And she knew he was going to want to talk about what he said.
“You don’t look happy,” Liam said the moment Roman was gone.
“I am happy.”
He put his hands on her waist. “There is a rumor that you might be pregnant. Roman specifically asked for water for you.”
She chuckled. “Wow, gossip does travel fast.”
“No babies?”
“No babies.”
“How can you be sure?”
“Dad, come on, if I was pregnant, and I even suspected, I’d tell you, okay?”
“Good. I was starting to worry that I wasn’t your favorite person, and I was hoping for some grandchildren.”
“You might have … fifteen of them soon enough,” she said.
“Alex.”
“Dad.”
“I know what Roman is trying to do, and I hope Lucas puts a stop to it.”
“Why?” Alex asked. “Why are you so against those kids?”
“They’re not yours. They’re not your flesh and blood.”
“So you believe that you only should take care of those you what, give birth to? Have a direct link to your sperm?”
“Family is important.”
Alex thought about Roman. Staring past her dad’s shoulder, she caught sight of Lucas Greco. He had a young model on his arm. Alex vaguely recognized her from some magazine she’d flicked through not too long ago in the hospital.
“Family is important, but it’s not made up of blood, Dad. It can start that way, sure, you have a set of parents, but family is also a feeling. You could be raised in a family but not be a family.” Alex pulled away from him. “I can’t believe this. This is why you stopped me three years ago, isn’t it?”
“Roman has a lot of responsibility. Lucas will remind him of this,” Liam said. “You and Roman need to focus on what is good for the two of you.”
“No,” she said. “What you want me and Roman to focus on is what is good for you and Lucas Greco. It’s not about me or Roman. It’s about the two of you.”
“Alex.” He went to touch her, but she pulled away.
“You are causing a scene.”
“No, I’m going to the bathroom. You’re the one causing a scene.” She turned on her heel and moved away from him.
All her life, she accepted her father for everything he was, and yet, he couldn’t accept her for what she wanted. He saw children who were not born of her as strangers. At the moment, they were strangers because he refused to get to know them, but how could he turn his back on them?
Everything was so messed up.
Stepping out of the main hall, she looked for the bathroom. In the end, she had no choice but to ask one of the soldiers standing on guard for the direction of the bathroom.
It was on the second floor, to the right.
She walked inside and found that it was empty.