"If you say you're going to trust your man, then trust your man. Don't revoke that privilege when he needs it most." ― Nicole Williams

As soon as I saw her walking in with her tan knee-length dress, I couldn't take my eyes off her. "She's going to melt, bro!" Leandros nudge my side by his elbow and I didn't bother to look at him. I was smiling crazily as I watch her gave my parents a hug and then my siblings.

She looks effortlessly stunning in the pencil cut dress that reaches her knee. The fabric hugs her body perfectly, showing her delicate curves and I'm itching to peel that dress slowly until it reveals me the gem underneath it.

"Seriously Xandrous! Go and get her, instead of staring at her like you would eat her whole. You look stupid!" Leandros taunted and I snapped my head at him.

"Shut up!" I snap and gave him a warning look.

"Hey, I'm just stating a fact. You should have seen your face. You look like a fool who just saw his crush. That love-struck kind of look?" Leandros shook his head and downed his beer. His taunting grin plastered on his face, irritating the hell out of me.

"Dummy!" I chuckled as I smack the back of his head lightly.

Leandros just laugh it off and then walk towards Victoria. I followed him and when he's about to pull her into a hug, I caught the back of his shirt and pull him back.

"Hey!" he grumbled, pulling his shirt back off my hold and I release it. He sounded pissed but his face shining with amusement.

"Dinner is ready, Xandrous," mom reminded us. "Leave them alone Leandros," mom warned my brother and I gave him a taunting look. Mom led the Pallos' couple to the dining room.

Victoria was just shaking her head as she watches Leandros and me, playfully bickering. I pulled her into my arms and took in her scent. "You are so mean to your brother," she commented as she hugs me back. I buried my nose in her thick hair and smelled her. My body's temperature dropping as her scent lingered in my nostril, tickling my whole senses.

"I'm just teasing him," I responded all the while my nose still buried in her sweet smelling hair.

"Let's go," Victoria pulled herself back and I groaned at the sudden disconnection.

I pulled her a chair and she sat down after thanking me. I sat beside her, across the twins. Sitting beside her and I couldn't do anything is just a pure torture. Her dad is watching us like a hawk and I was trying casually to keep my testosterone at bay.

As soon as theios Demetrio and dad was talking animatedly, I casually brought my hand to her palm. She squirmed, snapping her head in my direction.

"Get your hand off me," she seethed though she was smiling as she subtly looks across us. I just grinned. Her thighs are hot and the fabric felt like her second skin. It feels wonderful touching her like this. I'm so tempted to slid my palm underneath the fabric and feel her skin against my palm. I know how it feels like, but I was so tempted to feel it again.

I felt her smack my hand away and I squeeze her thighs feeling my arousal increasing then releases it as I shifted to find a comfortable angle. Damn crotch! I leaned a bit closer to her and casually whispered against her ears. "You look so hot tonight. I can't help it," I whispered making her look flustered.

"Are you alright, Vicky?" I heard mom asked. I could literally feel her blushes and I stifled my amusement.

She opens her mouth to say something when the Jaime, my parents' butler spoke. "I'm sorry for the interruption, Mr. and Mrs. Mailov, but Ms. Alanis is here," he announced.

I felt Victoria stiffened beside me. I instinctively look around and Cassie emerged from the door, behind Jaime. Jaime walk to the side and motioned his hand to let her in, and she walks in with head held high. Her eyes searched for me and stayed for a while before landing it to Victoria.

She looks like she lost some pounds and her face is pale. My eyes instinctively drop down to her belly and it's still flat. Her words echoed in my head that I'm the father of her child, anger starting to grow on my chest.

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE?" I roared as I stood up hastily. I felt Victoria's hand around my forearm, stopping me from stalking towards her. I want to drag her out of the room. My heart wasn't beating normally now with the anger and frustrations surrounding my whole being.

She betrayed me. She made me like a fool.

