Chapter 21
Beth
I knew it was all too good to be true. In what reality did a girl like me end up with a filthy rich self-proclaimed, reformed rake and have a fairytale ending? What possessed me to think that I could hold on to a man like Adam being plain old me? I didn’t know who I was more angrier at―myself or him.
I should never have allowed myself to be lured into a false sense of security. Adam hadn’t said anything about wanting to stay with me because he loved me. Maybe he was just satisfied with the idea of having an heir to take over the Thorne empire. The thought of him kicking me to the curb after the baby was born had been a terrifying thought in my mind for days.
I should have known something wasn’t right. The warning sign had been there the very day I told him I was pregnant. He’d been a good sport about the whole thing but in the end, I’d seen his uncertainty. He’d hid it well, assured me he was fine, but I saw it.
Throwing myself into the plush couch, I burst into tears, the images of Adam and that woman playing through my mind, taunting me. Turning into a weepy mess over a man pissed me off some more and I cried harder.
“Freaking hormones,” I growled into the empty room. It couldn’t all be blamed on hormones. Any one would be upset after being made to feel cared for only to be betrayed.
After days of enduring Adam’s cagey behavior and obvious lies, I’d given in to the impulse to confront him. I’d gone all the way to his office to give him a piece of my mind. Well, halfway there, I’d felt irrational after thinking things through and decided on a different approach. My new intention was to invite him out for lunch so we could talk about his feelings. Understandably, he might have started freaking out a little about the baby. Lord knows, I had many of those moments too.
Confronting Adam turned out to be a terrible idea. I walked right into him and his other woman. Who knew if she was the only one? It was made clear why he’d been lying and sneaking off every evening and sometimes early mornings. I’d even heard him whispering on the phone on multiple occasions when he thought I was sleeping.
Adam had played me for the fool for the last time. I wanted out. That was what I decided until he stormed in, and it hit me that walking away wasn’t going to be easy.
His eyes zeroed in on me. “Thank God. I called about twenty times. Why didn’t you…” He froze, staring at me with horror.
I hated letting anyone see me cry but it was too late to make a run for it. Glaring at Adam’s worried, annoyingly handsome face, I realized that he had way too much power over my emotions.
“Beth, what’s wrong?”
“You have some nerve asking me that,” I hissed.
He was on his way to me when he froze again. Eyes narrowing, he asked, “What did I do this time?”
I rolled my eyes, wanting to throw something at him.
“You having to ask that says a lot.”
“Actually, it doesn’t. You appear to be physically okay so I assume you’re crying because I did or didn’t do something.” He sighed, his expression softening, and a gentle smile appearing. He held up both palms as if I were some skittish animal, and said,
“Are you feeling moody? Is it the hormones? I read something about that so I understand.”
“Why, you…” It was the last straw. Rage surging through my very veins, I grabbed the first thing I could get my hand on and launched it at him. Too bad it was one of the throw pillows so it didn’t do much damage.
He dodged the pillow and turned on me with wide eyes.
“What the hell? This wasn’t in the article.”
“Damn you and your stupid pregnancy research, Adam.” I scrambled to my feet, fist balled and chest heaving. “How about you start reading up on how not to be a heartless asshole?”
“Excuse me?”
“I tell you I’m having your baby and mere days after you start―or continue for all I know―your affair. I know our marriage is a sham but you could have…”
He could have what? Put his side pieces on hold until the baby was born? Maybe I was the sidepiece. I mean, we weren’t exactly in this marriage because of love. That came later for me. If he didn’t feel the same way, I couldn’t hate him for wanting someone else.
“Beth, I’m trying to keep my cool here. What the fuck are you talking about? Who am I having an affair with? Because it’s news to me.”
All of my angry energy was gone, leaving me feeling incredibly foolish and embarrassed. I’d never been that girl. I kept my composure no matter what and I sure as hell never got so worked up over a man...apparently, unless that man was Adam. Hadn’t he been getting under my skin since I was five ? I took a deep breath and exhaled.
“I dropped by your office earlier.”
“I heard.”
“I saw you with a blonde and you two seemed pretty cosy.” She’d been all over him, hand on his thigh, patting his cheek. Not to mention, he’d been gazing at her, hanging on to her every word. They’d been sitting so close, probably whispering sweet nothing into each others’ ears. I was sick with jealousy.
“A blonde? You mean, Janine? ” Realization and then shock twisted his features. “You think I’m having an affair with Janine Griffin ?”
Threading his fingers through his hair he stared at me as if I were crazy. Maybe I was.
“Have you lost your mind?”
“Janine Griffin, the event planner?”
I hadn’t seen the woman’s face. She’d had her back turn so all I saw was a sleek blonde bob, and Adam sitting close.
