Page 34 of Billionaire's Fake Plus One

“Daddy!” Maddie screams and runs to us, jumping into Lucien’s arms. Millie sits up weakly on the bed. I smile at Maddie as we continue our way to the hospital bed. I circle to the other side so I can perch on the nearby chair, while Lucien takes the one closer to the door.

“Poor baby,” I murmur, running my hands softly through Millie’s tangled hair. “How are you feeling now?”

“I want to go home, Willow.” She glances at Lucien who chooses to stand up with Maddie in his arms. “Can we go home, Daddy?”

“If the doctor gives you the all clear, we can go home as soon as possible.” He puts Maddie on her feet and presses a soft kiss in Millie’s hair. “Let me go talk to her.”

Maddie walks to me as Lucien and Malcolm stride out of the room, presumably to talk to Millie’s doctor. She jumps into my arms, resting her head on my chest.

“Tell us about the Moon Bay, Willow. We want to know everything,” she says, nuzzling her face into me.

“Half Moon Bay.” I correct her with a light chuckle. But Millie perks up a little, also wanting to know everything about the wedding and their uncle Zane. I avoid talking about the wedding itself; instead I tell them about the beautiful beach and the suite we stayed in at the lodge with its stunning view. I even tell them about my day at the spa, excluding the occurrence between Brittany and me, and what a bitch I think their mother is. I mention the helicopter ride, exaggerating my reaction to flying in a helicopter for the first time ever and the thrill of seeing San Francisco’s famous landmarks from that height. Millie and Maddie are giggling as I describe the Golden Gate Bridge that wasn’t even golden, when Lucien comes back in.

He glances at Maddie in my lap, then Millie, who is leaning over the bed so her hands are touching mine. “You’ve been given the all clear, Millie. We can go home now.”

“Yay!” Both girls shout. We take Malcolm’s SUV because it already has their booster seats installed, while Malcolm drives Lucien’s sports car home. When we get home, I help Millie take her bath, while Maddie washes up. I brush both girls' hair and put it up in pigtails.

We go to the living room and sit on the couch to watch some Disney movies back to back while drinking warm chicken broth. Both girls snuggle on either side of me under soft blankets. It’s fun watching my favorite animated movies with the girls; I love Maddie’s dramatic reaction to most of the scenes. Lucien locks himself in the study, but honestly, I don’t mind.

Afterward, we eat a light dinner, and I read a bedtime story for the girls and tuck them in. “Can we watch more movies together tomorrow?” Millie asks in a whisper.

I brush a wisp of hair off her face and place a kiss on her soft cheek. “Of course, baby. Now, go to sleep.” I turn to kiss Maddie too, and they both whisper good night.

I heave a sigh as I close the door behind me and reluctantly make my way to Lucien’s study. He glances up when I enter. “Good. We need to talk. Have a seat.” He motions to one of the armchairs in front of him, and I perch on it, my heart in my throat as I watch him. He leans forward on the desk, his brows furrowed. I realize in that moment that I love him. God help me, but I love this grumpy, deadly handsome man. And his precious girls.

How could it have happened so fast?! Isn’t love supposed to be slow and sweet and give you a lot of warning?

“This.” He gestures between us. “Can’t continue. What we started at Half Moon Bay has to stop. It was a mistake and shouldn’t be repeated.”

Even though I knew this was coming, my heart clenches as I watch him.

“What?” I whisper.

26

Rachel, love sucks ass ??

“We were far from home and pretending to be together. Our inhibitions were down, so it’s only natural that we’d have sex and–”

“Our inhibitions weren’t down.” My voice is hoarse and low. I clear my throat. “What the hell do you mean our inhibitions were down? We had sex in the middle of the day, for God’s sake!”

“Okay, so our inhibitions weren’t low.” he allows, like that even matters at this point. “We were enjoying each other’s company, and we have a lot of chemistry…” He trails off. “Anyway, we’re back home now, and we can’t continue having sex in secret, no matter how much I may want to. I mean you’re just the nanny, and I–”

I jump up from the chair, and it scratches noisily across the floor. My blood whooshes in my ears as hot tears sting my eyes. I blink rapidly, trying to hold them back. No chance in hell am I letting him see me cry! But he must have seen something because the ice in his eyes thaws. “Willow–” he starts, but I whirl around before he can finish.

“Willow, stop!” he calls after me as I walk out of the study, but I don’t answer. Fuck, how could I have been so stupid! Of course, I’m just the nanny to him. Hot tears spill down my cheeks, and I quickly wipe them away as I hear his footsteps behind me. I rush into my bedroom and try to slam the door before he can follow me, but he wedges his foot against the door frame, preventing the door from closing.

I narrow my eyes at him angrily, but I drop my grip on the door handle, walking deeper into the room instead. I get on my knees at the foot of my bed and yank out my two suitcases.

“What are you doing?” he asks as I toss them on the bed and undo the zipper, opening the top. Don’t cry. Don’t cry. Don’t cry. I chant as I power walk into the walk-in closet and yank my clothes off the hangars. I rush to the bedroom and toss them into the first suitcase. “Willow, listen. I don’t–”

“I don’t want to hear it, Lucien.” I say as calmly as I can. But even still, my voice sounds strange to my own ears. Vulnerable. Raw. Shaking. I walk back to the closet, grabbing another arm-full of clothes and throwing them into my suitcases. I don’t touch the duffel I took to Half Moon Bay. Those outfits aren’t really mine anyway. I pack my bags and shoes, tossing them into the second case before I go to the bathroom to retrieve my toiletries.

“Willow,” Lucien calls out, his voice sounding a little panicked. “You don’t have to leave. I want you to stay here. Can’t things just go back to normal?” he pleads as I press down on the first case and zip it up. I zip the second case quickly and efficiently, then lift each case to the floor, so they are now standing upright on their wheels.

“Stay here?” I reach out a trembling hand to gesture at the room, then drop it to my side when his eyes darken, noticing the tremble. “I might just be the nanny to you, Lucien, but I love you, and I'm not going to stay in the hopes that someday you’ll love me too. I deserve better.”

“What?” he asks, shellshocked. “You don’t love me. Youcan’tlove me.”

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