I saw the pain in her eyes, but I ignored it. I have no sympathy left in me for her. She doesn't deserve any of it. She's a liar and a user! She's a conniving bitch and she doesn't need any pity or mercy.

"Sit down, Xandrous!" dad demanded and I did even if I'm itching to throw her out myself.

I frantically look at the Pallos' couple and I was alarmed. Theio Demetrio doesn't look happy at all nor his wife. When I look at Vicky, she looks furious.

"Did you eat, Ms. Alanis?" asked dad to my surprised. All head snapped up in his direction, staring at him quizzically.

"No, sir," she responded with her soft voice. If I don't know what she did, I would have fallen on that voice again.

"Then join us, Ms. Alanis, while we discuss the reason for your sudden visit," dad motioned her to sit in the spot on my side. I look at dad in frustration. He just met my eyes, deadpan.

I felt Vicky's hand on my thigh and I quickly relaxes. I put my hand on top of her and gave it a light squeeze. She turned it and our hands clasp under the table. That simple gesture comforted me a bit.

We watch as Jaime help her settled. "Give her some plate and utensils," dad ordered the maid and so they did. Cassie was just watching the helpers. As soon as everything sets in front of her, she stared at dad with that look that would make you fall for her bait.

Dad stared at her, watching her closely. "Help yourself, Ms. Alanis. You look like you lost some weight. Do you feel ill? I bet your pregnancy is making you ill," dad commented and she nodded.

"I get morning sickness once in a while but other than that, I'm fine, Mr. Mailov," she responded stiffly. She timidly took some salad while everyone was watching her like a hawk.

I can't believe how could she manage to act so casually in front of my family knowing that she was lying to us.

I squeeze Vicky's hand and stared at her face. I want to hug her and assured her that nothing will separate us, not even Cassie. I want to let her know that no matter what happened, she will be mine and I will be hers.

She gave me a reassuring smile and I felt secured.

"How many weeks already?" mom asked casually. Everyone looks at her except me. My fingers tightened around hers.

"Almost ten weeks," she shyly replied. I unconsciously look at her as my head did the calculation. She was staring at me with a pride, her smile unfazed. I couldn't recall it because I don't remember doing it with her. I admit, I was drunk most of the time since I thought I lost Victoria. And she was there to clean up for me, but I'm pretty sure nothing happened between us. And if I'm too drunk to register anything, I'm sure, I'm too drunk as well to move or have sex with her.

Dammit!

"How can you be so careless to get pregnant when you're very sick?" Victoria butted in impulsively.

"VICKY!" theia Yvonne hissed at her, her eyes widening in surprise. Theios Demetrio just stared at her incredulously. My parents didn't say anything. Dad was stifling his amused smile.

Cassie met Victoria's furious face with the same intensity. Now, I can see the real Cassie, the way she stared at Vicky with that conniving grin.

"You can't think of anything else when you're with the man you love, Ms. Pallos," she smiled evilly. "Just like you? Have you ever thought that the man you are with impregnated me—"

"CASSIE!" I hissed loudly.

Victoria pulled her hand back and I suddenly felt alarmed. She looks calm but I could literally feel her anger radiating off her.

She smiled at Cassie. "Are you sure that baby is his?" she asked calmly. I was surprised mom and dad didn't stop her. Even her mom and dad was watching with a surprised expression on their faces. When theio Demetrio was trying to stop her, dad told theio to just relax.

Cassie looks furious now. "Of course. We've been inseparable!" she hissed through gritted teeth.

"Because you are sick and he felt pity for you, sicko!" Victoria responded grimly.

Cassie stood up hastily. She doesn't look like someone who has leukemia. She looks like a war freak who's ready to go on a war. Her eyes sparkling with anger, directed at Victoria.

"Ms. Alanis, please sit down," dad told her calmly. So she did, but her burning eyes still lingering at Vicky's direction.

"I didn't force him to stay. He chose it because he felt something for me. Don't be narrow-minded, desperate bitch!" she scoffed tersely.

