Chapter Ninety-Nine: Test

"Yes,”

Matteo says when the room’s focus falls on him.

“I'm going to marry her."

For a moment, I feel the urge to stare at him, but if I do, I’m certain I will show my shock, so instead, I maintain my gaze even as Victoria’s glare grows sharper.

"You will marry her? Marry her, and then what, Teo? Raise another man's children. Are you serious? You aren't thinking-"

"Victoria."

Matteo’s cold tone causes her to clamp her mouth shut instantly.

"Mind yourself."

"B-but Teo, they aren't your kids."

She stammers, appearing several times smaller in my eyes.

Even so, should we be having this conversation in front of the kids? She is bound to speak in anger at the topic. I don’t want her to hold back because if she does, she will eventually find me alone and blow up, which I don’t want to deal with, but my kids are not stupid.

"He is their father, Victoria. Don’t accuse me of cheating."

I say simply for the little ears that are eavesdropping. It doesn’t matter if they don’t understand that ‘dad’