Page 27 of Secret Baby for a Damaged Billionaire

“Not about me? How you managed to destroy not only our friendship but also my entire wedding?” she demands, her face flushed with anger.

Her excessive level of drama is enough to push me over the edge, and I feel the pressure in my head rising, my neck and cheeks burning.

Just as I’m about to respond, the door swings open and Emily strides into the office, her eyes wide with concern. She takes in the scene before her, clearly aware that something has gone horribly wrong. Her gaze meets mine, and for a brief moment, we share an unspoken understanding of the gravity of the situation.

“Chloe,” Emily says softly, stepping forward with an imploring look on her face. “I’ve been meaning to tell you. I was just trying to find the right time.”

“Don’t,” Chloe warns, holding up a hand to stop her from approaching. “Right now, I don’t think there’s anything you can say that will make this better.”

“Please,” Emily pleads, desperation lacing her voice. “We never meant to hurt you. It wasn’t planned. It just happened, and we didn’t know how to tell you.”

“Didn’t know how to tell me?” Chloe scoffs, her eyes blazing. “Or didn’t care enough to?”

“Chloe—” Emily starts, but I can’t help cutting in.

“This isn’t on Emily,” I say firmly, unable to let her take the brunt of the blame. “It’s on me, and I’ll do whatever it takes to fix it.”

“Fix it?” Chloe repeats, her voice dripping with disbelief. “I don’t need a fix, Lucas. I need my brother and my best friend back.”

Chapter Thirteen (Emily)

I sit across from Chloe at our favorite Italian restaurant, the warm glow of the chandeliers casting a comforting light over our table. The twist in my gut makes it difficult to eat my pasta, as the thick tension from our altercation at the gym the other day overshadows the cozy ambiance. The dimly lit restaurant bustles with laughter and clinking glasses, but my thoughts are far from relaxed.

“Well, I’m glad you were willing to come out with me,” I say, attempting to break down the wall between us.

Chloe takes a deep breath. “So, I guess we should just cut to the chase, right?” she replies, reaching for her glass of rosé. “About our fight at the gym….”

I wince inwardly, knowing this conversation is inevitable. With a deep breath, I brace myself for the discussion ahead. “Yeah, I know. That was… very unexpected. I’m sorry it happened like that.”

She presses her lips together. “Emily, why didn’t you tell me about you and Lucas?” she asks, her eyes narrowed.

My stomach clenches as I recall the moment I walked into Lucas’s office and saw Chloe, the look on her face revealing all. “I know. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. It was unexpected and we didn’t want to upset you. It’s just… complicated.”

“Complicated?” She raises an eyebrow. “You’re fucking my brother, Emily. That doesn’t just make it complicated; it makes it forbidden. Isn’t that breaking girl code?”

I roll my eyes, trying to lighten the mood. “My best friend’s brother? It’s kind of a thing, isn’t it?” I shake my head when I see she’s not having it. “Look, I never expected to meet someone like Lucas. I literally fell for him before I even knew he was your brother.”

“But then you found out who he was. You should have backed off then.” She sits back in her chair with a huff. “It’s like, too close to family, you know? It’s icky.”

“Chloe, it’s not like that. You’re making it sound like incest or something.” I take a deep breath. “I hardly knew he even existed. You rarely mentioned him. Ever.”

“That doesn’t matter. Once you learned the truth, you should have known he was off-limits,” she counters, a hint of jealousy in her voice. “I thought we were supposed to be best friends. And now you’re sneaking around with my brother behind my back. It’s just not right.”

I look down at my plate, knowing she’s right in a lot of ways, and guilt washes over me.

“It just… happened. We couldn’t help how we felt about each other,” I whisper. “I never meant to upset you.”

“Whatever,” she sighs, stabbing at her food. “But you have to admit, it’s pretty messed up.”

“Is it really that bad, though?” I ask. “Now that you know. Like, maybe it will bring us all closer.”

“Maybe.” She shrugs. “But it still feels like a betrayal.”

Her words continue to sting, every one of them. “I never meant to hurt you,” I say sincerely, reaching across the table to take her hand. “You’re my best friend, and that will never change.”

“Whatever you say,” she mutters, rolling her eyes. “And with my wedding coming up, this little romance creates such a mess.”

Her mention of the wedding throws me. Is that what this is about? Her big day getting messed up.

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