His Marriage Trap (18 page)

Her father had not been happy about the relationship and still wasn’t. He had refused to go to the wedding and despised Connor with a passion though Lilly had no idea why.

Connor was even more handsome now than the day she had met him and he had been stunning even then. With his dark hair that ran wild and though he cut it often it always seemed to curl at his nape and was always tousled. His cool grey eyes were always changing. One moment they were sparkling with humour, or stormy when they rowed, or cool like ice when he was mad at something or heated when they were in the throes of passion. He was clean-shaven and had a body any man would envy. Not too muscly but with just the right sized six pack he looked incredible. He had a light scattering of dark hairs across his chest and a goodie trail that she loved to follow. He was perfect in every way to her and she loved this man with all her heart.

Which was why the events of that day were so heart-breaking!

Midmorning Connor had told her he had to go to work for a few hours and she pouted at him wishing he could spend the day with her but knowing that he had commitments.

At a loss as to what to do with the rest of her day Lilly had jumped at the chance of visiting her father when he had called asking to see her.

If she’d known then what she knew now she would never have gone, Lilly acknowledged bleakly as she continued to stare at the silent, blank monitor as her hand pressed lightly over her flat stomach.

She had visited her father, had even been excited to see him. He didn’t seem too excited to see her though and the only birthday gift he gave her was pain and heartbreak.

He hadn’t even tried acting like a good father. Instead he had begun doling out accusations almost immediately.

He claimed that Connor had only married her to expand his hotel business. He had provided all sorts of documentation showing that Connor had known who she was all along and had purposefully set out to catch her. There was even a background check that he had done on her. There were also documents that proved he had only married her to distract her father and take over his business. But worst of all were the photos her father provided of him in another woman’s arms and dated after they were married.

She had stared at the photos and documents stunned that the sweet, caring man she knew and loved could be such a callous beast.

“He’s with her right now. Call him if you don’t believe me,” was her father’s parting shot as Lilly had run from the house like the hounds of hell were nipping at her heels.

“It couldn’t be possible!

And yet as she tried his phone it went repeatedly to voicemail and when she finally relented and rang his office they informed her that they hadn’t seen him.

Reality finally descended and with it her heart broke and suddenly there was so much pain. And not all of it from her broken heart, she realised as she doubled over in complete agony and slowly collapsed to the cold cement pavement. She was dimly aware that she was bleeding and that someone dropped beside her and tried to assure her that everything would be alright but she couldn’t believe that and it was almost a blessing when everything went black and she slipped in to blissful oblivion.

She had awoken here in this hospital room, hooked up to the damn machine with doctors confirming what she had already known. That her baby was dead!

It just didn’t seem possible that this morning she had been twenty-one and happy. She had been looking forward to the future with her loving husband and adorable baby. Only now that dream had crumbled and she realised she had no loving husband just a cheating louse and the only being who had ever truly loved her was dead before it had even been given the chance to live.

She was completely alone!

Lilly must have slept for she awoke to find Connor beside her his expression grim as he reached for her hand only to have his eyes widen when she snatched it firmly away.

“Are you alright?” he asked in concern knowing that there was no possible way that she could be.

“I’m fine,” she said tightly and he frowned.

“Lilly…” that was as far as he got before she interrupted him hate spearing from her eyes and making him feel unwelcome in her presence.

“I’m fine Connor. I just want you to leave,”

“Lilly, I know you’re hurting and you need time but…”

“Then just go. Leave me to grieve my baby in peace,” she flung at him and Connor hesitated as he got to his feet. He didn’t want to leave his wife alone to deal with this but he didn’t want to upset her any more than she already was. There was something more going on her than he understood but he wanted to make things as easy as possible for her. So, with a sigh he stroked her hair lightly, hurt stabbing him when she turned deliberately away from him.

“ I love you,” were his final words as he strode away leaving her to stare blankly in to space as she made plans to leave him and start a new life without him.