Page 48 of The Billionaire's Fortunate Accident
“You know that time has always been against us, Stone. And I’m afraid that’s never going to change. So, I’ve made an extremely hard decision.”
“You should not be making any decisions right now, Jessa.” I clenched my jaw, as I felt something big about to happen.
“Stone, my life isn’t my own anymore. I’m not going to be able to finish my degree. I’m not going to achieve my dream of becoming a doctor. I’ve got to take over from where my father left off. I can’t drag you away from your family and your dream. So, this is it, Stone. This is the last time we’re going to talk to one another. I’m going to block your number as soon as I hang up.”
“Jessa, don’t!” I pulled to the side of the road, my heart about to pound out of my chest. “Don’t do that. I have to be able to talk to you.”
“It’s for the best, Stone. There’s no reason to drag this out and for you to end up in this pit with me. But I don’t want you to think for one second that I don’t love you because I love you more than I knew I was capable of loving anyone. And it’s because of that love that I’m setting you free instead of trapping you here with me.”
Tears filled my eyes, and I was certain she heard them in my voice as I begged her, “Jessa, please don’t do this. I love you too. I need you, baby. Please, just stop thinking this way.”
“I’m sorry. I can’t drag you down with me. Goodbye.”
“No!”
She ended the call, and I immediately called her back, only to find that she had indeed blocked my number.
Holy, mother of God, I think I’m going to die!
Chapter Twenty-Six
Jessa
The phone call had taken a toll on me, and I couldn’t pull myself together as I laid face-down in my bed, crying my heart out. My selfish side wanted to tell Stone to come to me and get here as fast as he could. I was in over my head — I knew that without a doubt. But the other part of me was bigger and wouldn’t allow my weaker side to pull the man I loved away from his goals.
If only I could just get Lily out of bed to help me, then this wouldn’t be as hard as it is.
Rolling over, I wiped my eyes with the heels of my hands then went across the hall to my sister’s suite. Throwing open the door, I found her wilted in a chair, her blonde hair in a messy bun atop her head, staring blankly out of the window. The pale, yellow curtain blew with the gentle breeze. The sight mesmerized me. “It’s a beautiful day.”
“I wouldn’t know.”
“Lily, you’re looking out of the window. Of course you know that it’s a beautiful day outside. You and I should be out there, taking in the sunshine and visiting with the people who’ve come to pay their respects. The staff and Daddy’s close friends have been taking care of what is ours to see to.”
“I can’t do it,” she moaned as her eyes rolled to mine. “Jessa, I wasn’t meant to go through something like this.”
“You’re younger than our father, so one day, you would have most certainly had to go through this.” I hated how weak she was. “Lily, you are the oldest child. You should be the one trying to console me, not the other way around. There’s tons of stuff to do, and I need your help.”
“I’ve already told you that I can’t do anything. Don’t count on me, or you’ll only be disappointed.” Her lower lip began to tremble. “I still can’t believe he did this to me. Leaving me here like this.”
“He didn’t do it on purpose.” I took a seat on the small sofa in her bedroom.
“It doesn’t matter,” she said with a whimper. “I don’t know how to do anything. How can I help with any of this?”
“You can learn,” I pointed out. “You can try.”
“I can’t. I don’t have the heart to try. I feel so alone, Jessa. You have no idea.”
I had every idea. “You think I don’t feel alone? Lily, you are of no comfort to me at all. In fact, you seem to be another burden that I have to bear, and I’ve already got plenty as it is. Can’t you just suck it up and be a team player for once?”
“Like I even know how to do that.” She put her hands over her face to cover it. “I can’t even be seen right now. My eyes are red and puffy from all the crying. I feel bloated like I’m about to get a visit from Aunt Flo on top of everything else.”
That did it for me. “Poor little Carolina Lily might get her period. What a shame. Well, then please allow me to doeverything!” I hadn’t told a soul what I’d found out, but I thought my sister should know. “Lily, I’m pregnant.”
Her hands slowly fell from her face, revealing raised brows and large blue eyes. “You are not. You’re just saying that to make me feel like I have to help you. But you don’t understand that I have no clue how to go about doing anything Daddy did.”
“Iampregnant. I only found out yesterday. I’m three weeks pregnant with my little vanilla bean. That’s how big the embryo is right now.” I ran my hand over my flat stomach. “And I know that you don’t know how to do anything our father did. But you should know that I don’t know how to do any of it either. I’ve been away at school, learning how to become a doctor, not take over a multi-billion-dollar estate.”
She looked at my stomach. “Three weeks. How can you know that for sure?”
