He Didn’t Know She Was The Heiress Chapter 04
I was in a procedure room at Riverside General’s women’s health clinic when Julian texted again.
“Where are you?”
The cleaners must have told him I’d left. When I didn’t answer, another message appeared.
“Get home now. Mia’s so worried about you she can’t enjoy herself.”
I’d walked out of our home, and all he cared about was whether it spoiled her good time.
How had I spent ten years loving this man?
“We’re going to give you something to help you relax,” the doctor said.
I put my phone down and nodded.
When I woke, my parents were beside me. I hadn’t seen them in years. There was more gray in Dad’s hair, more lines around Mom’s eyes.
I tried to speak, but the tears came first.
Mom cupped my cheek. “Sweetheart, we’re taking you home.”
I leaned into her palm. “Okay, Mom. Let’s go home.”
Dad had the bodyguard carry me to the car. As soon as I settled into the back seat, my phone vibrated with a FaceTime call from Julian.
Beneath it were the calls and messages I’d missed.
I declined the call and blocked his number. For the first time that day, the phone was quiet.
Then Julian’s car pulled up outside the hospital.
He braked hard and jumped out. My stomach tightened. For a moment, I thought he’d come looking for me.
Instead, he opened the back door, lifted Aiden out and ran toward the ER.
They passed close enough for me to see my son’s swollen face. I knew that reaction. They’d given him the peanut butter milkshake after all.
My hand went to the door handle before I could stop it.
Then I let go.
His father was already carrying him into the hospital. Aiden had chosen who he wanted beside him. I had made a choice too.
Earlier that day, he’d hit me for trying to defend myself. Something between us had broken, and I couldn’t pretend it hadn’t.
Mom put an arm around me. “Do you want to stay?”
I shook my head. “No. Let’s go.”
The car pulled away. Julian and Aiden were already inside, beyond the glass doors.
I closed my eyes. “Goodbye, Aiden.”
…
Just inside the hospital entrance, Julian felt a sudden ache in his chest. He glanced back, but the car at the curb was already pulling into traffic.
Mia hurried after him, tears running down her face. “Honey, what is it?”
He shook his head and rushed on, holding Aiden against his chest.
“Please, help my son! He can’t breathe!”
A doctor took one look at the boy’s swollen face. “Severe allergic reaction. We need epinephrine.”
The staff took Aiden from him and hurried into a treatment room.
Julian stood where they’d left him.
An allergy. Chloe had told them, right there at the table, and they had laughed at her.
Aiden had taken only a few sips before he began gasping for air. His skin had flushed red, his face swelling as Julian watched. Now his son was behind a closed door, and no one would tell him whether the boy would be all right.
“She wasn’t lying,” he whispered.
Mia came to his side. “I’m so sorry, Julian. I shouldn’t have given in when he asked for the milkshake. This is my fault.”
“But Aiden’s had peanuts before,” Lily said.
Julian turned to her. “When?”
“At my birthday party. He sneaked a bite of my peanut butter brownie. Aunt Chloe used his EpiPen and took him to the ER. He was okay after that.”
“I remember,” Mia said slowly. “I got there late. Aiden told me how good the brownie was. I thought he’d grown out of the allergy. I didn’t know Chloe had needed to use his EpiPen.”
Julian’s guilt gave way to anger.
“Then why didn’t Chloe tell me to bring it?” He pulled out his phone. “She knew this could happen. She wanted him to get sick so she could punish me.”
“She wouldn’t do that,” Mia said. “She loves Aiden. Maybe she was just so upset she forgot to mention it.”
“Stop defending her. She’s angry at us, so she deliberately kept quiet.”
He tried to FaceTime Chloe. The call wouldn’t connect.
Mia watched his expression change. “What’s wrong?”
He tried a regular call, then another. Both went straight to voicemail.
“Give me your phone.”
Mia tightened her grip on it. “Why?”
“I think she blocked me.”
“She wouldn’t.” Mia hesitated, then dialed Chloe’s number.
…
We were on the highway to Chicago when Mia called. I reached to decline, but my thumb caught the answer button.
“Chloe, thank God.” Her voice was syrupy with concern. “Where are you? Can you come to Riverside General? Something’s happened to Aiden.”
“Why would I come?” I asked. “He wanted you as his mother. I wouldn’t want to get in the way.”
“Chloe, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have taken Julian and Aiden from you. But he needs you. Come back, and you can have them both. Please?”
She started to cry. “Don’t punish Aiden because of me. I could never forgive myself.”
Before I could answer, Julian shouted over her.
“Chloe, how long are you going to keep this up? Get back here, or you can get out of my house for good!”