Blackmailed by the Beast by Sam Crescent Page A

Closing her eyes to contain herself, she took a deep
breath before opening them. Lily needed the extra time to compose
herself.
    “I thought I’d lost
you,” he whispered.
    His words and
tenderness hurt even more, now he knew about the baby inside her,
about the future heir she was carrying. All she ever wanted to do
was get through this world with someone to love her. Her family
hated her. Once she’d love to be someone’s number one, to be the
first thought on their mind.
    “What happened?” she
asked. Lily knew she lay in a hospital bed. She remembered the
betrayal of his trust and her running out but everything after was
a little fuzzy.
    “After you left, you
must have travelled through one of the roughest parts of the city.
You were attacked, and witnesses said you were punched to the
ground for your car. I should have been there.”
    Punched to the ground?
It explained the massive headache she got. Why should he have been
there? Wayne was the reason for her leaving the house in the first
place.
    “My turkey was in that
car.” She sobbed, the tears welling up from the uselessness of it
all.
    “We’ll get another
turkey.” He stroked her face. All she wanted to do was lean toward
his strength and take what he had to offer.
    How pitiful was she?
She was in love with a man who blackmailed her and hurt her by
trying to force her to become something she didn’t want. What was
wrong with wanting to have a family?
    “I don’t want another
turkey.”
    “What about our family?
The baby?”
    Lily closed her eyes
remembering the pregnancy test she’d taken that morning, her gift
for him. Her intention had been to have a lovely romantic meal
before making love, and she planned to tell him her feelings about
the new life growing inside her.
    Instead, she came home
to hell. It wasn’t her home, not really. It was his.
    “Wayne, I’m sorry to
interrupt but someone’s here.” Lily turned toward the door to see
Tony leaning around the private room. “Hi, Lily, how are you
feeling?”
    “Fine, like I’ve been
punched,” she said not bothering to smile.
    “I’m going to go and
see about this. Will you be okay on your own for a little while?”
he asked.
    “Of course, could you
send Richard in? I want to ask him something.” Lily couldn’t look
at him in case he knew what was in her mind.
    “Yes, I’d do anything
for you, baby. You should know that.” He left seconds later, and
Lily watched him go.
    Why should she know
that? Why should she even think he cared for her at all?
    Lily pulled herself up
into a sitting position, ran her fingers through her knotted hair.
She wanted a shower and a toothbrush. She felt like absolute
shit.
    “You wanted to see me?”
Richard came through the door and closed it behind him. She went to
mess with her hair but stopped and glanced over at him.
    Lily nodded. “I wanted
to talk to you about the prenuptial agreement I signed.”
    He looked visually
uncomfortable. Lily knew in her heart she wasn’t going to like what
was about to be discussed.
    “I think this is
something for you to discuss with Wayne,” he suggested, edging
closer to the door.
    “Please, Richard, I’m
asking you.”
    “I don’t think I should
tell you in your condition.”
    “You know I’m
pregnant?”
    “Wayne couldn’t keep it
to himself. He’s very much in love with you.” Lily snorted at the
comment. She knew she shouldn’t, but with all the revelations
unravelling, she thought it was necessary to take facts head
on.
    “Just tell me what is
going on.” Lily rubbed a hand over her face, trying to clear her
groggy thoughts. They stared at each other for several seconds
before he nodded and looked everywhere but at her. Richard paced
the small room.
    “The prenuptial
agreement is something Wayne has been drawing up for some time. I
don’t even know if I can tell you everything, but I’ll try to give
you the facts and the basics.” He was nervous. Lily was sure of it
now more than