Carrying His Heir: The Unwanted Wife's Escape

to a warm plate. The scent of truffle and thyme fille

antique clock on th

r hours. She pressed a hand against t

h. She moved to the long dining table, the crystal glasses and polished silver gleaming. With a steady hand,

nt door

k's autumn. A chill clings to his custom suit, acco

to take his jack

ped to avoi

ed on the white leather sofa. His movements were stiff, car

't even glance at the candlelit dining ta

f. "We are going to Mayfair Private Hospital,Seraphina Ree

r smile cracking like thi

ization washed over her,

ion.The truth landed like a blade between her ribs. "T

flinch. "That's not important right now. Seraphina's condi

ocking. She looked down at the cooling Beef Wellington-the dish she had practi

it is?" she asked, her vo

on of a second. Annoyance crossed his featur

me

t deeper th

ng grounding her. "You want my blood?" she asked, her vo

height and presence filling the space between them,

N

in the air, sh

d glacial. "Wh

"I said no. You don't get to disappear for a week, lie to me about where you're going, and th

ways thin when it came to her, was visibly fraying.

It sounded hollow, broken. "You want my hel

nger. A distasteful one. His voice dropp

years she had spent in this penthouse-invisible. The years of waiting. Of hopi

e nev

the charity gala. I want you to introduce me as your wife. Pu

oken only by a distant roll of thunder that made

ian's lips. It was a sound devoi

a is in the hospital, possibly dying, and you want to use this mome

with unshed tears, but she refused to let them fall

o years, Julian. Two years. I've been your secret. Your dirty little secret.

as ice. "Seraphina doesn't h

oice rising with a sharp edge of hysteria she rarely showed. "You said she's

arble console. She picked up a glass of ice water and drank it all

ence bro

tly gripping her wrist. His hands were as strong

er voice rising with a rare

ger. His fingers tightened, squee

crystal cup. Without thinking, she g

red like

ew out, drawing a thin red

seeping from his skin, then looked at

her wrist, causing he

low and dangerous. "Stay he