Page 114 of The Contract Marriage

–Me: I’m sorry you couldn’t make it to the appointment. This is a recording of the baby’s heartbeat. I want you to hear it. I’m sorry.

I hesitate. Somehow sorry just seems…inadequate. Sorry for what? For making him think that he’s nothing to me?

When you play chess, you do everything to protect the king. Players sacrifice their pawns, their knights, their bishops, their rooks, and even their queen, but the king always stays on the board. My game didn’t end when I lost my exes to Brielle because none of them were my king. They, ultimately, were disposable. Yes, losing them hurt. But that was all.

My revenge never stopped. I gritted my teeth and kept going. A few lost pawns here and there meant nothing. I’d already lost Mom and Pochi.

So I didn’t realize Liam was the king on the board.

My plan for our marriage was all wrong from the very beginning. I can’t believe I thought hiding my feelings and staying aloof was the way. Although we’ve shared some tender moments, they may not mean anything to him. He saw me with Tyler. He’s seen me act when I needed to convince Brielle that I was deeply in love with my fiancé. Liam might think everything I’ve said and done with him was just as fake as my time with Tyler.

But I can’t figure out how to explain all that, so I just hit send and hope that he sees that my apology is genuine.

I wait ten minutes to see if he texts me back—don’t want to check my phone while driving—but again, there’s no response. My heart sheds blood again, but I merely exhale, pretending nothing can touch me, and drive home since it’s already too late to return to the office.

Half an hour later, I drag myself inside the condo. The sound system plays soft waves that imitate Malibu so that silence doesn’t suffocate me. But it isn’t the same. The air is sterile and doesn’t have that vibrant energy that made me feel protected and cared for.

I walk to the balcony and stare out at the bluff across the bay, my grip tightening around my phone. I’ve been praying that Liam would get my last message and listen to the baby’s heartbeat and respond. Even a quick “okay” would be enough to give me an opening. But he’s as impenetrable as the security at his house.

Sighing, I drop my head and turn my back to the window. It hurts too much to look at the bluff. Being a part of his world was a one-of-a-kind gift. And I threw it away.

Chapter Forty-Seven

Liam

“Oh my God, you are so pathetic.”

I try to ignore Silas, but it isn’t easy when my chin’s resting on his kitchen counter. I’m hiding from the world—actually my wife—because if she flashes that sweet smile at me, I might not be able to stay away anymore.

“Why don’t you just talk to her?” Silas takes away my fifth vodka…

Or was it my sixth? Hard to say. “Why have you taken this afternoon off? Don’t you have another ‘miracle’ cream to market to women desperate for eternal youth or something?”

“Answer the question.”

I puff out a breath. “You don’t understand. She doesn’t love me. Never did, never will.”

“And here I thought Rhys was melodramatic. She wanted you to go to the appointment to hear the baby’s heartbeat together. That means something.”

“Yeah.” It means she wants to fuck over Hugh and his family, but also wants to maintain an image. I’m not sure what image or how it fits into her plans. But she only disclosed a small part of them to me, so what do I know?

Who tells an expendable extra everything? Bet they don’t even get the script before being told to stay in the corner and look busy for the camera.

Silas’s silent staring annoys me, though. So I blurt out, “She only wants the baby, and it’s not because she loves me or anything. She just wants her revenge.”

“Revenge against who? You?” Silas asks, aghast.

I push myself off the countertop. “No,” I say tiredly. “I never hurt her.”

“Fine. So not you.” He considers for a moment. “So what’s the problem again? You literally stood outside the examination room so you could hear the heartbeat.”

I gave my name and introduced myself as Olivia’s husband to the receptionist, the title bittersweet because I don’t know how long I’ll get to call myself that. “Sorry I’m late. Awful traffic.” I managed a smile, but it must’ve looked like shit because the receptionist gave me a sympathetic nod.

She checked her records. “I see you here. Go ahead. Just down the hall, second door on your left.”

I nodded my thanks, then moved down the hall and stood outside the door. Nobody was watching the corridor, so I was able to listen to the rapid whooshes undisturbed.

Our baby… I pressed my ear against the door so I could hear the sound more clearly. I thought it might sync with my heart or Olivia’s, but it was so fast, like the baby couldn’t wait to make its presence known. I’m here, Mommy and Daddy!