Page 458 of Billionaire Temptations

“No. He can rot for all I care. In fact, where’s my phone?” I stormed off the couch and into the kitchen.

“Chloe, what are you doing?” Sienna asked in a panicked voice.

When I dialed Sebastian’s number, it went straight to voicemail.

“Sebastian, it’s Chloe. I know why you left New York. I just had to tell you that. Because letting you know that I know in some weird way gives me a sense of peace. When you decide to come back, don’t call me, come to my apartment, the art gallery, nothing. It’s over between us. I will erase every memory we ever made and move on with my life. I suggest you do the same. And by the way, if you follow me again like you did last time, I will get a restraining order against you! Consider yourself warned.”

“Jesus, Chloe. I can’t believe you just did that,” Sienna spoke as she stood across the room with her mouth hanging open.

“Sienna, I love you, but I need to be alone right now.”

“Are you sure? I can stay the night.”

“No.” I gave her a gentle smile. “Go home to Sam, and I’ll call you tomorrow.”

“Okay.” She pouted as she walked over and gave me a tight hug. “If you need me, call.”

As soon as she left, I locked the door, started the water for a bath, climbed in the tub, and cried myself into oblivion.

Chapter Thirty-Four

Sebastian

I was sitting at the bar in the Terrence Lounge when I finally decided to listen to Chloe’s message. My heart shattered into a million pieces hearing her say those words to me. I spent my mornings running along the water and my days sitting on a bench in Waterfront Park, thinking and watching couples walk by hand in hand, kissing and smiling. I paid even closer attention to those couples pushing their babies in strollers. I watched a father as he held his crying baby, trying to calm down his son. I spent my nights sitting at the same bar, drinking my worries and problems away. Being away from her was so hard. I missed her touch, the feel of her soft skin, and the way her nose wrinkled every time she laughed. But what I missed most was hearing her say that she loved me. And now I would never hear those words again because of what I’d done. I could tell by the tone in her voice that she hated me. She was hurt that I left, and somehow, she figured out why. Lies always do come back to bite you in the ass.

“Another bourbon, my friend?” the young bartender asked with a smile.

“Sure. Why not.”

“You’ve been in here the past four nights. Are you from around here?”

“Nah. I’m from New York.”

“Ah, I love New York. Bartended there for a couple of years.”

“Oh yeah? Why did you move to Seattle?”

“My girlfriend is from here. We met in New York when she attended NYU. It was love at first sight. She found out she was pregnant right when she took a job here in Seattle. So I moved with her. We’re getting married next month.” He pulled his phone from his pocket. “This is my little angel, Christina.”

“She’s beautiful.”

“She’s my pride and joy. She and her mother. Two best things that ever happened to me my whole life.”

“Congratulations.”

“Thanks, man. How about you? Do you have a family back home?”

“No.” I shook my head. “In fact, my girlfriend just broke up with me over voicemail.”

“Ouch. Sorry to hear that.”

Just as he was about to walk away, his phone rang.

“Hey, baby. I was just talking about you. Okay, I’ll pick some up on the way home. I love you too, baby. Tell my angel that Daddy will be home in a couple of hours.”

Finishing my drink, I returned to the hotel and climbed into bed. As I was scrolling through the pictures of us in Hawaii, I came across one that was more special than any others I had. The picture of Chloe sleeping that first night in London. I took it before I left that morning. She didn’t know I took it, and she still didn’t know to this day. I traced my finger over her picture as if, magically, she’d appear in bed next to me. I looked at that picture every night after London, wondering if I would have stayed if things would have been different. But now, she hatedme and threatened to get a restraining order if I came near her. Nonetheless, she was pregnant with my child, and that was the one thing she couldn’t keep from me. I knew what I had to do, and I would return home in a couple of days to claim what was mine.

Chloe

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