EX-WIFE TO THE BILLIONAIRE, MOTHER TO HIS TWINS HEIR

A

ssed into the soft rug. The pregnancy test felt hot against my palm, its plastic edges sh

ce cut through the soft jazz music coming from the other room. It was Derek,

oice belonged to Jake, Marcus's best friend since they were kids. The same

sharp in my chest. Marcus opened his mouth, and for one crazy mo

tch I'd bought him for our anniversary

y celebrating tonight," someone else laughed. "Poor t

ifferent now-lighter, almost excited. "One year in Milan wa

eir mixed family when I was five. She took everything I'd eve

ife?" Derek asked with fake w

rity work, keeps me looking good to the public, and never asks hard questions.

most sweet how innocent she is. Like training a dog-a fe

inst my still-flat belly, protecting the life growing t

love her," another voice

ice clinking in his glass. "Ava's been starving for love since he

could stop it, echoin

was

unding against my ribs as expensive shoes clicked across the hard flo

't connected to my body as I dropped the watch and test into my

gh it one last time. Wedding photos smiled mockingly from every surface-my happy

elow like scattered diamonds. The wind whipped my hair across my tear-

r in my belly

sky, my hand protective over my womb

stairs, out o

my home. The concrete felt cold under my bar

at the black water that promised to swallow all my pain. The streetlight

ered to the wind. "My poor, poor

ding I could fix what was a

hs as I sat on the edge of forever, my whole body shaking-not from the cold,

ers wrapping around my wrist like

was rough, desper

y from the edge, away from the choice I couldn't take back. I fell against a soli

anymore," I choked out betwe

holding me steady as the world spun.

think, I tried to turn around. To see the face of whoever had just saved my life.

ice cracked.

rtbeat, I thought I caught a glimpse of his face-strong ja

called softly. "M

ne. Like he'd neve

mach where tiny feet had started kicking-frantic, insistent,

promise I wasn't allowed to break. Dominic had pulled me back from the edge, but it was this

single moment. Others leave you wit

he had given me

r, Marcus was waiting, his face carefully

stood up from the chair, still wearing hi

e him privacy for his "boys' night

anaged, my voice s

d. "Sophia called. She wants to have lunch tomorrow-just you two.

rack in the act. Finding none was someh

she is," I

rs. I didn't pull away-couldn't afford to, not

younger, but people change, Ava. S

rd tasted bitt

ng his eyes with new u

e, maybe, at my sudden agreement. But it wa

inst his chest, planning. My children deserved better tha

e it to them, even if it meant teari