“Beth, the woman is married with children. She’s almost as old as my mother.”
Losing ammunition, I stuttered, “T-that doesn’t matter. I saw how...comfortable you two were.”
His nostril flared and a muscle ticked in his jaw.
“I don’t know whether to laugh or be pissed that you still think of me as a cad.”
Folding my arms defensively, feeling like I’d screwed up big time, I studied the carpet. “What else was I to think when you’ve been acting so shady?”
“Shady how?”
“Sneaking out, hushed conversations on the phone.”
His brows kicked up.
“I hired Janine to plan something special. A surprise, for you. I’ve been cagey because you’re too observant and smart for your own good. I had to work overtime to make sure you didn’t catch on.”
I blinked.
“A...a surprise? For me? Apparently, I’m not that smart. Adam, I’m sorry, I feel so foolish.”
“You should.”
The way he glowered at me made me want to hide out of pure shame.
“Everytime I snuck out was to meet up with Janine so we could decide on the perfect locations. My hushed phone conversations were me and your sister trying to work around her schedule to get her here without you knowing. One or two might have been me arguing with my brother about making sure he showed up.”
I was at a loss. Throwing my hands up I wailed,
“What are you talking about? Locations for what? Why does Melissa need to be here? What does Nate have to do with anything?”
“I went out on a limb―a very thin one since I had no idea if you’d say yes―to plan our wedding and the romantic tropical honeymoon you wanted.”
My jaw practically brushed the floor.
“We already had a wedding.”
“Not a real one. I was going to propose properly. If you said yes, we’d have a real wedding ceremony with the few who knew the real story behind the first one. This time we’d be getting married for love because I love you , Beth. I haven’t even looked at another woman since we’ve been together.”
I’d only ever read about women swooning in novels, but I think nearly swooned hearing Adam’s declaration.
“Of course, I know that I have to put in work to get you to trust me, much less fall in love with me, before our year comes to an end. I thought your opinion of me had changed.” The hurt flickering in his eyes would likely haunt me forever. “How can you fall for me if you still think the worst of me?”
Recovering from my shock, I rushed to him.
“I don’t! I mean, I only assumed the worst because I was jealous, Adam. You’re so late with the whole getting me to fall for you bit. I fell in love with you when I wasn’t supposed to and I was angry with myself. I overreacted. I’m so sorry.”
Face now flaming with embarrassment, I added, “I take back what I said about your pregnancy research. It isn’t stupid. It’s so sweet and you're so cute when you discover something new and boast about your new knowledge.”
He grimaced.
“ Cute ? Oh, God. That’s not what I was going for.”
I laughed. “You make me feel like I have the best support system. I don’t know why I blew up like I did.” Peeking up at him through half-veiled eyes, I murmured, “I’m going to blame a little of my behavior on the hormones. I don’t want you thinking I’m completely insane.”
I thought I saw his mouth move as if he wanted to smile but it didn’t come. He continued gazing down at me, straight-faced. My heart plummeted. I’d ruined everything.
“Adam, say something, please.”
“I don’t mind a little insanity. I’ve always found your little bouts of temper sexy.”
I saw it then, the signature teasing glint in his eyes and relief flooded me. Throwing my arms around him, I sighed, “I’m sorry I ruined your surprise. It all sounds so amazing. You’re the sweetest man I’ve ever known.”
“Don’t let anyone hear you say that. I have a rep to maintain.”
“Oh, shut up,” I giggled, holding him tightly.
To my disappointment, he pulled away.
“Nothing has been ruined.” He got down on one knee. “A romantic dinner was supposed to come before this part but, what the hell. Beth, will you marry me for real this time?”
“I don’t need any romantic dinner,” I sobbed, wiping away the pesky tears that trailed down my cheeks. I really hope I didn’t break down into tears over everything for the next six months. “Of course, I’ll marry you, for real .”
“Since this was supposed to happen a little later, I’m not fully prepared.” He stood up. “I should have a ring.”
I gazed down at the set I wore.
“I want to keep these. They’ve become special.”
I might have gotten them in a business arrangement but the rings represented the crazy journey of our relationship from tumultuous beginning to... love .
He laced his fingers with mine. “Anything you want.”
The night I’d married Adam...for the first time, I had been upset about not meeting a nice guy, being courted and falling into a loving relationship. As it turned out, I had gotten everything I had wanted after all. Things had just unfolded in a more interesting and dramatic manner. I was going to go on and build a life with the man I loved.
Thanks Dad .
It was like he’d given me one last gift before he left.
Adam grinned down at me. “What are you thinking?”
“That I’m the luckiest girl in the world.”
I smiled back at him. I couldn’t stop smiling if I tried.