Billionaire Gambit

na's

t feel real-none of it did. The vows, the kiss that never came, the way Mike had barely loo

Our house? No. Nothing in this place bel

the doors closed behind us. He had simply walked off, straight into his

vernous room, clutching my bouquet like an idiot

smelled like old leather and stronger liquor. Mike was at the bar, pou

d his glass and turned around like

said. "This marriage isn't about roma

yed q

You're here to fulfill your father's

what about me?

ve. And maybe keep your father ali

e it

oating. No

he raw

out a folder. "This is the agreement you signed. You're entitle

ir," I

e free to do what you wan

an't? Or do

on unreadable. "Then you'll

time I felt fear

raised his vo

e he didn'

the bedroom, knees drawn to my chest.

. Should've fought back. B

lready be pregnant-pressed against my ribs

just

th that it

h still warm on my skin from that one ni

ow everythin

elow, the garden stretched out in the moonlight. Perf

movement near

igu

qui

as L

ell was he

ot to make a sound. My heart pounded with ev

far wall, half-hid

nsane?" I

e said. "You haven't

He watches

is, Selina. Something's wrong. That m

ispered. "Beli

me closely. "

To say yes. But

," I said, barely ge

yes w

asked, voic

ded s

his head. "Jesus, Selina.

id quickly. "But now I don't know what

ca finished for me. "You

. You don't understand, Luca-he's not just a man. He's a ma

"Then we fight hi

h wh

hing. Your family's been hiding things-ab

t th

s big. Big enough to burn

mmed in th

oth

ps. App

go," I whispe

peared into the shadows jus

ed when

te-night walks in s

ldn't

ng. "Funny. I could've sworn I

s the roses grew legs, I

t me for a

he sm

wasn'

na. We have an app

at a private clini

cou

lieve in fate-

ent. Cold. Like every

cycle tracking,"

me the cup for the t

lk a line I could

revealed t

dn't let t

mple, then asked

stared at the test

hed it down

ce, taken from my emergency stash

d tamper

d buy m

out what the

rned from his office with a

o the dining table whe

called,"

folder with

iti

I had

regnant,"

tension in his voice

fus

" I said lightly,

slowly, stu

g have y

ted. "A

dn't think

sure unt

e for what fel

nod

rnity test," h

od wen

e sure," he added

ely managing

he didn'

walls were

slipped into my room whe

g you need to see

d me a fl

is t

the study. He's b

it into

-grainy black-an

e

green

h L

the background, sp

I'll take care of i

all e

the screen fo

smi

Empty.