Lucas could literally feel himself freezing into an ice pillar while still wanting to strangle her into silence. Did he deserve such a character assassination? Well, so much for the winning power of a marriage proposal and a rich and powerful husband!But offended and infuriated as he was by Layla and the awareness that he had seriously underestimated her temper, he was more fixated on where she planned to go when she appeared to have neither money nor any suitable friends or family to live with. Recognizing that Layla needed to cool off before he could even hope to reason with her, he reached into his wallet to withdraw a card and extended it.I own the hotel. It’s small and discreet, and you only need to show the card at reception to be accommodated. My driver will take you there...In the grip of frantic thought and the blistering emotional turmoil that their encounter had provoked, Layla accepted the card. She had to go somewhere, and she had no place else to think. She wretchedly

I beg your pardon? "I think you heard me, Layla. If you do what I want and marry me, I will promise not to interfere with your uncle and aunt’s continuing employment.’Layla turned white before his shrewd, hard gaze. You can’t mean that, not that you would seriously threaten their livelihoods just because I’m not doing what you want?"I mean it," Lucas asserted with fierce emphasis. I’ve run out of patience. I want to marry you, and I want that child you’re carrying. So, think very carefully about what you decide to do next.’But that’s complete blackmail!’ Layla shot back at him, trembling like a leaf in shock and barely able to process what he was saying.I never pretended to be a knight on a white horse, Layla. You and that baby are mine, and the sooner you acknowledge that, the happier we will all be.’I don’t belong to anyone. Layla argued through gritted teeth, battling a terrifying sense of panic as hard as she could because Lucas had just trashed the faith she hadn’t known sh

From a practical point of view, I’ve been up to my throat in wedding arrangements for the past few weeks, so I know exactly what I’m doing and who to contact, "Beverly proffered" as she sat beside Layla in the back of Lucas’ opulent limousine an hour later.But there isn’t enough time to organize anything fancy.’The brunette told her drily: "When a man is as rich as Lucas is, there are always people willing to take a challenge for a substantial bonus."But why should you help us? Layla asked baldly, no longer able to swallow back that burning and obvious question.I have my pride. Beverly fielded wryly, "First and foremost, I would prefer our friends to believe that the break-up was amicable rather than inspire a pity party. I’ve also since had a radical rethink about my own future.Yesterday, when I went to meet you, I was fighting to preserve the status quo, but, having cooled down, I’m now more inclined to think that Lucas and I were just treading water and never meant to be. My f

She met with her tutor and her decision to take a year out from her studies was accepted. While she negotiated the stairs back down to the busy ground floor of the university building, Layla was thinking resolutely positive thoughts about the seed of life in her womb. She was facing huge changes in her life, but the sacrifices she was making and the adjustments that would follow would all benefit her baby, she told herself soothingly.Marrying Lucas would give Layla the precious gift of time. She would have had time to come to terms with the prospect of motherhood and time to enjoy the first precious months of her baby’s life without the stress of wondering how she was to survive as a new mother.She would also have Lucas’ support. Any male that was keen on marrying her for their baby’s sake would be a hands-on father, and she very much wanted that male influence in her child’s life. She had never forgotten how much she herself had longed for a father as a little girl. In every possib

Lucas’ expressive mouth quirked in receipt of her innocent comment. ‘Having both parents never felt lucky to me. Logan married my mother, who was a very spoiled Greek heiress, primarily for her money.’Layla gazed back at him in shock. "That’s an awful thing to accuse your father of!"But regretfully true. Although he married my mother, he was actually in love with a waitress called Athena. He set Athena up as a mistress, and she became pregnant with William only a few months after my mother conceived me, "he confided grimly. ' Eventually, my mother found out that she wasn’t the only woman in her husband’s life.I must’ve been about six by then. I still remember her screaming, sobbing, and throwing things, and the drama went on for days. Logan duly promised to give up Athena, and we lived in peace for a while. But of course, my father was lying, and the truth came out again. That same destructive pattern just kept on repeating and repeating—’"That must’ve been devastating for your mo