Page 58 of Her Inconvenient Groom (French Conquests 4)

Her cries subsided, first becoming sobs, and then ghosting away into silence. Dustin wondered if her silence wasn’t more painful to hear.

He listened as the doctor spoke to Chantelle, seeming to know he had to speak in English so that her husband could understand. It was the first time he was able to take a medical history from her, apart from what was in the international database connected with her service provider in the US.

He heard the details about her nausea, her vomiting and dizzy spells, appalled that she had never let him know the true extent of the problems she’d experienced during their pregnancy. He felt a passing guilt about the sex they had, wondering if somehow something he’d done had made things worse. Logic and a vague understanding of how things worked told him that was a silly idea.

He listened, biting his tongue, not wanting to interject or interfere. He kept a close watch on the doctor’s face, which, implacable as it had been when he’d first entered, was growing more and more grave. And every now and then, the man’s pale eyes wandered over to Dustin with looks that grew from curious to piercing.

Chapter 31

Chantelle couldn’t have imagined it would be possible to feel so empty. To feel loss so deeply and hugely. How could you miss something that hadn’t been there three months ago? How did you grieve for someone you had never met?

She lay with her hand over her hollow tummy, feeling as if the void inside her stretched all the way to infinity. And she knew in her heart it was a dark, cold space that would never be filled again.

In and out, in and out, doctors came and went. Surgeons and medical doctors and specialists and who knew what else. All poking and prodding and asking the same questions over and over.

But nobody had an answer.

Something was killing her slowly. And neither she nor anyone else could figure out why.

“Chantelle?” She heard her name being called softly. It was Dustin, of course. He was always there, even as she drifted off to sleep. She turned in the direction of the sound, though all she could see was a dark blur. Her vision was fading in and out, and even when she could see it was nothing but painful, blurred shapes. Her legs felt like logs, and she knew that she wouldn’t be able to get up even if she wanted to.

She was dying. She knew it, and the doctors had confirmed it. She had maybe a week at the most. Already Dustin had called Sienna, who was on her way back to France. The thought that this bright, trustworthy young woman would be here to make all her final arrangements gave her comfort.

Dustin called her name again. She could hear his anguish, and hated it, because it caused an echoing cry to rise up within her. She didn’t need this. Didn’t want this. What she felt for him was frightening enough and unwelcome enough in the best of circumstances. But to know you were dying, and to have a world of pleasure and happiness just outside your grasp. She couldn’t bear it.

“Come closer,” she asked.

Chantelle could feel his weight making the bed sink as he sat next to her. Vaguely saw the shape of him as he leaned in.

“Yes, love?”

She ignoredthatword and said stoically. “You need to go.”

“What?” The shock in his voice was clear. “What did you say?”

“Go home, Dustin. Back to your family.”

“Why?” He sounded perplexed. “You want me toleave you?”

She licked her lips, and he brought her some water. She drank thirstily before saying, “You’ve done your job. You’ve fulfilled your contract.”

“There’s more to this than a job,” he countered. “Why do you keep reducing me to that? I’m not your employee, Chantelle. You made that very clear when we began this… merger. I’m here for you.”

“You shouldn’t be.”

“Why not?”

“Because I’m dying—”

“Don’t be—”

“It’s not ridiculous. I know it. The doctors confirmed it. You need to accept it. Leave me alone.”

“No.” His voice was soft and low, but firm.

“Excuse me?”

“I’m not leaving. A man doesn’t leave the woman he loves—”

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