Page 87 of Owned By a Billionaire

He ignored that. “My lawyer has drawn up the transfer documents.”

“If you’ll excuse me.” I walked off.

Mark followed close behind. “You can’t confess, Caroline,” he pleaded again. “I’ll delay my trip, but you must promise not to turn yourself in.”

I stretched out my hands. “But what else can I do?”

“Leave it to me.” He looked determined, which made me want to run somewhere and scream.

“He’s too powerful, darling. Too many friends in high places. He’s untouchable.”

Declan came over. “Has something happened?”

“Yes. Reynard Crisp,” Mark said.

“Why’s he here?” Declan asked.

“He’s come for his thirty pieces of silver,” Mark replied dryly.

Declan looked flummoxed and annoyed at the same time. I couldn’t blame him, considering how vague my answers to his questions had been. “So what if he introduced you to our father? Surely that piece of land at the back here is more than ample recompense.”

“Just give me a moment,” I said, my heart racing. “And only you. No one else.”

Declan glanced at Mark before returning his attention to me. “By that, you mean just us two?”

Mark touched my hand, his eyes widening ever so slightly.

I released a tight breath. “He has a right to know,” I told Mark.

“Yes, I have a right to know,” Declan interjected.

I turned to my son. “Just give me five minutes. We’ll go somewhere, and I’ll explain.”

Declan nodded and left us.

Mark’s frown deepened. “You can’t tell him about Alice. It will complicate your relationship with your family.”

“But you understood. You’ve forgiven me, haven’t you?” I asked, hating how pathetic I’d become.

“But I love you unconditionally.” His eyes burned into mine, and a tear slid down my cheek.

A combination of dread, frustration, and intense love settled over me. “They’re my children. They’ll have to understand.”

“That you were involved in the death of a woman their father was engaged to? Don’t you see? It will bring up all kinds of questions and doubt.”

“But you believe me.” It felt like someone had reached into my chest and squeezed my heart.

He was right. After this, how could my family ever know when I was being truthful?

He kissed my hand and his eyes penetrated mine, not in that suggestive, sexy way but in unshakable camaraderie, which at that moment, I needed far more than romantic overtures.

“Of course I believe you,” he said.

As we entered inside, Natalia’s screechy laugh traveled through the large room, and the guests turned their heads toward her. She was on the dance floor with her girlfriends, all waving their arms around.

“It just gets worse.” I shook my head. “Elysium’s descending into a nouveau riche gutter.”

“I’ll be back in a minute.” Mark held my gaze as though he wanted to say something important before he turned. I watched him walk off, and women turned to ogle his handsome figure striding by.

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