Total pages in book: 247
Estimated words: 234281 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1171(@200wpm)___ 937(@250wpm)___ 781(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 234281 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1171(@200wpm)___ 937(@250wpm)___ 781(@300wpm)
OUTSIDE THE RESTAURANT, a cab was stationed across the road. The woman seated at the backseat wore a large pair of sunglasses, which effectively concealed her tear-stained gaze as she stared at the couple seated at the back of the restaurant.
A part of her had foolishly hoped that even after all the clues, she would still end up being wrong. But that part of her had died little by little, starting from the moment she had seen Damen walk inside the restaurant and straight to where a beautiful Alina waited for him at one of the tables.
When Damen stood up and acted as if he was about to reach for Alina, Mairi’s head whipped away. She didn’t think she could survive it if she saw Damen touching another woman. Meeting Drake’s gaze through the rearview mirror, she whispered, “I’ve seen enough.”
Instead of telling the cab driver to resume driving, Drake turned his head to study the couple inside the restaurant. Something didn’t add up here. If he had to bet his life on it, he would have bet that Damen Leventis was in love with Mairi and would rather kill himself than hurt his wife again.
But if that was the case, why all the secrecy? And why meet Alina Kokinos?
“I’ve sworn to myself never to interfere between the two of you, Mairi, but don’t you think you should ask Leventis about this first?”
Ask Damen?
Oh, how she had always risked asking Damen Leventis, had always been foolish enough to give him the benefit of the doubt.
She remembered the first time she had learned about Alina Kokinos’ presence in his life. The memory burned vividly in her mind, pain shredding her heart as she remembered Damen capturing her wrist when she attempted to touch his face. She had asked him what was wrong. She had asked because even though she had a sick feeling in her stomach that something was wrong, she had goddamn asked him because she wanted him to prove her wrong.
Damen? What’s wrong?
What exactly do you think we are now, Mairi?
Are you worried about the labels? We don’t have to be girlfriend or boyfriend. We can just be...an item.
An item...that will eventually lead to marriage?
Eventually, yes.
But how can that be when I am still engaged to the Kokinos heiress?
Mairi squeezed her eyes shut, but more unwanted memories flooded her mind. She remembered, God how she remembered, the pain still raw, the time she had goddamn asked Damen when he wanted to throw her out of his house.
I won’t believe you until I hear it from—-
Get out of this house. Is that clear enough for you?
What?
Get out of my fucking house, you gold-digging bitch!
Damen, what are you—-
What I am is a fucking fool to think you loved me.
Mairi covered her face with her hands, needing the world to be dark so that no one would see her as she made the choice to be weak.
She had asked Damen.
So many goddamn times.
But this time, she couldn’t afford to ask him, knowing if she did, she might not be strong enough to stay strong for her baby.
Chapter 18
She said: To wed a Greek billionaire, one should be ready to live a life filled with poignant tenderness.
He said: Are you referring to the poignantly tender way I fucked you, matakia mou?
“WAKE UP, SWEETHEART. It’s time.” Damen’s low husky voice drew Mairi out of her slumber the next day, and she found a bare-chested Damen lying on his side, looking down at her with a seductively attractive smile playing on his lips. Add to that his sleep-mussed hair, and he looked so sexy and beautiful it literally made her heart twinge.
Damen bent close to cover her lips with his. “Good morning.” He inched down to place a kiss on Mairi’s silk-covered stomach. “And good morning to you, too, little one.”
The tender gesture brought a lump to her throat, and Mairi had to swallow several times before she could be sure her voice wouldn’t shake when she spoke. “Good morning.”
“You slept early last night...” Damen inched back up, and cupping Mairi’s chin to make her face him, he took careful note of her face, searching for any sign of illness or strain.
“I’m fine. I was just...tired. It’s the pregnancy, no doubt.”
“You slept the whole day yesterday?”
She lied, “Yes.”
Damen’s jaw clenched. “I see.” He knew for a fact that she had not. He had asked the guard deployed at his home and learned that Mairi had left with Morrison just before lunch. He wanted to demand where they had gone, but it was fear and not pride that held him back. He didn’t want to ever hear Mairi say she was happier with another man.
She strove for a casual tone when she asked, “How was your day yesterday? I called your office and you weren’t there.”
“I told you about the meeting, remember?”