"Don't assu—"

I was cut off by Victoria. "Of course, he felt something for you because he thought you are his very best friend as he always puts it. He felt PITY because you made him feel like that!"

Cassie smiled but I could see the bitterness in her eyes. "You mean he felt pity for you for dumping you for me? After he's done with you?" Cassie said proudly and I unconsciously stood up, causing the chair to toppled over backward as I hovered over her ominously. This girl really doesn't know what she's talking. She really is desperate much.

"Xandrous!" I heard dad called me with a warning before I could strangle her. My hands are clenched. "I don't know where did you get that thick face, Cassie?" I said with disgust.

She just stared at me, unfazed. I'm so done with her. She's lucky my parents and Vicky's parents are here. I would love to wipe out that smug smile off her face. Damn, I never felt so murderous to any woman, but at this moment, I don't care about gender. She deserves a power punch to rack her mind and get her senses back.

"Desperate bitch is what they call her kind," Victoria interjected and theia Yvonne called her again with a warning, but Vicky just shrugs it off.

Jaime pulled my chair back and I sat, holding my temper not to grab her by the neck and strangle her to death.

"Look who's talking?" Cassie fires back.

Victoria smiled. "He avoided you as far as I remember because he realized he loves me. How about you, Cassie? Did he ever tell you he loves you? Do you understand why he avoided you and came to see me?"

Cassie opens her mouth and then closes it again. Her eyes spitting fire directed at Vicky while the latter just shrugs it off. Vicky smiled sweetly at her to annoy the hell out of her and it did work.

"We made love and now we have a baby. I believe in the saying, action speaks louder than voice. He wouldn't touch me if he didn't?" she calmly said and Vicky's taunting smile slowly withering.

"Are you sure he's aware of it when you made love as you call it, with him? Or was he dead drunk and took advantage of him? That's considered rape, sicko!" Victoria scoffed mockingly.

Cassie's smug grin morphs into a sick smile. "My baby is Xandrous' baby. Don't be stupid, Ms. Pallos." Cassie snapped. "We made this together with the same intention. I didn't force him," she added with pride to my disgust.

"You mean you planned it all," Vicky didn't back down. Theios Demetrio was just staring at her incredulously.

"I love him and that night, we felt the same way, that's why it happened. Just accept the fact that he's the father of my child, Ms. Pallos. There's a lot of men I'm sure would love to take you are thei—"

My anger bubbles up in my system. "You do understand, Cassie, that's there's what they call it DNA?" I told her with a clear disdain in my tone, cutting her off.

She looks at me, unfazed. "Of course, I know there is. I'm willing to get my baby a DNA test. It's hurting to hear that the father of my child doesn't accept it, but I'm willing to go through just to fight for my child's right."

Everyone fell into silence. Cassie looks at Veronica smugly. "What if the baby is yours?" Cassie asked.

"Then I will support him or her, but if not, then I will sue you for defamation. I will make sure you will rot in hell," I said icily.

"If the baby is yours Xandrous, I want you to give him or her your name," she proclaimed and my jaw tightened.

"We could do the test when you're 12 weeks on the way. There's what we call a chorionic villus sampling (CVS), is conducted only between 11 to 13 weeks of pregnancy. So we don't have to wait when the baby comes out. That would take months," dad piped in.

I agreed. When I look at Victoria, she looks neutral. I took her hand that was resting on the table and kissed it. She only gave me a small smile and then took her hand back. I don't care if everyone was watching us.

"Why don't you also get her a thorough examination is she actually has cancer, theio?" Victoria suddenly suggested. Theios Demetrio stared at his daughter with anger.

"VICTORIA!" theia Lauren called her name with a warning.

Cassie looks at Vicky with disgust. "You are so desperate. Cancer is not something to made up with. Who wants to have leukemia? Do you think I want to have one?" Cassie looks upset and her eyes were glistening.

