"Mother," Stavros sighed, rubbing his temples. "I have growing tired of your constant criticism and slandering of Lasha. With whom is she having this supposed affair? She has neither reason nor opportunity. She leaves the house only with me, and is quite content being my wife."

"Not even you can know her whereabouts at every moment," Helena pointed out. "You are gone frequently.

Stavros' irritation rose. "Who?" he asked, in clipped tone.

"Your brother," Helena answered.

The first creep of doubt entered Stavros' ego, but he tried to laugh it off. "Stefan? Please. The gardener would be a likelier story."

"If you don't believe me, maybe you'll believe your own eyes."

Stavros gave her a questioning look, and was answered when she handed him what looked like a photograph.

Stavros' cocky smile faded immediately.

His eyes burned as he memorized every centimeter of the picture. There was his brother, unclothed as far as he could see, caressing his wife's face. But it wasn't so much the touch, as the looks in their eyes. She had never looked at him that way.

The last trace of doubt was erased from his mind; they were clearly lovers. Stavros' jaw clenched, as he crumpled the photograph in his hand.

"I can arrange--" Helena started.

"No," Stavros cut her off. "I will handle this myself. But thank you, Mother, for opening my eyes."

*****

Laura looked around the bedroom, mentally arranging where everything would go, and humming a lullaby. She had the matches for the candles, and had ordered a special dinner to be served here. She wanted this night to be perfect. It would be a new beginning. She laid her hands on her flat belly. One wish had come true, and it was all she needed.

"Caught you."

Laura spun around at the sound, nearly crashing into her husband. "Stavros," she smiled disappointedly. "You're early. I wanted to surprise you."

"Oh?" Stavros said. He was the perfect image of husbandly curiosity. The clenched hands holding the photograph hidden from Laura's view were the only sign of his rage. "I love surprises. Do tell."

Laura's eyes regained some of their shine, as she took a deep breath. "I'm going to have a baby."

Stavros took a step closer, so that she could feel his breath on her face. She happily noted he hadn't been drinking. "A baby," he repeated. "And tell me, Lasha..." His sweet voice grew cold and sneering. "Who's the father?"

Laura was speechless for a few moments, her smile fading, not sure if she had heard him right. "What?"

"Yes, my dear wife. Am I the lucky man, or has my brother," he spat the word, "managed to plant his seed in your willing body before I?"

Laura's reaction to the insult was immediate, and she raised her hand to slap her husband, but he grabbed it tightly with one of his own. She winced, but glared at him. "How can you say that? I'm your wife! I took a vow and I've NEVER broken it. That's you, remember?"

Having his affairs thrown in his face was not what Stavros wanted to hear, and he pushed her against the wall. Laura let out a painful grunt, the anger beginning to give way to fear as her free hand instinctively went to her abdomen. "Don't lie to me, Lasha," he warned.

She tried to make her voice soothing. "I'm not--"

He backslapped her across the face, drawing blood. "And what is this, then?" He showed her the incriminating picture, nearly shoving it in her face.

Laura's eyes widened as they focused on the image, instantly recognizing the scene. "I can explain--" She looked into the violent eyes of the man she had pledged her life to, and as his hand came down on her again, she knew this time, he might just take it.