Page 97 of Mister Stark

Suddenly, my cell phone rang from inside my purse. The chime of it knocked me back into reality and I wiped my tears from my face. I knew I looked like a mess, but I didn’t care. All I wanted was for him to love me and he never could. But he could call me on the phone.

I answered it with bitterness. “What do you want?”

He breathed. “I want you to come home, princess.”

“Home? You are my home and you broke it.” I cried out with hurt. “I can’t come back because you don’t love me. Daxon, I can't live like this anymore.”

He pleaded with me. “Please, just come back so we can talk about this? You’re the mother of my children and I have a responsibility...”

“And I have a responsibility to myself! I need to be happy and my children deserve to see me happy!” I shouted with anger. “What about me, Daxon?”

He voiced calmly. “I will take care of you and give you everything you need.”

“How about your heart?” I pleaded, and my words fell to silence as I huffed. “Ya, that’s what I thought.”

Daxon blew out a breath of frustration and barked an order. “If you don’t come home, I will find you and take you over my knee, young lady.”

I knew my behavior annoyed him, but it was over. His usual tactic to get me to bend to his will was through. The game we played was done. It had cost me too much. I lost my heart.

“This game is officially over, Daxon. We’re done.” I snapped the final command.

Suddenly, there was a loud crash, and a force tossed me to the floor. It happened in the blink of an eye. But my world turned to darkness.

Except for his voice.

The man I loved with all my heart and soul shouted in fear. “Celeste? Princess, answer me? Celeste!”

And I faded away.

***

BEEP, BEEP, BEEP...

My eyes fluttered, and everything was a blur. I couldn’t collect my thoughts as the world spun, and I tried to see straight. I wanted to sit up and my body was far too weak. But I was comfortable.

Confusion took over, and I realized I was in bed. A hospital bed. Monitors calmly beeped, and I grew more aware of my surroundings.

I was in the hospital.

But there was an accident.

My vision cleared as I focused my eyes on someone beside me. The person held my hand and peered down at it. A tender caress tingled my skin, and I’d recognize his touch anywhere.

It was Daxon.

“W-what happened?” I choked out.

“Oh, thank god, you’re awake.” He rubbed his hand down his face. “You scared me so much, princess.”

He took both my hands in his and kissed each one. His full lips brushed over my knuckles with care and I saw the scraps on them. His worn-down face looked into my eyes, but his eyes were full of concern.

But my hands touched my belly.

“The babies! Are they alright?” I asked with fright.

“They are just fine.” Daxon breathed as he touched my swollen belly and smiled with relief. “They are strong, just like their mother.”

I laid back against the pillow with relief. Our babies were okay. That was all I needed to hear. But then I remembered what happened.

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