Page 58 of Claiming His Virgin Princess

At first Ilsa had refused to believe it, because what were the chances?

It felt like a miracle.

It was, if not a miracle, an extraordinarily fortuitous event. That was the medical view.

If it hadn’t been for that torn condom weeks ago in Turkey...

Ilsa sank back against the meadow grass and closed her eyes. Her breath hitched as tears spilled down her cheeks.

She’d never believed this day would come.

She hadn’t dared to hope it would.

Even now she could hardly believe it, despite the doctor’s assurance. The chances against it were so high.

Ilsa’s hand crept across her flat abdomen and wonder filled her. Her tiny baby rested there. Hers and Noah’s.

Behind closed lids she saw turquoise eyes, warm with laughter.

Noah, so caring and considerate, yet with a devil-may-care streak that she found impossibly enticing. They were qualities that would make him a wonderful father. He wouldn’t be a stick-in-the-mud, too busy with work to find time for his child.

Noah would be a hands-on father. Ilsa could see him now, cradling a tiny baby against his strong body. Or teaching a toddler how to kick a ball.

Her heart dipped and she shivered despite the balmy sunshine.

But would he want anything to do with her now? She’d left him in Turkey and again in London, rebuffing his offer of a relationship. Ilsa shivered, remembering the pain and anger in his voice as he’d spoken of the woman he’d once loved. Who had spurned him and hurt his family.

Was that how he viewed Ilsa now? A woman who, despite her words, thought he wasn’t good enough?

How she wished she’d been truthful and told him her real reason for rejecting him. Except it wouldn’t have helped. He wanted a woman to give him children. He’d have politely but firmly rescinded his offer.

A cracked laugh escaped her dry throat. Ironic that she now carried his child.

Besides, that had only been half the problem. The other part was that she loved him and couldn’t face a future pining for him to return those feelings.

How could they agree on sharing and supporting their child after what had passed between them? Especially when she wanted too much from him.

Ilsa tried to imagine telling him her news. Would he even see her after she’d walked out on him? Noah had been kind and warm-hearted before. But a self-made billionaire must have a formidable side. No doubt he could be ruthless as well as proud. Would he let her close enough to talk? Or would he reject her unheard?

She cringed, remembering that disastrous day in London. She’d escaped from the hotel’s back entrance with the help of the manager who’d seen her emerge, dazed, on the ground floor. He’d bundled her out of sight and ordered a trusted hotel driver to wait at the back entrance for her. They had been discreet, never breathing a word about her dishevelled and unconventional departure.

Since then she’d heard nothing from Noah. All she knew was that he’d returned to Australia and was making a splash escorting a parade of gorgeous women to one high profile event after another.

Yet she had to tell him about their baby.

Ilsa sighed. It would be the most wonderful thing in the world to share news of her pregnancy with the man she loved, if he loved her too.

But this was no time for fantasy. She grimaced. Noah probably never wanted to see her again. Plus—her heart pounded at the thought—she’d just been told her condition had to be closely monitored. Her chances of miscarriage were higher than average.

She lifted her chin and gazed at the pale blue sky.

All that was true. Things wouldn’t be easy. But this was her miracle and she intended to embrace it.

‘Noah?’

He stopped on his way into the conference room, turning to his PA. ‘Yes, Bree?’

She got up from her desk, glancing at the open door. Only when she stood before him did she respond.

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