Page 50 of A Billionaire's Secret

“Vicky, you’re scaring me,” his eyes raced up and down my body with confusion. “I’m calling my doctor. Please go lie down.”

“No, that’s not necessary. Can you please take me home?” I pleaded. “My mother is a nurse. We rarely see doctors.”

He held me close, stacking the bottom of his chin on top of my head. “Are you sure?”

I nodded. He helped me change into my clothes and walked me down the stairs. To make matters worse, scents of elaborate breakfast foods filled the air, making my hand fly to my mouth, and my pace speed up.

“Sorry. The smell—” I pointed my gaze toward the kitchen.

“I know,” he cut me off and walked faster with me under his arm.

I curled up in the passenger seat and closed my eyes, hoping to dull the nausea that seemed to worsen with each movement of my head.

Christian drove fast but steady, peeking over at me every chance he got.

“Listen, if you don’t feel better by this afternoon, I’ll send my doctor to your house,” he ordered.

“Mhm,” I muttered in agreement.

Arriving at my house, he helped me up the stairs and rang the doorbell. My mother poked out and straightened her posture at the sight of this tall, handsome man before her.

“Um, Christian, was it?” She looked around nervously before her eyes landed on my sick face.

“Yes, Ma’am,” he nodded and extended his hand. “I’m so sorry we meet under these circumstances. Victoria has been feeling sick, and she requested to come home. She said you are a nurse, but please know I have a great doctor on call if she doesn’t feel better by this afternoon. Please promise to call me.”

“Um, OK, I promise,” my mother sounded increasingly confused by the second. Her worried eyes darted over my body as she opened the door wider and let us both in.

Christian didn’t wait for approval. He lifted me and made for the stairs. “This way to your room?”

My mother nodded silently, her mouth gasping wider.

“You don’t have to do all that,” I mumbled. “I could have walked up the stairs. My room is a mess.”

“Shh,” he hushed me and opened the door. Without looking around, he placed me on the bed, tucked me in, and sat beside me. “Get some rest. I’ll be just a phone call away, OK?”

“OK,” I responded faintly and accepted his gentle kiss.

With that, Christian left my room and entered the curious depths of my mother’s gaze. I heard the stairs cracking as they walked down, my eyes closed, and I dozed off into a nap.

***

“Well, that would be something, wouldn’t it?” my mother’s voice filled the gap between sleep and reality.

I cracked one eye open and, startled by the sight before me, sat up straight. My sister and mother towered over me, hands crossed over their chests, awaiting my awakening.

“What the hell are you both doing here?” I scoffed.

“Victoria, how long has this been going on?” My sister asked with firm determination.

“Lizzie, why the judgy look?” I squinted my eyes. “You two are creeping me out!”

“You don’t have to answer,” my mother chimed in. “Here, why don’t you go to the bathroom and pee on this.”

A loud laugh escaped my lungs without warning. “What? You have lost your minds! Leave me alone, please!”

They didn’t move a muscle. Just kept staring down at me, eyes demanding and judgmental at once.

“Oh, my God! Fine,” I jumped off the bed. “If that will make you leave. I’ll make sure never to leave my door unlocked. Hell, I need to move out of this place.”

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