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Rummaging in her purse, Riley hummed to herself. She pulled out something small and handed it to Alessandra. She looked at the blurry black-and-white photo in her hand. It was an unmistakable ultrasound photo.
“It’s not true!” Alessandra cried.
“Oh, dear. This is embarrassing. Did Drake not tell you? He’s known about it for a while now.” Riley tilted her head.
Tears pricked her eyes. Noah’s hands quickly wound around her waist as she swayed.
“It can’t be true. It just can’t be. Drake wouldn’t,” she whispered.
“Just know that Drake will demand a paternity test, Riley. If you are really pregnant, there’s no way that baby is his,” Noah said.
Riley snatched the photo from Alessandra’s grasp and shoved it back into her purse.
“Aren’t you even going to ask when?” She clicked her tongue in disapproval.
Alessandra squeezed her eyes tight, hoping the wave of nausea she felt would pass. Emotional overload threatened to crush her in public, and she refused to give Riley the satisfaction.
“It’s going to be all right, Alessandra.” Noah squeezed her arm to comfort her before turning to Riley. “You need to leave.”
“Ta-ta, for now.” Riley laughed.
Turning on her heels, Riley sauntered away. It was all Alessandra could do to keep it together.
“It will be alright, hun,” Noah consoled her. “Let’s take a breather.”
Noah took Alessandra’s hand, and they headed toward Grant Park. They walked around for a while before settling on a bench overlooking Buckingham Fountain. They sat waiting to view the water show. Alessandra sighed, and Noah wrapped his arm around her shoulder.
“Are you okay?” he asked, breaking the silence.
She quickly wiped the tears from her eyes and rested her head on his shoulder.
“Drake and I never talked about having kids. I don’t even know if he wants them. We’re just starting to get along, so I thought maybe someday. But now he’s having a baby withher!”
Noah sighed and rubbed his hand down Alessandra’s back to comfort her.
“Riley and Drake were never going to work out in the long run. For what it’s worth, I’m glad that he has you. I’m glad to have you too,” Noah reassured her.
“How long have you known Drake?” Alessandra asked.
“I’ve known him my whole life. Our families are close. I went to school with Beth. Drake’s the one who helped me get the job as Jerry’s clerk.” Noah lifted Alessandra’s chin with his knuckles. “That’s how I knew Riley wasn’t right for him. They dated in high school, and she played him for a fool. I warned him proposing was a mistake, but he thought he could handle it. Things changed immediately.”
“What do you mean things changed? Drake told me Riley was never submissive to him. Why did he propose if she wasn’t what he wanted?”
“Growing up, Riley was part of the same elite social circle. People tend to put their wants and needs aside when money and expectations are on the line.
“Drake had one serious girlfriend back in college. He really loved her and wanted to propose. She swore she would wait for him to finish law school, but there was pressure and disapproval from his family. It was hard on their relationship. One day she disappeared. Drake held up hope for a year before his heart hardened.
“He remained single for a long time. Even at the club, he would play for a night and not pursue anything long enough to even learn the name of his playmates.
“Last year, he went to a gala and reconnected with Riley. Less than two months later, they were engaged. He looked like he’d received a prison sentence, not found true love. Riley received a job offer at a European gallery. She couldn’t wait to start her new job and left immediately.
“Drake let her move her belongings into his apartment so they wouldn’t end up in storage. He financed her trip, paid the rent on her Paris flat, and she demanded more.”
Alessandra couldn’t believe what she was hearing. How did a dominant man like Drake allow a woman to run roughshod over him? It didn’t make sense.
“How did Drake handle all that? He doesn’t seem to be the kind of man who would allow a woman to push him around.”
“Drake closed himself off and became miserable. He gave Riley the benefit of the doubt and wanted to make it work. With his career on the line, everything came down to image.
