Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
CALLUM/CASH
Now
Titanium Kings & Fortunes Favor
They say it’s never over until it’s over.
The waiting room seems to freeze with the question I just blurted out. Jaxon doesn’t respond.
I try again. “Come on, Jaxon. Just tell me how long it’s been.”
His gaze meets mine. “How long what’s been?”
“How long have you been with her?” My chest tightens as I wait for the answer I already know will destroy me. “Two years? Maybe more?”
He’s quiet for a long moment, likely weighing whether to lie or give me the truth. His expression cracks, and I know he’s decided on honesty. Probably because there’s no point in lying anymore.
“Over two years. We got close once she joined my mentorship program, The Vault.”
The blood in my veins drains even though I expected him to say that. I turn away and peer out the window to give myself a moment to take in the gravity of his words.
Over two years. While I was getting sober and rebuilding my life. All the time I was dreaming about getting her back, she was already his.
I face Jaxon. “So, the whole time she was in Paris?”
He waits a beat, then holds his head high. “We got together about six months after she moved there. We’ve been in a committed relationship ever since.”
He doesn’t glance away or apologize. He just states it like a fact that can’t be changed. And it can’t.
My laugh comes out bitter and hollow. “You know what’s really fucked up about this?”
“I can only imagine, but what’s fucked up for you now that you know?”
“I wanna hate you right now, but I can’t find it in me.”
“Understood.”
“You helped me. You backed my label and gave me the tools to become the man who could be worthy of her again.” I rake my teeth over my bottom lip, the irony so sharp it cuts.
“Cash—”
“The whole time, she was the reason I needed to become that man in the first place, and you had her. Why? Why help me when you knew she was the woman I was rebuilding my life for?”
Jaxon’s expression doesn’t change, but something shifts in his eyes. “Cash, I didn’t know about your history with her. Not until I was in Malaysia. And it wasn’t confirmed until I saw you together in the hallway outside her office.”
“But you knew her. You knew Livianna Hemings, the designer you were mentoring.” I huff out my disbelief. “How did you not put it together?”
“She never talked about you. She never mentioned an ex-boyfriend named Cash, or Callum, or anything.” He runs his hand through his hair, messing it up further. “And I never asked. I knew she had a past that hurt her, but I didn’t push for details.”
“Convenient.”
“It wasn’t convenient. It was out of respect for her privacy.” His tone sharpens. “Something you might understand if you weren’t so busy chasing her when she clearly wanted space.”
The accusation lands hard, but I don’t back down. “She had my phone, and I had hers. I was following her to exchange them, but when she was driving erratically, I started worrying about her more than before.”
“Why would you be worried about her? Did something happen?”
“She had a panic attack this morning, and I wanted to make sure she was okay.”
“She had a panic attack?” His entire demeanor shrinks, distress overtaking everything else.
“Yeah. She passed out on her floor. I had to rush over there to help her.” I point to the parking lot. “But I guess you wouldn't know about that since you were too busy at the office making billions or whatever the fuck you do all day.”
“I was preparing to meet her at six.” His jaw clenches. “We were going to talk, and I was going to fight for her.”
“Looks like we both were.” I glare and wanna take him out for even saying this bullshit to my face.
A nurse pushes through the double doors, and both of us turn toward her. She scans the waiting room, then her eyes land on Jaxon.
“Are you here for Bridget Parks?”
“Yes, I’m her partner.” He’s already rushing toward the nurse. “How is she?”
I follow close behind, not caring if I’m supposed to be here or not. That’s Livianna they’re talking about. The woman I’ve loved since I was a kid. I deserve to know if she’s okay.
The nurse glances between us, clearly having thoughts about the situation. “She’s stable. The trauma team is still evaluating her, but her vital signs are good. She has a severe concussion, some bruised ribs, and lacerations that required stitches.”
“Thank God.” The relief is so overwhelming that I have to hold on to the back of a chair to stay upright.
Livianna’s okay.
The nurse’s expression shifts to something more somber. “However, I’m very sorry to inform you she lost the baby.”
Jaxon goes completely still beside me.
His face drains of color. “What baby?”
Holy… Fuckin a. This should be…interesting. All of a sudden, I feel like I should’ve said something.
The nurse’s eyes widen. “I… The pregnancy. I’m sorry, I thought you knew. The impact from the accident caused—”
“She was pregnant?” Jaxon’s voice comes out strangled, barely above a whisper.