"There's no need for a thorough check-up, Vicky. Cassie is positively fine. She's not suffering from leukemia," dad said casually, all the while staring at Cassie with contempt.

Cassie snapped up her eyes in his direction, surprised written all over her face. Before she could speak, dad spoke again. "You made it all up. You made my son believed that you are sick and because he cares for you since you were friends, he stayed by your side." Dad stared at her with clear animosity. "We didn't say anything since we thought you are truly ill, and nobody left to look after you. Your mom and dad were my friends, so I respect my son's decision though I thought he shouldn't stay on your side and should enjoy his life instead of feeling obligated to take care of you." Dad looks at me with pity. And I suddenly regretted at the moment the time I wasted. "When you told us that you're pregnant and it was his, I suddenly felt suspicious. I arranged someone to follow you one day when you went to a check-up and then we found out that you were scheming your illness all throughout the years. You manipulated my son, Ms. Alanis and I don't think he deserved that," dad said casually but his tone is menacing.

Cassie looks like she's constipated. The tears brimming around her eyes now rolling down her cheeks. "I-I'm s-so -sorry, Mr. Mailov," she stutters, looking apologetic and my anger doubled up. I want to strangle her to death at the moment. Everyone was watching her, rather gaping at her. I couldn't believe what I just heard.

She indeed manipulated me and I have no idea. She made me looks like a stupid. God, I want to kill her. "HOW COULD YOU?" I roared through clenched teeth as I stood up, looming over her ominously. My hands are clenched as I stared at her venomously.

"X-Xandrous," she stutters. Her voice broken but I ignored it. My heart pumping furiously, my anger got the best of me.

"HOW COULD YOU!" I yelled as I grab her by the neck.

"XANDROUS!" I heard Victoria called me, panicking. "Release her, please ..." Victoria begs as she tries to pull my hand that was wrap around Cassie's neck. All I could see is red. I want to kill her for doing this to me.

Gritting my teeth, I release her neck and she sat down choking.

"Take Ms. Alanis back to her house, Jaime!" I heard dad said. I was still staring at her menacingly. She was rubbing her neck as she looks down. Jaime helps her out of her seat and then led her outside. The room was quiet and the tension was palpable.

"I'm sorry," I face Victoria and she pulls me for a hug.

"I think, we will just come back next time, Zandros," theios Demetrio stood up and so my dad. They shook hands then a brief hug as dad apologizes to them constantly.

I don't want Vicky to leave yet but I already ruined it rather Cassie ruined it.

I groaned inwardly when Victoria stood up reluctantly and gave my parents a brief hug and followed her parents. She gave me a quick glance then acquiescently trailed behind her parents. The dinner was ruined and my family was still sitting in their spots with a deafening silence.

"If the baby is yours, then you have to marry her, Xandrous. I don't want a bastard grandchild!" dad spoke, cutting the think tension surrounding us.

My eyes instantly landed at his direction, surprised.

"That child is not mine!" I hissed at him. Dad just stared at me with empathy.

"We will find out, but if it's yours you will have to marry her," dad said. Mom nodded her head and I felt helpless. I'm just hoping the paternal test will go in his favor. He doesn't want a bastard son as well, but he felt so sure, it wasn't his.

"Are you sure you don't remember anything?" mom asked, sounding so crestfallen.

I stared at her as I nodded. "I don't really remember anything, mom. Most of the time I'm drunk, but I don't remember we have s—" I look at mom and couldn't say the word.

Mom nodded. "Sometimes when you are dead drunk, most of the things doesn't register in your head," mom remarks and dad nodded.

I fell into silence. Something flashed in my head that made me froze to my seat.

"Can you please stay still," she giggles. Cassie's giggles reminded me of Victoria when she's ticklish. Her face flashed in my vision.

.....................

A/N: Another Chapter done. I hope you like it. I apologize again for the slow update. Please don't forget to support them by clicking the star button below. Thank you and have fun reading.