Page 90 of Scarlett and the Big Bad Billionaire
“Oh. Okay, sure.” I leaned over and kissed Vivi’s cheek. “Be right back.”
I stepped into the hallway, expecting to find a nurse or doctor who had information about Vivi’s case they wanted to share with me privately.
The person waiting there was actually the last one I’d ever have expected to see.
“Bryce?”
My former fiancé gave me a sympathetic look and stepped forward to hug me. I was so shocked, I let him.
You know what? Maddie was right—hedidsmell like hot dog water.
“How are you, sweetheart? I came as soon as I heard.”
When he released me, I stared at him. “What are you doing here?”
“I went to the mansion first—wow, what a place. That must have cost some big bucks. The housekeeper there said your grandmother had been brought here, and you went with her. Is she okay?”
I nodded, feeling numb. “She’s doing alright. They’re running tests.”
Staring some more, I tried to get it through my head that my ex had flown halfway across the country and was standing in front of me.
“Is something wrong?” I asked him. “Did something happen at home?”
“No, your family’s all fine. I’m fine,” he said, “Actually, no, that’s a lie. I’m not fine. I haven’t been fine since I lost you.”
“Lost me? You didn’tloseme, Bryce. You returned me for a full refund.”
“The biggest mistake I ever made,” he insisted.
“I’ve been doing a lot of thinking,” he said. “And here’s the thing—you’re the love of my life, I can’t live without you. I want you to give me another chance. I want tobethere for you… till death do us part this time.”
From behind his back, he produced a bouquet of mums and daisies that had obviously been purchased at the hospital gift shop. In fact, there was a card nestled in the vase with the hospital’s logo—and the inscription, “For Patty. Get well soon. Love, Harold.”
Noticing it, Bryce snatched the card out and dropped it on the floor. “Not sure how the florist got that confused.”
He shoved the vase of stolen flowers at me. “I know it’s been hard on you since we broke up. And I know you’re not with anyone. You’ve been single since whatshouldhave been our wedding night. But you don’t have to be lonely anymore.”
Just then, Gray rounded the nurses’ station holding a cardboard tray containing two cups of coffee in one hand and his phone in the other.
“Actually, she’s been withmesince your non-wedding night,” he announced, setting the items on a counter and coming to stand beside me.
Thanks for that, by the way,” Gray said to Bryce. “I never would have gotten the chance to propose to this amazing woman if you hadn’t fucked up so thoroughly.”
“Propose?” Bryce yelped.
I shouted the question just as loudly inside my head.
“I’m her fiancé,” Gray calmly lied. “We’re getting married.”
Myex-fiancé’s gaze fell to my bare left ring finger, and Gray noticed.
“We’re still picking out the ring,” he explained. “I want her to have the perfect one. We were planning to fly to LA and New York this weekend to look at two different choices. Vivi’s little scare here might put that off for a bit.”
“What are you, some kind of billionaire?” Bryce emitted a snort-laugh.
Gray’s expression stayed cool. “My financial status is none of your business. The only thing you need to know is I’ve got everything it takes to make Scarlett happy and take care of her. She doesn’t need you—or want you.”
He looked down at me, sliding his arm around my shoulders and silently willing me to go along with the ruse.
