The Greek Billionaire's Secret Baby (Contemporary Romance) by Michele Dunaway Page A

means. Timious means very honorable, very steadfast. A timious man, like Christopher, would have rather died than dishonor his family.”
    “He loved his family. He never wanted this. Nothing ever happened.”
    Maria nodded. “No, of course not. He never would have allowed you to crawl from his brother’s bed to his. This child, this darling baby boy that rests like an angel in my arms, is Alex’s son.”
    “Christopher and I never slept together,” Lauren admitted. The millstone she’d carried around her neck seemed to lift a little. “Not even after I joined him in Mexico.”
    “Even I guessed that much. Seeing this child finally confirms it. Why did you leave, Lauren? Why did you destroy Alex’s life? Why did you not let Christopher explain the truth? Surely if you can’t tell him, at least tell me.”
    “I couldn’t handle his involvement with the family foods business,” she said simply, for telling Maria Pappas the truth about Theo would serve no purpose except to upset her. “I am also not Greek.”
    “Alex is not as old fashioned as that. He grew up in America. He loved you,” Maria said. “I’d never seen my son so smitten with anyone as he was you.”
    “That doesn’t matter. Christopher told me about how your husband bought off the woman he was dating because of her nationality. I wasn’t Greek. I could be Alex’s mistress, but nothing more. The family expected him to marry a Greek woman.” Theo told me they even had one picked out .
    Maria gave a dismissive wave with her free hand. “That is oversimplifying a situation that was much different from your. Shakira Varcaro was a gold digger and ten years older than Christopher. He was eighteen and he had college and whole life ahead of him. The family would have tolerated Shakira for our son’s sake. Costa would not have interfered. But she was only after Christopher’s money. She was easy to buy off and send packing. If she’d really loved him she would have fought to stay. Instead she took the first offer.”
    Maria traced a circle on the baby’s cheek. Nick hardly stirred. “You cannot compare her to your own situation with Alex. Costa did not interfere in your relationship, did he?”
    “I don’t know.” Had Theo acted on his own in discouraging Lauren?
    “Let me assure you Costa did not interfere,” Maria asserted. “Alex has never been the impressionable, easily seduced type. Costa knew Alex was old enough to know his own heart and mind when he declared to his family that he loved you and planned to marry you.”
    Alex had done that? Maria’s forceful declaration cut into Lauren’s heart like a whetted knife and she fought to remain strong. Perhaps Alex had loved her. He’d said so. But she had never been a priority. Not compared to his business. And Theo’s threats had been real, even Christopher had agreed that his cousin was slightly unstable. Theo had always been second.
    Lauren sighed and watched her child sleep in his grandmother’s arms. The entire situation was such a mess. Alex had declared to her that he’d never love her again. It was too late for the truth to set anyone free or for second chances.
    As if sensing Lauren’s turmoil, Maria spoke. “Alex was in a rough spot nine months ago. My darling Costa’s Alzheimer’s disease required his hospitalization and the burden of the family business fell fully on Alex’s shoulders. His determination and grit were the only things that saved our company.”
    “I was a distraction. All he did was call and cancel. I never saw him.”
    “You were his sanity,” Maria said. “And soon you will be his wife.”
    Maria turned her head and those all-knowing indigo eyes stared, brows lifted. “Are you going to win him back, Lauren? Do you plan to try? Are you going to make this marriage you’ll enter for convenience work or will you transcend that and become a real family for your son? He deserves that, you know. All of you should be happy.”
    Her words hit Lauren