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Could it be another of the woman’s manipulations?
Could it be a trap to get them to bring Mia to her?
Chapter Twenty-One
Minutes after the plane took off, Chloe got Mia to settle down on the small bed in the back of Nik’s jet. At first, the little girl refused to take a nap. Chloe reclined next to her, promising herself she’d only close her eyes for a second. She wanted Mia to be well-rested when she got her introduction to Nik’s mother. They both needed to be in top shape for that.
Chloe fell asleep.
And she relived the worst moment of her life...
Tears flowed down Chloe’s face as she ran to the main house after a startling encounter in the garden. One of Nik’s cousins had forced a kiss on her, and he had said horrible things.
As soon as she entered through the terrace doors, Nik’s mother was there. Estelle Andropolis seemed moved by her plight as she explained everything between broken sobs. The woman comforted her with a pat on the back.
Estelle had her sit next to her on the fancy couch. “Don’t be too hard on Barry, dear. He was only following orders.”
“Orders? Whose orders?”
“Mine. I told him to kiss you so I would have proof that you’re a lying, cheating gold digger.” The words were said in such a sweet, nonchalant voice that Chloe thought she must have misunderstood. Then Estelle lifted her phone to show Chloe the picture of her in another man’s arms. “Once I show this to my son, he won’t be able to get away from you fast enough.”
“But I didn’t kiss Barry. He kissed me!”
Estelle shrugged. “That’s not what it looks like here. You have your hands on his chest.”
“He grabbed me,” Chloe repeated. “He caught me off guard, and I put my hands on his chest to push him away. I slapped him. Didn’t you see that?”
“I saw everything, dear, but that isn’t the story Barry will tell Nik. It isn’t what I’ll say I saw.”
Fresh tears filled Chloe’s eyes. “Why do you want to hurt me? What did I ever do to you? Why do you want to hurt your own son? We’re in love.”
His mother made a rude noise. “Love? What is that? It’s not a tangible thing. Young people get lust confused with love all the time. Love is sticking by someone no matter what horrible things they do. It’s taking care of your partner when they are sick day after day and don’t resemble the person you married. Love is a decision. It’s an act. Not a feeling.”
“Nik and I love each other.”
“You think you do, but someday you will thank me for putting a stop to this insanity. You aren’t strong enough to be married to an Andropolis man. They are arrogant, often thoughtless, and sometimes cruel. Nik needs a woman who can stand by him no matter how difficult life gets.”
“I can do that. I can, and I will.”
Estelle pulled a check from her purse. “Here. This is your last chance to make a dime off of us. I won’t allow you to marry my son. Take your winnings and go.”
She stuffed the check into Chloe’s hands.
Chloe stared at the half a million dollar check in horror. “Nik won’t believe you. He knows I love him.”
Estelle made a face. “He also knows that people cheat. I know my son, and he will not believe anything you say after I show him this picture.”
Chloe raced from the room, determined to show Nik the truth of what his mother was trying to do to them before the woman could show him the picture on her phone.
Nik was in the hallway, and she almost ran into him.
She gasped.
He looked at the check in her hand and then at her face. The color drained from his cheeks. It was too late. He already believed the lie.
His mother stepped into the hallway and put on an Oscar-worthy performance. “Oh, honey, I am so sorry you had to find out this way. She barged in here and demanded money after I caught her kissing Barry in the garden.”
“No!” Chloe shouted. “It isn’t true! I didn’t—”
