Page 60 of Surprise Pregnancy for Villain

“It reminds me of Niagara Falls,” she whispers. “Beautiful.”

My eyes are on her excited face as I mutter, “Absolutely gorgeous.”

“If only we could get out, even for a minute.”

We’re currently the only ones up here, but it’s a popular spot. That could change at any minute. But looking at Nicki’s wistful expression makes me wonder, what are the odds that someone will recognize us?

“Five minutes,” I reply and Nicki squeals, leaping over to kiss me.

“Thank you, thank you!”

The countdown has already begun. I hurry out of the car and help her out, then we move toward the protective railing. I stand behind Nicki, slipping my arms around her waist and bracing her. With her hands on the rail, she snuggles into me.

“Not having to watch our backs, it sounds like a dream. I can’t wait until we’re free,” she says, and I hear that wistfulness in her tone, too.

“Twenty-four hours to go, sweetheart.” I rest my chin on her shoulder. “Just one more day, and we’ll be on the road to that freedom.”

She sighs and twists her body. I release her, allowing a full turn. Her eyes scan my face, and I see the hint of worry there. “What if we don’t get there? What if our fathers find us before we do?”

That’s always a possibility, but the last thing I want to do is scare her. “I have a secure plan. Once we keep our heads on straight, it’s going to go off without a hitch.”

She bites her lip, a habit when she’s worried.

“I’ll be extra protective, Nicki. No harm will come to you.”

“But what if you can’t?”

Ah, there’s the question that triggered that worried look.

“What if you’re not there to protect me?”

Something drops heavy in my stomach. She’s not worried. She’s having second thoughts. Second thoughts that connect to the message she’d gotten earlier. My gut tells me that’s it.

“Back at the house, who messaged you?” I ask, tilting her chin to lift her gaze when she drops it.

“I already told you. It was Katie,” she mutters, her eyes locked with mine.

My truth-o-meter flashes on green. That honesty in her eyes, there’s no way she’s faking it.

Yet…

“What did her message say?”

Nicki drops her gaze again as she fiddles with her hands.

“Tell me.”

A hefty sigh flies from her mouth. “My dad visited her again. She says he’s lost weight. He’s truly worried, and I—I’m torn.”

I swallow, suspecting where this will go.

“A part of me hates him for setting me up with Lucca, yet I love him because he was all I had before now. I can’t stand that he’s so worried about me. I want to make it right.”

“You do understand going back means marrying someone you don’t love.”

My breath catches in my throat. I take a deep breath to suck in air, but it’s still fucking hard to breathe. This can’t be happening. There’s no way Nicki is thinking of leaving me.

This is crazy.

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