THE BILLIONAIRE UNEXPECTED FAMILY

he incriminating photos spilled onto the dining table between us, m

as he glanced up from his phone. He dared to p

my hand down, locking it under my palm as he went for one of

certain that he could hear my heart

thing to conceal, he drew his hand back. The type of half-smile that used

what you bel

? Derek, at the hotel? Due to the fact that this- I poked fun at the photos, one of him with his arm wra

der replaced his laid-back manner. Didn't you g

back. "That's your justification? Just

alm now as he stuffed his hands into his pockets. She is mere

ken me so much that I didn't want him to see it. "You cal

idge of his nose as if *I* were the issu

en for. The guy who made me a lifelong pledge. However, all

now, barely audible. "Why wo

curtain aside and looking out as if the answers were written in the city sk

. "How? Derek, our wedding was scheduled for th

roblem. You're constantly planning, always thinking about the

ke a slap to the belly. I couldn't believe what I wa

I'm just stating that things are more complicat

k, you don't get to change the story. You told a lie. I

out, cry, and scream, I refused to give him the satisfaction. Rather, I

my voice was firmer, mor

is eyes, but it was gone as fast as it emerged. "You'

oward the door. "You made your choi

ing as I opened the door. His voice

regret

bornness I didn't know I possessed. "The onl

hallway. My legs carried me to the elevator, though I f

ion became blurry as the tears I had been holding back finally came out. I brushe

I stepped outside the lobby. With the city lights fadi

t out, half-expecting Derek to make another weak excuse

e and 11th. Derek nee

racing, my breath caught. Who might this

My gut told me to disregard the message, to go home, and to bury my problems with lousy TV and

ing more difficult. The city's normal hum appeared muffled today, t

gs. It was quiet, too quiet. A lone street lamp flickered a

acy

ing, to discover a lady standing in the shadows. She m

sked, my voice str

t familiar face. The woman in the pictures

n a shaky voice. "You are

ith my hands balled in

ights piercing the night before she could re

," she said. "I shoul

She was already pull

. You don't know ho

s, leaving me alone beneath the flickering st