Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 54630 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 273(@200wpm)___ 219(@250wpm)___ 182(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54630 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 273(@200wpm)___ 219(@250wpm)___ 182(@300wpm)
“You and Rathe always clash. He’ll come around in a bit,” she said soothingly.
Warren stared unseeingly at the ceiling. “Not this time.”
“He will if you give Mary a chance,” she pointed out quietly.
Her husband stiffened beside her.
His silence confused her and lifting herself up, she reached past him to switch the bedside lamp on. Light shone, illuminating Warren’s face, and the stubborn expression made her frown. “I can’t believe you really are that narrow-minded. Surely it’s not because she’s American?”
He snorted. “You know me better than that.”
“Then why?” she demanded. “She’s a decent woman—-”
“She’s just a child—-”
An incredulous gasp spilled out of Alyssa’s lips. “So it’s her age? You of all people—-”
“Exactly,” he said tightly. “I of all people know what it means when you marry someone who’s too young.” He sat up so he could look at Alyssa in the eye. “I love you. More than everything in the world. You know that. But I would not wish my son to go through the same thing we did. If there’s anything I could do to prevent it, I would.” His tone became steely with resolution. “Even if he’s going to hate me for it.”
For a moment, Alyssa gazed at her husband, remembering the first time she had seen him. Warren Wellesley had been the most handsome man in her eyes and he still was. Then, his gallant and sophisticated manners had swept her off his feet, and she remembered how she had desperately tried all sorts of things just so he would lose his ducal cool and laugh.
It was so unfair that everyone thought he had been the one to seduce her, Alyssa thought sadly. In reality, it had been the other way around, Alyssa chasing after him relentlessly until there had been nowhere for him to run, nothing for him to do but give his heart to her on a platter.
“I know it’s selfish of me to say this,” she said softly, placing a hand on her husband’s heart. “But I don’t agree with you. I know that Rathe will likely suffer twice as much hardship as we did, but Warren...the kind of love we have, don’t you think it’s special?”
“Of course I do—-”
“Then wouldn’t you think it’s going to be so wonderful if our son experienced something like it as well?”
Warren didn’t answer.
“You know I’m right,” she teased.
Her husband exhaled. “Yes. I know. I’m just not happy...knowing I may have to apologize to my son.”
She giggled.
He scowled. “It’s not a laughing matter.” Shaking his head, he muttered, “God knows how much I love that boy. He’s my own flesh and blood, blast it. But there’s just something about the way he looks at me...” Warren exhaled again. “He makes me feel I’ve failed my fami—-”
Frowning at the words, Alyssa placed a finger on his lips. “Hush. You know how I hate hearing you say that. It makes me think you regret loving me—-”
Warren frowned back. Holding her hand, he placed a kiss on her finger before pulling it away, saying flatly, “You know that’s not bloody true.”
“Then act like it, my love.” Her eyes darkened. “Because although I wish I were wrong about this, I have a feeling that everything will soon come crashing down on our son and he’ll need both of us to be strong for him.”
His gaze narrowed. “You know something, don’t you?”
Alyssa remained quiet. It wasn’t exactly something she knew. Rather, it was more of a hunch because she could only think of one suspect – one person whom she had never trusted – capable of telling their son about the pre-nup.
Unfortunately, that person was someone both her husband and Rathe trusted.
“Alyssa?”
She shook her head. “It’s just a hunch,” she said evasively. For now, she wouldn’t say a thing, but that person was a fool if he thought she would take this lying down. Rathe was her precious son. She would do everything to protect Rathe and the woman who loved him.
She only prayed she would be able to help her son in time, before his pride forced him to do anything foolish.
Chapter Five
“Cheers to Saffi!” The sound of glass tinkling against each other filled the room as everyone toasted to Saffi March-Aehrenthal’s pregnancy, an event anticipated not only by the celebrating couple but also by the millions of fans who idolized her husband, Staffan Aehrenthal, the world’s most famous rockstar and Sweden’s #1 Sex God.
It was the last night of the two other couples in Europe, with both due to fly back to the States the next day. Mary had personally arranged for tonight’s dinner, a small thing to do considering the fact that Saffi was the reason she had been able to meet Rathe.
For tonight’s celebration, she had reserved the entire penthouse floor of one of London’s tallest skyscrapers, gifting them with a magnificent view of the city.