Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 129687 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 648(@200wpm)___ 519(@250wpm)___ 432(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129687 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 648(@200wpm)___ 519(@250wpm)___ 432(@300wpm)
Slowly, reluctantly, Willem forced his fingers to loosen, and pain ravaged his chest at the way Serenity so quickly yanked her hand out of his touch.
Once...once she had trusted him to guide her every step of the way.
But that was then, he thought dully, and it was his fault she no longer looked at him with stars in her eyes.
“I don’t ever want to talk about the past.”
Slowly, he nodded.
She swallowed hard. “And now – I want to know why you’re here.”
He said quietly, “Because I’ve realized, perhaps too late, that I have loved you from the very beginning.”
SERENITY LAY AWAKE on her bed for hours.
No matter what she did, she could not forget what had happened, could not stop the same scene replaying over and over in her mind.
“You love me.” Her voice trembled.
The billionaire’s gaze didn’t waver from her face. “Yes. I love you.”
“From the very beginning.” Her voice caught.
“From the very beginning.” His tone was even, his face serious, and it had made her want to cry. It had made her want to laugh and scream. Oh God, it made her wish she were insane. Because then – maybe then it would hurt less.
“Do you know what you’re saying?” she demanded shakily. “After what you’ve done to me, after what you’ve made me do – you have the gall to come here and tell me you’ve loved me from the very beginning?”
“Yes.” His tone was unequivocal despite of the way he had grown white at her words.
“And you expect me to believe you, just like that?”
“I’m willing to do whatever it takes to prove it.”
She shook her head. “There’s no need because I can tell you right now. I will never believe you.” She stood up, and so did he. “Thank you for your time, Mr. de Konigh, but I hope this is the last time we see each other again.”
A look of devastation flickered in his face before disappearing, so quickly that she told herself she had imagined it. And she had, she had, Serenity told herself.
“I DON’T LOVE HIM,” she whispered, but even to herself the words sounded like the lie that it was. Her throat tightened, and she could barely choke the words past her tears. “I don’t love him. I don’t. I don’t.”
But still, it sounded like a lie.
She remembered the times that were oh so good between them. The time he had given Serenity her first pair of custom-designed shoes, the time he had taken her in his arms.
But right next to those memories were those that hurt, that might always hurt like wounds that had no way of healing. She remembered the way his lips had felt so cold under hers the first time she had kissed him. She remembered the way she had begged him, remembered the way her injured muscles strained to support her as she tried to run after him.
Slowly, the tears fell.
And the moment she started to cry, she could no longer stop.
He loved her, the billionaire said.
But no matter what he said, she knew it could not be true.
True love did not betray. True love did not lie. True love did not hurt.
And in her innocence and inexperience, Serenity believed this to be true. She believed it so much that soon her tears turned her emotions into a feverish desire for revenge. She would make the billionaire pay. She would make him take a dose of his own medicine.
She would make him fall for her and then humiliate him the way he had humiliated her.
Chapter Five
“HEY THERE,” WILLOW Somerset-Manolis greeted sleepily when she saw her friend hovering awkwardly by the doorway. She was a violet-eyed brunette, petite and curvy, and – due to the doctor’s strict orders – was on enforced bed rest.
“Hello.” Serenity’s voice was grave, and she didn’t move from her position as she continued in the same tone, “I only wanted you to know I’ve arrived.”
Willow rolled her eyes. “Stop being so formal and come in here.” She pushed herself up to a sitting position and, while waiting for Serenity to reach her, she took quick but careful note of the girl’s face. What she saw didn’t please her at all.
Serenity sat gingerly at the foot of the bed, fearful of making any movement that might cause the pregnant woman pain. When their gazes met, she blurted out, “You seem to get bigger every time we meet.”
Willow grimaced. “Why do you have to be tactless just with me?”
Serenity flushed. “I’m sorry. It’s just that...” She shook her head. “But you really are huge.”
Willow couldn’t help chuckling at Serenity’s worried tone. “Relax. How many times do I have to tell you? This is perfectly normal for someone who’s carrying twins, and then there’s the fact that Stavros isn’t exactly petite.”
Serenity wrinkled her nose at the mention of the Greek billionaire’s name. “I still think he’s made you pregnant too early, and it’s just his way of chaining you to him so that when you’ve regained your senses and realize he doesn’t deserve you, it will be too late, and you won’t be able to leave him.” Even now, Serenity couldn’t quite make herself forget completely all the things her friend had suffered in the name of love. In her opinion, Stavros Manolis would never deserve her friend, and it was something she had not attempted to hide from the billionaire.