Page 45 of Playboy Billionaire's Fake Marriage

“It’s alright, Mabel, I was expecting her.”

Stella’s raised eyebrows is the only reaction I get from her.

I step back to let her in, and as she passes by me, I catch her scent. It’s not cologne. I smelled it on her in my office four weeks ago. It’s her skin.

And since when did I become this person who can tell someone’s distinct smell?

“Stella?” I hear Xavier’s puzzled tone. “Is everything okay?”

“Hey, Xavier,” she greets with a too-bright smile.

Vanessa looks from Stella to me. “Okay, what’s going on here?”

The minister continues, “Alright, if we’re not expecting any more persons—”

“I’m afraid we can’t go ahead,” I say to the minister. Turning to a shocked Vanessa, I take her elbow. “I’m so sorry for wasting your time.”

“What the fuck, Ryan? Who the hell is she?”

If I wasn’t trying to stamp the hint of joy still bubbling inside my chest, I would be surprised at the hurt lining Vanessa’s face.

“Stella?” I prompt, not even looking her way. There seems to be an invisible thread binding us. We’re in this together. I don’t know what she’s come up with, but she arrived in time to crash a wedding I didn’t want. She’s right up there with my favorite people in the world right now.

“I’m pregnant,” she says into the room. I release a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding, my earlier irritation dissolving into relief. Whatever her excuse today, I was going to take it. But she’s come up with the best-case scenario. The most irrefutable.

The silence that follows is deafening. When I face the minister’s questioning gaze and incline my head to indicate that it’s true, he simply gives me a reproachful shake of his head, packs up his stuff, and leaves without a word.

“Thanks, Mabel.” I catch the excited glint in her eyes before she sees the minister out, and I wonder what on earth Stella said to her.

I face the room. “Guys, I’m sorry about this mess.”

“Somehow, you don’t strike me as surprised, man. Did you know about this?” Xavier finally finds his voice.

“No. Not exactly.”

“And you believe her?” Vanessa’s screeches. Gone is her usual lilting tone.

“I’ve got the stick if anyone wants to see.” Stella offers with a shrug.

“You little—” Vanessa spits, advancing on Stella but Xavier smoothly catches her.

“Okay, okay. Calm down.” Xavier coos, and gently leads her toward the door. “Let’s give them time to hash this out, shall we?” He shoots me a “you’re a dead man” glare before shutting the door behind them.

I’m confused by Vanessa’s reaction. She’s carrying a torch for Xavier, not me. It’s not about the money; in any case, she still gets two million for even signing the NDA and prenup. And she owns a very successful business, a millionaire in her own right. It probably boils down to not wanting to be upstaged by another woman.

As soon as the duo leaves, the silence and tension in the room become palpable.

I finally turn to her; she’s leaning with her back against the wall and seems to have been watching me the whole time.

“So. You took a test.” I begin. “When?”

“It was taken a week ago.”

“The same day I told you to. Why did you wait to say anything then?”

“I wasn’t sure it was the right thing to do.”

“What, crash my sham wedding?”

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