Page 20 of Kinks of a Billionaire
“I do trust you.”
“Then please, do this. For me.”
“Promise you won’t do anything.” Her green eyes shone with unshed tears. “I don’t want you to get in trouble.”
“I won’t get in trouble.” But Iwoulddo something about it. “Now please, tell me who hurt you.”
“Stuart.”
One word. One name. One fucker who was about to die.
Chapter 9
Willow
Tears filled my eyes as I placed a palm on my stomach, grateful for this second chance.
Before he left, the doctor confirmed that the baby was healthy, and he prescribed prenatal vitamins. His assurance sent a sense of relief through me. I’d never put my baby at risk for the sake of appearances again. All my reasons for marrying Stuart had vanished—no, turned to ashes, and there wasn’t an ounce of regret. My sixth sense had been going off about Stuart for weeks, but like a fool, I’d ignored it. I’d seen the signs and, like a woman blinded by hope, I convinced myself I was wrong. It almost cost me the little life growing inside me.
I risked a glance at Royce, tension rolling off him in waves while silence dominated the room.
I averted my gaze again, heavy shame suffocating me. I knew now that I’d never felt true, genuine feelings for Stuart. And yet, once I’d found out about the baby, I convinced myself that marrying him was the right thing to do.
If I hadn’t… If I’d followed my gut feeling, it wouldn’t have come to this.
Without another word, Royce reached for the bottle on the nightstand and proceeded to lather ointment on my skin, covering the bruises. His movements were methodical, never causing pain or discomfort.
But the ache in my chest made up for it.
“How many times has he hurt you before?” Royce’s voice was soft, but it was impossible to miss the warning in it. “I’m guessing this wasn’t the first.”
“Royce, please don’t?—”
“Willow, I’m already in a state where I’m prepared to commit mass murder. Please don’t excuse that bastard’s actions.”
He was right, of course. There was nothing I would or could say to justify what Stuart did to me. Not when I had this baby to look out for. A baby I already loved.
“It’s the first time he’s ever put a hand on me,” I finally said, holding his eyes so he could see the truth in them. “But I’ve seen glimpses of his temper, and I should have known better than to ignore them.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?” he demanded, and I wished there was a simple answer. If I hadn’t gotten knocked up, I probably would have. But this little life growing inside me had changed everything. “Willow, I thought we were friends.”
He got me there, but in my defense, I hadn’t said a word to Aurora or Sailor either. Call it shame or call it longing for a different reality. I’d watched my best friends fall in love with men who worshiped the ground they walked on. Sure, they were mafia men, but still. You couldn’t fault the way they made my girls their top priority.
And there I was getting knocked up by an idiot because I had to go and have a fling during a dry spell.
“I’m scared of losing you,” I finally admitted.
“You’ll never lose me.” He brushed the tip of his nose against mine. “I’m here. For you.” He wrapped his strong arms aroundme and squeezed gently. I’d never felt safer than I did right now. “Nobody will ever hurt you again.”
“I should have never agreed to marry him,” I mumbled. “I knew it was a mistake from the very start.”
“Why did you, then?”
A heartbeat of silence passed before I whispered, “Because I’m pregnant.”
“Pregnant?” he repeated, his voice eerily calm.
I swallowed the lump in my throat, then nodded, unable to find my voice. Up until Stuart went ballistic, there’d been a tiny part of me that regretted being pregnant. Stuart wasn’t the right man. It wasn’t the right time. The circumstances were less than ideal.
