Page 47 of Marrying a Billionaire

Reed stopped and whipped around to stare at her. “Inconvenience me? Are you serious? You were about to become my wife.”

Lillian winced at his words. She hated how much her heart swelled at his intensity when he spoke them. And at this moment, that was what she wanted. She wanted to be his wife. She wanted for him to care for her in a way that no man had ever in her past. She wanted him as her family, she just didn’t know how to tell him.

And if he found out that she lied to him, that would be it. Could he ever forgive her?

So she pinched her lips shut and gathered her strength. “Reed, I want to do this alone. Please.” Hoping her emotions didn’t give her away, she met his gaze.

He studied her for a moment and then a hardened expression passed over his face. “Okay. If that’s what you want.”

She nodded, and Tamara stepped up to him. “Can we take your helicopter?”

Reed glanced over at her and then nodded. “Of course.”

Lillian let out the breath she’d been holding. Part of her was dreading what was coming and the other part welcomed it. She was ready for answers. So much of her life lately had been spent holding her breath, waiting for this exact moment to happen but not knowing when.

As much as it ached her heart to lose the baby, she welcomed that pain. It was something she was familiar with.

Reed stepped out of the room as Tamara and Cassie helped her change out of her dress and into some comfortable clothes. Lillian tried not to wince as she hobbled to the door. Reed leaning against the wall, staring at into the room when she approached. She met his gaze and her heart squeezed in her chest.

He was hurting. Bad.

How selfish could she be? She allowed herself to do the exact thing she’d told herself she would never do. Lead Reed to believe that something could happen between them. What kind of selfish person did that?

As she took a step toward him, an intense pain shot through her stomach, taking her breath away. She stumbled, grabbing onto the wall for support.

Reed was to her side before she could even blink. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to his chest. She opened her lips to protest but saw the ache in his eyes.

“How are you feeling?” he asked. His voice was deep and full of concern.

Lillian chewed her lip as she shrugged.

He scoffed. “Why are you lying to me?” he asked.

Tamara waved for him to follow her out to the hall. Lillian wanted wiggle from his grasp so he could put her down, but from the grip he had on her, he wasn’t going to let her go anytime soon.

So she took a deep breath and let him carry her down the stairs to the front door. He glanced down at her as if he was still waiting on a response.

“Reed, I just think it’s best for us to keep our distance. There are things about me that you don’t know.” Her voice dropped as emotion filled her throat. “That you can’t know.”

She watched as Reed’s jaw muscles twitched. He tightened his grip as he carried her outside. When they stepped out onto the front stoop, a cheer rose up from the reporters that were in the distance. Reed paid them no mind as he stared down at Lillian in an open and unabashed way.

“So you’re saying that everything we’ve gone through. All the feelings I’ve had, are what? A lie?”

Lillian’s heart swelled at his words.Feelings he’s had.Did it mean what she thought it did? But it couldn’t. Not when she wasn’t worthy of his love. So she had to push her feelings away and lie.

She nodded. “Yes.”

She kept her gaze focused on her hands as she felt his gaze on her. But she couldn’t look. She couldn’t acknowledge what her words had done to him. Not now. Another pain passed through her muscles, and she tightened from the pressure. They were coming faster now.

What was she going to do? As much as she wanted to think that she’d prepared for this, she hadn’t. A deep sadness settled in around her as realized what all of this meant. She fought the tears on her lids. Why had she allowed herself to hope? To love? Clearing her throat, she breathed out the tension.

Reed kept her in his arms until they got to the helicopter. Lillian was grateful for the whooshing sound from the blades that would drown out any conversation he would try to have with her. Once she was strapped in, he stepped back.

As she watched him retreat, she fought the urge to call to him. To have him come back and stay by her side. She’d grown accustomed to his presence. What was she going to do when it was gone?

And then she chided herself for sounding so selfish. What was she going to do? What about Reed? He’d entered into a contract with a woman who lied to him. Who kept a deep secret from him. A woman who could never be his family. Who just took and had nothing to give.

He was better off without her.

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