My stomach drops as devastation slices into him. He didn’t know. He had no fucking idea she was carrying his child.
Damn, I’m an asshole.
The nurse gazes between us, likely realizing she’s stepped into something complicated. “Yes, early stages. She was around seven weeks based on the preliminary examination.”
“She was almost two months pregnant.” His shoulders fall. “And it’s…gone now?”
“I’m sorry for your loss.” The nurse lowers her head.
Thoughts of what Livianna went through when she lost our kid slam into my mind. This is gonna destroy her. The pain of it all hits me with brutal force.
Jaxon turns to me. His eyes are wild, searching my face for answers I don’t wanna give him.
“You knew, Cash.” It’s not a question. It’s an accusation. “That’s what you meant by saying she was in a condition.”
“She said something at the accident site.” My throat is tight. I can barely get the words out. “She said, ‘The baby’ before she lost consciousness. I didn’t know if she was delirious or—”
“And you didn’t think to tell me?” His voice rises, drawing the attention of others in the waiting room. “You knew she was pregnant, and you said nothing?”
“I didn’t know for sure, Jaxon. And I sure as hell didn’t know it was yours until about five minutes ago when you rushed in here like your world was ending.”
“You should’ve said something to me.”
I step closer, my own anger rising to meet his. “How was I supposed to know you were her king? How was I supposed to know you’d been with her for over two years when she was sleeping in my bed?”
That stops him. His expression switches from anger to complete fury.
“Meaning what? What did you do with her, Cash?”
“We’ve been reconnecting and spending time together.
She stayed at my place a few nights while you were away on business.
” I know I’m making it sound like more happened, but I’m too devastated to care.
“So excuse me for not connecting the dots that the man who helped save my life was also the man fucking the woman I love.”
A small group of people sitting off to us quit their discussion and dial in on our argument.
The nurse cuts through our escalating confrontation. “Can we please keep this civilized? This is a hospital.”
Jaxon and I glare at each other for another beat before he turns back to the nurse. “Can I see her?”
“Soon. The doctor wants to finish the evaluation and monitor her closely. She has a severe concussion, and we’re watching for any signs of complications. I’ll come get you when she’s ready for visitors.”
The nurse disappears through the double doors, leaving us standing in the wreckage of everything we thought we knew.
Jaxon sinks into one of the chairs, his head in his hands. “She was pregnant. She was carrying my child, and she was on her way to tell me.”
The agony in his voice cuts through my anger. Regardless of everything else, regardless of who she wants or who she loves more, he just lost something he didn’t even know he had. I’ve been there before and don’t wish it upon him.
“I’m sorry.” The words feel inadequate, but they’re all I have. “I’m sorry you found out this way.”
He doesn’t respond. He just sits there with his future crumbling around him.
I remain standing, my own grief mixing with his in the sterile air of the emergency room. Even though it wasn’t my baby, even though I have no claim to that loss, I’m mourning all over again.
I’m mourning the life that was stolen from me all those years ago, the child that will never exist. And I’m mourning Livianna, the woman who’s gonna wake up and realize everything she thought was real is gone.
“The panic attack this morning.” Jaxon’s voice breaks the silence. “That’s when she found out, wasn’t it?”
I think back to her collapsing on the floor, the terror in her voice, and the way she begged me to help her.
“That’s my guess. The timing fits.”
“And she was coming to tell me.” He raises his head, his eyes red-rimmed. “She was driving to Malibu to tell me about the baby. It has to be the case because if she knew, she would’ve told me when we spoke in my office yesterday.”
“When was she in your office?”
“Right after you left.” He stands and paces before me.
“She said she had a meeting she had forgotten about.” My chest and stomach tighten. “You were the one she had the meeting with. I knew it, but ignored my gut. I let my mate talk me out of it because it was easier that way.”
Jaxon stops and faces me. “Enough about that. I need to know about the accident. What happened?”
“Some big SUV drove into her at an intersection.” I glance away, wanting to hide the facts from him but he might be able to help. “I don’t think it was an accident.”
“Of course it wasn’t. The guy drove off and left her to die.” His frantic tone has me turning back to him.
“Wait. I never told you he left the scene.” I narrow my gaze. “Now that I think about it, how did you know she was even in an accident?”
He slides his hands into his pockets and doesn’t say a word.