PRINCE CHARMING: A Stepbrother Secret Baby Romance(59)

Lamont stood at the other end of the hall and hadn’t taken his eyes off his son the whole time. Melinda was on her way, too, but Quincy didn’t want to deal with anyone until he knew what was going on.

“Son,” Lamont said as he approached him finally, “we need to talk about this.”

“There’s nothing to talk about.”

“Gigi and her parents… They are going to claim your crown.”

Quincy’s hands curled into fists and for the first time in his life he wanted to hit his father. “Seriously? My wife, the woman I love, is lying in a hospital bed, possibly losing our child, and you’re going to talk to me about my damn crown?”

“It’s your life, Quincy.”

“No, she is my life. That baby, if it survives, is my life. I can’t follow the same path you did, Dad. I just can’t! I love her, and I am not going to give her up, not for anyone. Not even you.”

He turned away from Lamont and ran a hand through his hair. Why was it taking so damn long? He couldn’t take this much longer, and his dad continually watching him with that look of disbelief wasn’t helping at all. What didn’t he understand about how he felt for Olivia? He loved her deeply and nothing was going to change that, ever.

“Dad, just go away, please,” he said, desperate to be alone.

“Lamont? What’s going on?” Melinda called as she entered the hall. “Where’s Olivia?”

“She’s still in there,” Lamont said. “We don’t know anything yet.”

“You said she was… pregnant, but I don’t understand.”

Lamont nodded to Quincy. “You might want to ask him what’s going on and maybe you can talk some sense into him.”

Melinda looked from one to the other, shaking her head. “What are you saying? Quincy? You and Olivia… you… you got her pregnant?”

“And married—they got married in Nebraska!” Lamont fumed, but to Quincy’s surprise, Melinda turned around and very politely told him to calm down and walk it off. Lamont’s mouth dropped open, but he did as his wife said and stalked down the hall.

“Well,” Melinda said, her hands shaking as she took a seat in the hall. “This is definitely not what I was expecting.”

Quincy sat down beside her when she patted the plastic chair. “It just happened,” he said quietly. “We fell in love and when she went back home—”

“You couldn’t let her go,” Melinda said and patted his hand. “I understand completely.”

“You do?” He frowned, wondering if she was just being nice, but the look in her eyes was genuine.

“It’s what I felt for your dad when I was here the first time. Sometimes, love doesn’t give you a choice of who, and… well, I guess you and my daughter were supposed to be together. This is just a difficult situation.”

“But you’re not mad at me or her?”

Melinda shrugged. “I’m a bit disappointed my daughter didn’t confide in me, but no, how can I be mad? Hopefully, you two are going to make me a grandmother,” she said, but the smile didn’t reach her eyes. There was too much worry there. “She’ll be fine. She’s a strong one.”’

Quincy let out a nervous laugh. “I know. She left me so I could take my crown and not lose it because of what we did together.”

“She loves you. That’s what people do when they’re in love.”

“What about my dad?”

“Well, I can tell you right now he’s going to have to change something, because there is no way the isle will want the Pentacrafts to take over.”

Quincy’s brow furrowed when he saw the anger on her face at the thought and a mischievous glint in her eyes. “How would you know that?”

“You think I don’t listen to gossip around the isle?” She patted his leg. “I have been making it a point to see who the people really want, and let me tell you, they all said the same thing. If that family takes over in any capacity, they will do something they’ve never done before.”

“What?”

“Rebel until your father puts you on the throne.”

Quincy laughed with her at the thought of their peaceful island people rising up to rebel. The image was short-lived when a doctor emerged from the end of the hall and made his way towards them. Quincy took Melinda’s hand, and together, they stood to hear the news.

“Olivia is fine. She’s resting now,” the doctor said.

“And the baby?” Quincy asked.

“Just fine, too. They underwent some stress, which caused the bleeding and dizziness, so I’m ordering bedrest for a few weeks, but all three of them are doing just fine. You can see her if you’d like, one at a time.”

Quincy nodded. He paused when the doctor’s words registered. “Three? You said three?”

The doctor beamed and patted him on the shoulder. “That’s correct, Your Highness. She is pregnant with twins.”

Melinda squealed and hugged Quincy tightly before telling him to go to her. “I’ll take care of your dad. Just go and tell her I love her and I’ll see her soon.”

Quincy walked down the hall and into the room the doctor indicated. He took a deep breath and hurried inside to see Olivia sitting up with a huge smile on her face. “Thank God,” he whispered and went to her, kissing her fiercely. “You feel alright?”