He Didn’t Know She Was The Heiress Chapter 02
Julian stared at me. He clearly hadn’t expected me to agree so quickly.
Aiden clapped. “Yes! Aunt Mia was right. Mom can’t live without us.”
“I’m calling her and Lily. They’re going to be so happy!” He ran upstairs to get his smartwatch.
Julian smiled once we were alone. “You love me that much, honey? You’re really willing to go along with this?”
I didn’t answer. I had no desire to argue with him, to spend another hour begging him to care about what he was doing to me.
I just wanted out.
What Julian didn’t know was that my parents and I were speaking again. I’d planned to take him to see them the following month.
He wasn’t the only person I could turn to.
“I don’t want this dragged out,” I said. “Let’s have the lawyers handle it.”
His smile faded. “What’s the rush? Chloe, is this your way of throwing a tantrum?”
I shook my head. “I’m respecting the decision you and Aiden made.”
For a moment, he seemed unsettled by how calmly I said it. Then he sat beside me and took my hand.
“Honey, I know I’ve hurt you. But try to understand. I’m a writer. I need something new to inspire me. There’s nothing wrong with you, but you’re so… predictable.”
He spoke more easily as he went on. “Mia’s different. She’s spontaneous. She surprises me. When we’re together, the ideas just come.”
“She’s my muse.”
A muse. What a pretty name for his mistress.
“I love how free she is, how sexy,” Julian continued. “But I need you too. You’re gentle. You take care of me. I love both of you.”
He leaned closer, and nausea rose in my throat. I pushed him away and ran to the bathroom.
As I bent over the toilet, I caught sight of the pregnancy test in the trash. I’d taken it that morning. By my count, I was about six weeks along.
I rested a hand on my stomach.
I had meant to tell him over lunch. He’d always talked about giving Aiden a little sister.
But Aiden already had one. Neither of them was waiting for the baby I carried.
Julian appeared in the doorway. “Do I disgust you that much?”
I wiped my mouth. “I think I’m coming down with something.”
He watched me, unconvinced, but before he could say anything else, the keypad beeped at the front door.
“Daddy!” Lily called. “Daddy, I’m here!”
Julian left at once. When I followed, Lily was already in his arms, hugging his neck.
She’d always adored him. She’d always called him Daddy, too. Mia would pretend to correct her, and I would tell her not to spoil the little girl’s happiness.
“She’s practically my daughter,” I’d said. “Why shouldn’t she call Julian her dad?”
I had made it so easy for them.
Mia stood a few feet away. When our eyes met, she didn’t even look embarrassed.
“Chloe, thank you for letting us be together.” She smiled. “We’re still friends, right?”
I wanted to ask how she could stand there and say that to me. Julian answered before I could.
“Of course you are. You’re Chloe’s only friend. She wouldn’t throw that away.”
Mia’s eyes filled as she came over and took my hands. “Oh, thank God. I was so afraid you’d never speak to me again.”
Her freshly manicured nails dug into my skin.
I pulled away with a gasp. Mia stumbled back and fell to the floor.
“Mommy!” Lily began to cry. “Are you okay?”
Julian bent to help Mia up, then rounded on me. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
“It’s okay.” Mia clung to his arm. “I took you from her. She has every right to be angry. If she needs to yell at me or hit me, I’ll take it. I just want her to forgive me.”
I opened my mouth to speak.
Before I could, Aiden came charging down the stairs and slammed into me.
“You’re a bad mom!” he shouted. “Don’t you touch Aunt Mia! I’ll hit you!”