The Breaking Season Read online K.A. Linde

Categories Genre: Alpha Male, Angst, Billionaire, Contemporary, Romance Tags Authors:
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Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 96513 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 483(@200wpm)___ 386(@250wpm)___ 322(@300wpm)
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Lark listened intently. I kept waiting for her to make a judgment. For her to jump to the same conclusion as I had. But she said nothing. Just let me speak.

I took a deep breath. “She thought that was why I was there. Because a large percentage of women who had to be hospitalized for anorexia… can’t have children.”

“How heartbreaking,” Lark whispered.

She didn’t ask the question, but I saw it in her eyes.

“And I don’t know if I can,” I said softly.

She put her hand on mine. “Are you trying to have a baby?”

“No,” I said automatically. Then I ran a hand down my face, completely devoid of makeup. Not an ounce of armor up against the questions I had to answer to my best friend. “But… maybe.”

“Well, I don’t know if you’re infertile, but I think maybe you should talk to Camden about this.”

“No!” I shook my head. “No way. I am not talking to Camden about this.”

She sighed in exasperation. “Why not? If you’re trying to have a kid, shouldn’t he know about potential setbacks? You could go to the doctor together. You don’t even know if it’s the case. You’re just worst-case-scenario-ing the situation. And even if you are, if this is what you want, there are treatments you could try before giving up.”

“I can’t tell him.”

“Katherine…”

“It was part of the contract,” I rushed out.

“Oh.”

“Yeah. I… I got his money. He got me… and a baby. He wanted to start trying a while ago, and I kept putting it off. We were still arguing. I wasn’t ready. And now—” I choked back a sob. “Now, what if I can’t have one? Does that null the contract? Would he do that?”

Lark pulled me against her, wrapping her arms around my shoulders. “I don’t know what he would do, but I do know that it’s going to be okay. No matter what happens, it is going to be okay. You have me. You have crew. You do not have to go through any of this alone, Katherine.”

Another tear fell down my cheek as I sat with my best friend. “Thank you.”

“Of course. I’m always here for you. If you don’t want to tell Camden, I can go to the doctor with you. There are fertility tests. I’m sure we can figure something out.”

“I don’t… I don’t trust any doctors. Not enough for it to not get back to him.”

Lark sighed. “Seriously?”

I bit my lip. “Think about what he’s capable of, Lark. He had Thomas’s gambling ring raided. He set the whole thing up. He got English’s old boss arrested by releasing footage from within the hotel in LA. He’s ruthless.”

“He did all of that to protect the people he cares about though.”

“Maybe.” I shrugged. “But do you think that he wouldn’t find out I went to the doctor? That he wouldn’t find out what I went for? Even with all the legal restrictions?”

Lark rubbed my shoulder and then slowly shook her head. “I think Camden gets whatever he wants.”

“Yes.”

“Okay.” Lark tapped her lip twice. “What about Whitley?”

“She’s a plastic surgeon.”

“Exactly. He’d never give a second look to you going to see her. But she went to medical school. She’s brilliant. I’m sure she can get tests ordered for you. You can trust her.”

My heart leaped at the thought. I had never considered that. Camden would never suspect a thing if I went to see Whitley. She was my friend. Plus, I’d had enough work done that going to see a plastic surgeon was more run-of-the-mill than a fertility doctor.

“Okay,” I finally said, “I’ll talk to her.”

“Good. Do you want me to call to get you in?”

I nodded.

She stood and reached for her phone.

“Hey, Lark. Thanks for being here.”

“How many times have you been there for me?” Lark said with a smile. “I’ll always be there for you, too.”

I might not have a real family anymore. But I’d found family regardless.

22

Katherine

Whitley didn’t have an open appointment until the next day at four thirty. It was technically a twenty-minute consultation, but Whit had just told Lark to book it. She didn’t even seem surprised. Apparently, she had been waiting for me to move over to her practice.

Of course, Lark hadn’t told her why I was really going in. I was the one who was going to have to deliver that shock. My stomach was in knots about it. Even though it was the right thing to do. It was the only actionable thing we’d come up with anyway.

I was wearing my armor for this meeting. After a professional blowout and a full face of makeup, I’d changed into a cowl-neck cashmere sweater over black leggings and thigh-high black boots. I’d paired it with a gray peacoat with gold buttons and a snakeskin bag. If I was going to confess my sins, I wanted to look the part.


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