn't know it could be that special.
Kira suddenly lost interest in the fight.
So what if she could drive Deborah to tears?
It wasn't Deborah's reaction that she cared.
'Never mind,' Kira said. 'Take all the time you want. Call me Miss Hewitt, call me Mrs McCarthy, it doesn't matter.'
She turned around. 'If you'll excuse me.'
'Stop!'
Kira halted at the sound of Austyn's commanding voice.
She paused but did not turn back.
'Deborah' Austyn's next sentence was directed at his ex-girlfriend.
Kira pulled a face.
Only Kai caught it.
Deborah moved to Austyn's bedside.
'If you don't have anything important, you don't need to come here again.' Austyn issued the order in a flat tone that brooked no argument. 'You're my ex-girlfriend. He emphasised the 'ex.'
'I don't want there to be any misunderstanding between me and mate
Tia Distress Act
Kira whirled around and stared at him.
Was he spealing up for her?
Deborah staggered back a step like she'd been stabbed.
'By the way,' Austyn twisted the knife in deeper. 'My wife is right. You should address her as Mrs McCarthy.*
'Austyn... Deborah had to grip the back of a chair for support.
'And you should address me as Mr McCarthy.' Austyn sat up in bed. 'If there's nothing else, you can leave now. Kira and I have things to discuss. Kira looked at him.
What things?
'Austyn. Deborah smiled sadly. 'Must you be so cruel to me? Even if it's over between us, we're still connected by...'
She let her voice trail off.
Austyn, Damian and Kai instantly understood the implied threat in her unsaid words.
Of those present, Kira was the only one who did not know about Aiden's existence.
Before returning to Stamford, Austyn had warned Deborah not to breathe a word about the boy to Kira.
But why should she honour her promise if she was going to lose Austyn anyway?
Austyn clutched the edge of the bed.
He shot a warning look at Deborah.
Kira caught the look but couldn't understand what it meant.
She thought Austyn was getting impatient with Deborah's insistence.
Deborah, however, knew full well the meaning of that look.
She smiled.
It felt good to hold the secret over Austyn's head.
Was he feeling scared?
Was he afraid she could give away the secret?
Was he sweating now?
He deserved it after the way he treated her just now.
Kira Hewitt was young, inexperienced.
She had the kind of blind optimism only possible for someone who grew up coddled and cosseted by loving parents.
Could she handle the shock of discovering Austyn had a son?
Deborah looked forward to watching Kira's face when the truth came out.
Either the girl would fall apart, or her marriage with Austyn would.
But Deborah had her own welfare to look out for.
Santoro was dead now.
Most of the money Sebastian gave her was gone.
She was now jobless and alone.
Austyn was going to be her meal ticket for life.
She couldn't afford to piss him off for now.
He's Not The Type To Cheat
He's Not The Type To Cheat
Thinking of this, Deborah suppressed the urge to mention Aiden's name.
She turned to leave but couldn't resist delivering a parting shot. 'Austyn, some things can't be kept hidden forever. The longer the silence, the deeper the hurt. I hope you will think about- 'Deborah Connelly!' Austyn bellowed at her.
He pinned her to the spot with an ice-cold glare. 'Kai, see Miss Connelly out!'
Miss Connelly...
Deborah took the insult in her stride.
Austyn couldn't treat her like a stranger forever.
He might no longer love her, or may have even grown to despise her after what she did with Santoro.
But she would still be the mother of his child.
No amount of shouting was going to change that fact.