Page 14 of The Beast's Obsession

"I forgot," he admits, sounding almost ashamed. "I've been so caught up in having you here, in making you mine, that I forgot about your family. On why you agreed to all this in the first place."

I prop myself up on an elbow, studying his face. There's a war of emotions playing out in those dark eyes—possessiveness, guilt, fear.

"I'll come back," I promise again, pressing a gentle kiss to his jaw. "You've given me so much, Grayson. But they're my family. I can't abandon them."

He's quiet for a long moment, his chest rising and falling beneath my palm. When he speaks, his voice is rough with an emotion I can't quite name.

"What if..." he starts, then pauses. "What if I came with you?"

The suggestion catches me off guard. I blink at him, trying to imagine Grayson in my tiny, run-down apartment. His pristine suits among the secondhand furniture. His commanding presence filling our cramped living room.

"You...you'd want to?" I ask, unable to keep the surprise from my voice.

His arms tighten around me. "I want to do anything for you, Lily." His lips brush my forehead. "And I don't want to let you out of my sight."

I should protest. Should insist on some independence. But the thought of facing my family's struggles alone after days in Grayson's protective bubble makes me shudder.

"Okay," I whisper, snuggling closer. "We'll go together."

Grayson

I feel like a regular cad. I’ve been fucking her day in and day out and forgot to even check on her family for her.

So, when we have my driver drive us to her tiny, run-down apartment and get the news that her mom has been rushed to the hospital and her brother has been placed in temporary state custody, I’m cursing myself.

The look of heartbreak on my girl’s face is going to haunt me for a long time, and the fact that I allowed this to happen is unacceptable.

We’re at her mom’s bedside in a flash, and my chest physically aches seeing the tears flow down Lily’s face as she grips her mom’s hand.

My jaw hardens as I step out of the hospital room and demand to speak to the doctor.

I don’t have a ton of wealth and resources at my disposal for nothing.

Iwillfix this.

eight

. . .

Lily

This is all my fault.I should have been here for her. Now, my mom is in the hospital, and my brother is with some foster parents who I swear to God better not harm a hair on his precious head.

If I hadn’t gotten so caught up in Grayson. Once he touched me, it’s like I forgot my whole reason for being at his mansion in the first place.

To get the money to help pay for Mom’s medical care.

My mom has breast cancer, and we couldn’t afford the bills for any more treatments.

And I was too late.

And now look what’s happened.

The tears continue to roll down my face.

“I’m so sorry, Mom,” I tell her as I kiss her hand. I don’t know if she can hear me or not. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there when you needed me.”

I’m vaguely aware of Grayson trying to pull me away. He says something about me needing to eat, needing to rest, but I jerk away from him like a feral animal.

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