Chapter 122: That baby was an accident.
"You are taking her to Grandpa?" Denis echoed, the irritation swelling in his voice. "You are doing all of this without even asking me? You are forcing me into this marriage. Do you seriously think Grandpa will accept someone like her? A woman with no name, no status?"
Jeanne’s expression hardened, and the last thread of her composure snapped. "Then why were you with her?" she snapped. "Why did you sleep with her? Why parade her around at the auction like a prized jewel and throw money at her if she meant nothing to you? Stop acting like a child. You made a mistake—now don’t run away from your responsibility. Marry her."
"I won’t," Denis exploded, rising from the sofa in one swift motion. His chest heaved with anger. "I’ve already told you—it was a mistake. I never meant to be serious with Tania, and that baby was an accident. If you force this on me, I swear I’ll leave and never look back."
Jeanne’s heart lurched in her stomach as Denis’s words sank in. The thought of losing her son cut deeper than she expected.
She had nearly lost him at birth, and the fear clawed at her chest.
"You can’t leave your mother," she muttered, her voice trembling.
"I will," Denis said firmly, leaving no room for negotiation. "If you push me into something I don’t want, I won’t stay."
Jeanne drew in a long breath, trying to calm her nerves. "Denis," she began in a coaxing voice, "you can’t just walk away from this child. If you don’t have feelings for Tania, you can end things after the baby is born. Get a prenup if that makes you feel better. But for now, you must marry her—for the sake of the child. Otherwise, your grandfather will hand over all his shares to Augustine."
Denis’s face darkened with contemplation. The thought of losing his grandfather’s shares unsettled him deeply. And the idea of Augustine gaining more influence within the family was something he couldn’t stomach.
Sensing his hesitation, Jeanne leaned in with hope. "Think smart. With this child, you’ll have the upper hand. Secure the shares. Once it’s all settled, you can move on. Find a woman from a wealthy family—one worthy of our name."
Denis was silent for a long beat. Then, finally, he exhaled through his nose and said, "Fine. I’ll do it. But I’m not rushing into a wedding. I’ll announce the engagement—for now. The marriage will happen after the child is born."