The Billionaire's Ruthless Contract Bride

The door slammed so hard the windows shook. He was already inside before I could hide the shaking in my hands.

"You had no right! " I shouted, my voice echoing off the marble walls.

His eyes were dark storms. "You lied to me! "

The air between us vibrated. He still held the ultrasound folder like a weapon. My heart beat fast, a trapped bird in my chest.

"I didn't lie," I whispered.

"You hid the truth." He threw the folder onto the table. "You knew exactly what this would do to me."

"I was scared."

"Scared of what? " His voice rose. "Of me? Or of losing control over me? "

"That's not fair! "

He stepped closer, looming over me. "Nothing about this is fair. You're carrying my children and you let my enemies know before you told me."

"I didn't tell them! "

"Then how do they have this? "

"I don't know! " My voice cracked. "Maybe because you spy on me all the time, someone else decided to do the same! "

His face tightened. "Don't twist this back on me."

"I'm not twisting anything. I'm drowning." Tears burned my eyes. "I'm drowning and you keep pushing me under."

He flinched at the word drowning, but the anger came back just as quickly. "You trapped me, Aria."

I stared at him, stunned. "You think I trapped you? "

"That's what this looks like."

Something broke inside me. "I never wanted to trap you. I wanted to save myself from you."

Silence dropped like a blade between us. He rubbed his face with both hands, as if trying to forget what he'd just said. "I didn't mean"

"Yes, you did." My voice was flat now. "And I heard you."

I turned, walking toward the bedroom. "I'm done."

"Where are you going? " His tone shifted fear under the steel.

"Away."

"You're not leaving."

"I am." I pulled a bag from the closet.

He moved to block the opening. "We're not finished."

"I am finished."

"Don't do this," he said softly. "Don't run."

"I'm not running. I'm walking out before you ruin what's left of me."

"I can protect you."

"You can't even protect yourself," I snapped. "You're too busy fighting everyone."

His hands dropped to his sides. "And what about them? " He glanced at my stomach. "You'll walk out with them too? "

"I'll protect them myself if I have to."

"You can't."

"Watch me."

He reached out, then stopped short, fingers curled in midair. "I never wanted it like this," he whispered.

"Neither did I."

I shoved clothes into the bag. My hands were shaking so badly I dropped a dress. He picked it up and set it on the bed. For a second our fingers brushed and a jolt of warmth cut through the cold war between us.

"We were supposed to be stronger than this," he said.

"We're poison for each other," I said quietly.

He caught my wrist gently. "Look at me."

I forced myself to. His eyes were no longer storms but open wounds. "Tell me you still don't want me," he said.

I couldn't. My throat closed.

"Tell me," he whispered.

"I can't," I said. "But wanting you doesn't make this safe."

He breathed like he'd been punched. "You think Calder will keep you safe? "

"I don't think anyone will."

Something flashed in his gazereal fear. "They're coming after you because of me," he said. "Stay, and I'll stop them."

"You can't stop them all," I said.

He dropped my wrist. "Maybe not. But I can stop you from going into their trap."

"I'm already in a trap," I said, zipping the bag. "Yours."

He stepped back as if the words burned. "If you walk out now, you're on your own."

"I already am."

I lifted the bag, but the room tilted. A rush of dizziness swept over me.

"Aria? " His voice was suddenly soft. "What's wrong? "

"I'm fine."

"You're not fine." He took a step toward me.

"I just need air."

"You're pale," he said.

"I said I'm" The world blurred. My knees buckled.

He lunged, catching me before I hit the floor. "Aria! "

My head fell against his chest, the smell of him mixing with fear.

"Stay with me," he said, voice breaking. "Open your eyes."

I tried but darkness lapped at the edges. "I'm okay," I whispered.

"You're not okay." He lifted me, holding me in his arms. "Hold on. Don't leave me like this."

Somewhere away a phone buzzed. A voice on speakerCassandra's voicepurred through the penthouse: Tick-tock, Julian. Choices have consequences.

His grip tightened around me. "What did you do? " he demanded on the phone.

The line went dead.

He looked down at me, face pale with rage and fear. "Stay awake. Please."

My lips moved but no sound came.

"Whoever's doing this will pay," he whispered furiously. "I swear it."

I reached for his shirt weakly. "Don't"

"Don't what? "

"Don't become what they say you are," I whispered, then everything went black.

He shook me gently. "Aria? Aria! "

No answer. Only the quiet beep of a text arriving on his phone. He looked at it and his blood ran cold: We warned you. The clock has started.

He lifted his head, eyes burning. "What clock? " he whispered.