Page 27 of Owned By a Billionaire

He pointed to a green, rolling hill. “I want that land.”

I almost laughed. “And how will I do that?”

“You’ll find a way. I’m a patient man. I can wait. But one day, that land will be mine. That’s the deal.”

I was about to walk away when Rey grabbed my hand. “Remember, Caroline. I own you.”

We locked eyes, then I left him behind as I went back to join the guests.

Yes, my star had risen. But that ascent came at a cost.

Onemonthintomymarriage, I cheated.

It wasn’t something I was proud of, but I was helpless to do otherwise.

I was alone in London when someone patted my shoulder. I turned and there was Gregory, and my body, starved of passionate sex, did the deciding.

Without even uttering a word, I followed him. We jumped into his car, we drove somewhere quiet, and there, he fucked me raw in the backseat.

Harry was also having his time in London. I knew what it was about. He’d assured me he was being careful and wearing protection.

Harry knew I knew about his occasional dalliances. Earlier in our relationship, I confessed to being aware of his predilection for his own sex. “As long as you’re clean about it, I don’t mind,” I’d said.

As it was, Harry and I hardly made love, but any time we did, I seemed to conceive. Gregory had had a vasectomy, so that allayed any possible confusion as our affair continued.

“I’m not leaving Harry,” I told him one night while lying in a discreet London hotel bed.

“I can’t wait another month like this past month.”

“You’re going to have to. I’m pregnant.”

He shook his head. “I’ll go crazy without you. I love you.”

“Oh, Greg, it’s lust. We’re just a good fit.”

“There’s no denying that. But what about you? You’re just as needy for this. For us.”

I nodded. He was right. I had a big appetite when it came to sex.

In the end, it went badly between us.

Gregory arrived at Merivale, drunk and banging at the door, threatening to cause a scene if I didn’t speak to him. By this stage, I’d had enough, and heavily pregnant, I sent him off. But it wasn’t until my third child was born that our affair ended properly.

Five years later, I began a clandestine relationship with Will, Harry’s hedge fund manager. Will, handsome and ten years younger, was at Merivale often, even while Harry was away in London. He was no Gregory, but he was good in bed and possessed the type of virility that could keep me happy for years.

I had it all… but for that ball and chain that was Reynard Crisp.

Chapter 8

PRESENTDAY

VOLUBLE AND ANIMATED AS EVER, the family spoke over each other as we gathered together in the sunroom—or the yellow room, as we liked to call it—overlooking the pool.

Declan and Theadora sat on the floral sofa I’d just had upholstered, holding hands like they’d only just met. Eight years into their marriage, they were still very much in love, it seemed.

I’d never held anyone’s hand in public, only Cary’s, but that was his doing. As a self-proclaimed romantic, he initiated all those delicate gestures.

Theadora had turned out to be a surprising creature. My resentment toward her had diluted over the years. She wasn’t easy to dislike, given how she’d taken to her role as a Lovechilde as effortlessly as the graceful Princess Kate who, despite her lack of blue blood, had been a refreshing addition to the royal family.

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