Page 102 of Owned By a Billionaire

I pushed her away. “Hey. No.”

“Oh. You have turned all frigid.”

I walked to the door. “I’m leaving.”

“Then I won’t sign.”

“Fine.”

When I reached the front gate, Elise yelled from her balcony, “I’m going to sue for emotional damages.”

A nearby couple, having stepped into their front gate, looked at me as though I had a set of horns.

I gave them a timid smile and strode off.

I’d tried and failed. I would just have to pay her. Handsomely, I imagined, in cash.

Chapter 32

Caroline

AsitwasaSunday, I’d arranged a lunch by the pool for the family to celebrate Mark’s return. A necessary diversion, given the tension surrounding us.

Detectives continued to circle the family, prolonging the agony of media scrutiny this case had attracted. And now that Mark had come back to England, the police had an annoying tendency to arrive unannounced for more questioning.

There would be no divorce, but I could live with that. What was marriage, anyway?

“I could try inducements,” Mark said as we dressed for lunch.

“No. She sounds unhinged, and you’d only continue to stir her up.”

“She’s suing, you know? I got the email when I arrived.” He bit his lip, and all I wanted to do was attack it with my mouth. This man had my hormones boiling over. Even with all the drama around us, my body had gone into overdrive at having him here.

“Don’t let it concern you.” I smiled. “It’s just nice to have you back.”

“Now that I’m back, I’d like to teach again.”

I frowned. “Really, you want to go back to living in London?” My heart sank at the thought of him not being at Merivale.

As though reading my mind, he added, “I thought I could apply for a teaching position at a college close to Bridesmere.”

“You don’t have to, Mark. Why don’t you finish that book? I loved what I read. Truly.”

“You really read it? I thought you were just trying to impress me. To lure me into your bed.”

I caught the playful glint in his eyes and returned it with a smile. “I believe it was you who initiated the seduction.”

He took me into his arms and kissed me. “So it was.”

Manon and the family were already in the large sunny room when we joined them. The children were running all over the place with the dogs chasing them. Bertie was busy acquainting himself with Carson’s new border collie puppy, Charlie. The cute pup had made everyone clucky, including Mark, who bent down and tickled the black-and-white canine’s belly.

“Is he house-trained yet?” I asked.

“He sure is,” Carson said. “Charlie worked it out himself. This is one of the smartest breeds.”

The children had taken a liking to the cute creature as Freddie and Bertie looked on.

All in all, it was a hectic but heartening scene, and I wouldn’t have asked for anything else. There was lightness in the air, especially with Rey gone.

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