Beautiful Disaster (The Bet) (41 page)

"‘I may not know the meaning of love, but I know the feelings I have for you are stronger than anything I have ever known. I go to bed and wake every morning with you on my mind. I can't seem to function unless I have you around me’. You said those words to me, Nicky, remember?" The tears were silent when they came. "We've been through so much together, and through each obstacle, I gritted my teeth and trudged through because I knew I had your love there to get me through it. You've been my guiding light, always there when I needed you most. Please, I'm begging you, if any part of you has ever loved me at all, Nicky, please let me help you. Let me be there for you." She invaded Nicholas's space, took his hand within her own and tenderly brought them to her lips. Kissing each knuckle, love and fear shining in her beautiful eyes.

It would've been so easy then, take the amnesty that was being offered and run with it. But Nicholas's inner demons refused him absolution. They wanted penance and demanded his and Ellie's love on a silver platter.

"Okay," he gave her a deprecating smile, crowding her suddenly, pulling her flush against his body. "I knew you've always been good for one thing." He cupped Ellie's ass and laughed when she immediately struggled out of his reach. "What's wrong, Ellie I thought you wanted to help me. My dick is in excruciating pain, I was just taking what you were offering."

"Tell…tell me that you don't love me and I'll walk out of your life for good."

And there was the grand opportunity! Nicholas could see that Ellie meant what she'd just said. This was his big chance.

"I've fallen completely and utterly out of love with you Ellie Holbrook. You mean nothing to me now…you’re just another faceless name in a sea of hundreds." Nicholas made absolutely sure that their gazes locked and in his own, there remained nothing but cool enmity. He wanted Ellie's hope shattered. Their love decimated.

His words cut marrow deep. There would be no tourniquet thick enough to staunch the flow of blood leaking from Ellie's heart. She blinked rapidly, putting a hand to her chest to stop the pain that felt like a living thing within her. "When you go through the rest of your life, Nicky, I want you to remember this moment exactly as it is now. I want you to remember the words you've just said and I want you to remember that this is the moment you've lost a lover and friend." And gained a child.

How devastating would it have been to add in those words?

Ellie brushed her tears away, closing the door behind her. Nicholas owed her nothing. Being pregnant with his child was not something Ellie would've used for vengeance or even for entrapment. He wanted to leave? Fine then, the world was his stadium, let him play his games.

Ellie wanted nothing more to do with him. From this day forward, her hands were washed clean of Nicholas Grayson.

If ever the questions of its father arose, Ellie would share with her child all that Nicholas was. A man who was as stupidly foolish as he was eternally magnificent.

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