"Doc, you're gorgeous." Nathan plants a huge kiss on my lips and pulls me into him. His hand runs up my bare thigh, and his eyes grow large.

"No panties? How am I supposed to survive tonight? You're killing me, Doc." He groans.

"You'll be fine." I assure him and peck him on the lips.

"Maybe we should slip a quickie in before we go, it may help you with your nerves." He offers.

I bite my lip and think about it.

What am I thinking?

"No, we can't be late, and I can't mess up this hair and makeup miracle." I said.

He groaned as I pulled him out of our room. "I get it all later, right?" He wiggled his eye brows and smacked me on my ass, and I yelped.

"Let's just see how bad the night is." I pulled him into the elevator, and he stood behind me with his hands on my belly.

"Nathan! I can feel that!"

He chuckled. "What?"

"You're hard and pushing it into my ass! Stop, or else."

"Or else what?" He says in a teasing tone.

"Damn, pregnancy hormones." I sighed.

"Best hormones ever!" He laughed.

He walked as close as he could to hide his arousal, and a quick walk around the pool did the trick.

"This is going to happen all night. Couldn't you have picked a dress a little less...revealing? I want you so damn bad right now."

I laughed.

"It's mutual buddy."

"Oh shit, are you wet?" He stopped me before ,we entered the ball.

"Maybe."

"Dammit, Doc." He took a deep breath. "You're...damn I'm screwed." He shook his head.

"Better get it under control, here comes Dad."

"General, good to see you." He perked up, and I'm thankful he's wearing a jacket. My father shook his hand.

"Good to see you, beautiful as always baby girl." He hugged me.

"Are you ready for this sweetie? You can stay by my side, and you don't have to talk to him." Dad said.

"I have to face it Dad, but thanks."

He deserves to know the truth anyway.

"I won't let her out of my sight." Nathan assured him.

My brothers walked off the elevator, and I'm pretty sure I have a whole security team of huge men to stand by my side. Plus Stephanie, she's probably the most dangerous one. My close friend, and now soon to be sister-in-law, doesn't play games.

I took a deep breath and walked onto the ballroom with the greatest men in the world beside me.

I am blessed.

Everyone clapped when we entered, and we were approached by so many, congratulating Nathan and I on the baby. If one more person touches my belly, I'm going to scream.

Dad made his speech, and of course counted his blessings, including his two grandsons and the new baby coming.

I could feel those eyes on me. That feeling I get when Greg walks into the room, and I haven't even seen him yet.

I shiver at the feeling and Nathan notices.

He looks behind us. "Showtime" he whispers in my ear.

Much to my misfortune, we are seated with the Mastersons and the Powels. Greg didn't even eat, he just sat there and glared at me.

"So, Mr. Stark, are you looking forward to fatherhood?" Grace asks in a condescending tone. Greg's mom isn't eating either and looks like she's about to cry.

"I've not missed one appointment, and before long I'll have a little helper with me out on the fields." He kisses my cheek.

Oh shit.

"Nathan here is wonderful with my daughter, he will be a great role model for my grandson."

"Dad, who says it's a boy?" Jackson laughs it off. "We have the whole twin thing going, and I think it's a girl. A beautiful green eyed girl." He hints. Nathan and I both have brown. Blue and brown make green. Get it? Dammit Jackson.

"Enough about the baby. Nathan, what's your next film?" Blair asks.

"No, I'd like to hear more about his impending, fatherhood." Greg emphasized the last word, and if looks could kill, Nathan would be buried six feet under.

"Well, I fenced in the yard, and she's ordered everything for the nursery. I picked up the paint earlier this week, not much to tell, really."

"So, how many weeks pregnant are you, Bella?" Greg sounds so pissed.

I cleared my throat. "I'm thirty weeks." That right there told him what he needed to know.

"Excuse me." Greg's mom, who I've not yet been introduced to, got up and ran for the bathroom.

Greg had hooded eyes.

"You're the father, Nathan?" Greg asked.

"What kind of question is that, Greg? If you want to have this conversation, I believe it can be done privately." My dad snarls with anger.

"That's a good idea." Governor Powell agreed.

Dumbass Grace is still doing the math.

"Honey, that means July." Grace finally added.

"Again! Not now!" My dad yelled at the dumb bitch.

"Gregory, I think we need a minute." His father says, and he's fuming with anger.

"Not until I've had my time, alone, with Bella." Greg snaps.

"No, absolutely not..."

Governor Powell cuts his daughter off.

"Stay out of it Grace."

"My daughter has the choice whether or not she wants to be alone with the man that abandoned her, and she will not be forced to do anything she doesn't want to do. You can make an appointment if she chooses." My dad spoke up.

"No, now Bella." He threw his room key at me.

"I mean it Bella, get your stuff and meet me up there."

I threw his room key back. "This night is about my father, not your mistakes, Greg. We've spoken enough." I defend.

He tosses it back and stands up. "Ten minutes!"

He walked away so fast, his chair fell over.

"You do not have to go, baby girl." Dad assured me.

"No, I think she should, he deserves the truth." Greg's mom returned. "Bella, my husband is many things, but he's not a good father." She said.

"Really Mary?" Mr. Masterson is so angry.

"Please hear my son out, he is also a victim of my husband's greed. He didn't want any of this, and he's only wanted you. Please, just talk with him." She encouraged me.

"Mary, I'm warning you!" His dad grabbed her arm with too much force.

"Let go of that woman!" My dad and then the governor both stood as a warning to the man.

"I want nothing to do with this, and I won't be responsible for hurting an innocent child." The governor pushed Mr. Masterson.

"You've hurt your son and now your wife. I don't need a seat in Congress that bad. Take your damn money and your plants, and leave my state. My daughter too."

"What?" I asked, and looked at the man.

"I see what's going on here, and you're just saving face Governor? Masterson, you haven't hurt that boy enough? Look at your wife, she's a mess! You're about to be a grandfather to what will be a lovely child, and you're willing to toss that child aside? You're taking the plants aren't you? Damn, if the public finds out what you've done....wow!" My father said.

"Would someone please tell me what's going on here?" I begged.

Nathan leans in. "Greg was blackmailed to leave you and marry the snotty chick. He walked away to save your dad's campaign and the thousands of jobs. The governor was counting on Masterson to fund his run for Congress, it's an arranged marriage."

My eyes grew wide, and my dad can barely contain his anger.

"Goddamn, I feel for that boy and my daughter." He looked at Grace. "What was in it for you? Money?"

Grace started to cry.

"That makes you a high priced whore." My dad spit out. My jaw dropped, and the governor looked ashamed.

"Bella go to my son, make this right, I beg you." Greg's mom cried.

I looked at Nathan. "Go Doc, before I change my mind." He looks defeated, and just stared down at his plate.

"Nathan, I don't think..."

"Go, Doc. I'll be here when you get back."