Total pages in book: 32
Estimated words: 29807 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 149(@200wpm)___ 119(@250wpm)___ 99(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 29807 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 149(@200wpm)___ 119(@250wpm)___ 99(@300wpm)
But when I got home, we could never find her. And for nearly three years, it was like she’d never existed.
Gran’s estate looms ahead. I hear a small swift inward gasp of breath as Darby takes in the large iron gates. I have three options: My penthouse, my sister's place, or the estate. The estate will be the least welcoming. Gran didn’t like Darby before and she’s not going to suddenly develop warm feelings when she learns that my former fiancée has kept my son a secret for two years. But Gran will not let Jax go, and until I’m sure that Darby doesn’t plan on running away again, the estate is my only choice.
Chapter 10
Darby
I don’t want to be here, my mind screams as we pull up the long driveway toward the giant mansion ahead. I thought the Wards’ house was extravagant but this is a whole other level. Still my body tenses. The need to escape claws at me. Maybe I did run from here. If this is the place he calls home and my first instinct after seeing it is to get out then it’s possible that’s what I did in the past.
I put my hand on Jax’s belly, reminding myself why I’m here. He sleeps soundly, not having a care in the world. That’s all that really matters. It looks as though Jonas doesn't know what happened to me either. I didn't think I’d be the type of person to take a child away from their father, but he is making it seem as though that’s exactly what I did.
As much as I don’t want to believe it, I have to consider it a possibility. None of it makes sense to me, and my mind is still racing with the question as to why I would've done such a thing. What pushed me to leave? Yet, even with all of those questions unanswered, I know one thing for certain: that I will not let anyone take my son from me.
“We’ll be staying here.” I nod my head in agreement because he’s not asking a question. I’d stay in hell if it meant being near Jax. I reach for Jonas’ wrist, lifting his hand off my thigh. If he thinks I’m lying, then he should keep his hands to himself.
“I’m not going to run. I’ll never leave Jax.”
“But you do like to run?” he throws back, making me dislike him even more. I push away the attraction I first had to him. The car rolls to a stop in front of the monstrosity that he calls a home. One that reminds me of just how much power the Willitses have. That thought leaves me unsettled, making it clear to me that I have no other choice but to play nice for now. To go along with what Jonas wants. But it doesn’t mean that I have to like it.
I’ll ignore him. He can keep poking at me all he wants. It doesn't matter what he says to me, as long as my son remains mine. There’s no use going back and forth on the amnesia thing. It’s obvious he doesn’t believe me, so why waste my breath? It’s better for me to stay quiet. Soon he’ll grow bored and be on to the next thing, I’m sure. He didn’t look so torn up when he was on that yacht a few weeks ago, I remind myself. I’m reaching for anything at this point to kick any of that attraction I felt for him away.
The car goes silent as he waits for me to answer. I can feel his eyes on me but I refuse to look his way. I am tired and he is playing with my head. How can he be so mean yet hold me as though he’s missed me on the plane ride here? I don’t understand him. I swallow when a lump forms in my throat. I will not cry. I’ve been so strong since I woke up in that bed alone and found out I was pregnant. I had to be. I won't crumble now. This man will not break me. Unless he already did and that’s how I got into this situation to begin with.
He mumbles something under his breath that I don’t catch as he opens his car door. He steps out, allowing me to get a glimpse of the morning sun coming up. I don’t know how long I slept on the plane, but I still feel tired. He shuts the door before I can try and follow him out. He walks around to the other side to open the door to get Jax.
I hit the seat belt button to free the car seat as Jonas pulls it from the car easily with one hand. He holds his other hand out to me, offering to help me out, but I ignore it. Instead, I grab the door myself, stepping out without his assistance. I practically raised a baby by myself, I can manage getting out of a car alone.