Page 35 of The Price of Fame

“No, I want to give it a try. Your sister can come too, so, if I feel I’m overdoing it, she can help me, and we can leave together.”

Markus brushed his lips over hers. “I love you, omorphoula. Thanks, I would love you to be there with me. Why don’t you get dressed while I go down and tell my sister and manager what’s going on?”

She smiled and nodded and was about to move out of his hold when he dropped to his knees, putting her hands in his.

“Kylie Breal, marry me.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out her engagement ring, placing it back on her finger. “Marry me, not next year, not in six months or three, but in a month. I would say sooner, but I know you’ll want your friends there.”

Staring, stunned, down at Markus on his knees, she took a deep breath and turned from Markus to look around the room and then back at the handsome man in front of her. “Is this because of the baby?” She touched her stomach and prayed he wasn’t pushing because of this.

Kylie studied a shocked face. His eyebrows rose, and his mouth had a kind of O shape to it before it slammed shut and drew into a thin line. His eyes narrowed, and he growled. “That isn’t even a consideration here. How could you think that of me?” He got off his knees and cupped her face in his hands. “I asked you to marry me well before I knew you were pregnant. I would have married you the night I gave you the ring, you silly fool.”

She knew tears were rolling down her cheeks. He gently brushed them away with his thumb. “I just wanted to make sure you hadn’t changed your mind after my tirade at the hospital. I don’t want you to love me and marry me only because I’m having your baby.”

Markus pulled her to him, laughing. “Oh, my omorphoula Kylie, you have nothing to worry about. I loved you more than anything before I found out you’re pregnant. Nothing has changed.” He held her tight for a moment before pulling away. “So, is that a yes?”

Biting her lip, she thought of everything they had been through so far and still come out on top. Nodding, she muttered, “Yes, but I’ll be watching. Your lips are mine.”

He beamed at her, and then he lifted her up, spinning her around twice before he put her down.

“I will let you get ready. We’re really late now, so hurry. Do hair and makeup in the car. I’m sure Bettina will help.”

She growled and shooed him out.

With a bounce in his step, he wandered into the living room to see his manager trying to dodge around his sister, who looked at ease holding him back. “Am I interrupting something?” They both turned to him, Gaelan with a look of pure relief, but it was the smile on his sister’s face that had him smiling.

“Am I joining you this afternoon?” Bettina asked. He chuckled as Gaelan shook his head frantically.

“If you don’t mind. Kylie is getting ready now. She should be down soon. I told her you would help her with hair and makeup in the car. Do you need to do anything before we go?”

She nodded. “Yeah, give me five to get changed. I’ll do the same as Kylie with putting stuff on in the limo.” She ran off.

Gaelan let out a dramatic sigh. “At least their presence might generate more sympathy considering you’re going to be late.”

Markus shrugged because he really didn’t care anymore what people thought. The only person’s opinion that mattered to him was walking to him now in a blue summer dress, carrying her shoes and bag.

“I’m ready to go.” She turned to Gaelan and smiled. “Sorry for holding you up.”

Gaelan lifted his lips slightly in the corners and nodded before glancing at the ring on her finger again. “No problem, Miss Breal. I’m sure they’ll understand, considering where you’ve been the last twenty-four hours.”

Kylie turned bright red and looked around the room.

A moment later, his sister came running to them, yelling, “Okay, let’s go.”

They all headed out the front door. Markus made sure he kept hold of Kylie’s hand. From now on, he wasn’t letting it go.

The radio show had been understanding, especially as they got the exclusive that Kylie was out of the hospital and with him today to help support him.

They were now at his third TV show. Sitting in the green room, Markus hugged Kylie closer to him and waved a slice of a sandwich in front of her. “Come on. You hardly ate anything, and Bettina said you only had a piece of toast earlier.” He chuckled as Kylie shot Bettina a glare before turning on him.

“If you shove that food in front of my face one more time, I swear I’ll shove it down your throat.” She moved the arm from around her waist as Bettina laughed.

“Oh, brother, this is going to be so much fun. I love watching you squirm. And to think I get to watch you like this for the next seven or so months. Poor Kylie. He is only going to get worse as the pregn—”

Bettina’s rant was cut off by his manager’s growl. “You got her pregnant? I thought she was just a fling. I know you gave her a ring, but for Christ’s sake, you don’t usually last over a month with a woman. I was surprised when Helena lasted two. I didn’t think you would actually marry her. She’s a nobody. She’s not even Greek!”

He glared at his now ex-manager and thanked God Kylie didn’t understand Greek. Hating to be rude, but not wanting Kylie to hear what he had to say, he answered in Greek. “I told you she was the one. I said I was going to marry her. I just had to convince her.” He glared at Gaelan as things started to click. Getting up, he stalked toward his manager, snarling, “It was you! You leaked the song.”

Gaelan looked around the room as Markus moved closer. “It’s too good to keep to yourself because some girl thought it should be just hers.”

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