by Trisha Grace
“Please, Julian.”
Julian nodded and put his hands on the wheels, but he didn’t move. “Please, stay.” He’d never begged for anything in his life, but he would do whatever he had to so Hayley would stay.
“Please stay?” Paula shouted.
Hayley and Leanne each clutched one of Paula’s arms.
“Julian,” Hayley said. “Please just leave.”
Chapter Thirteen
HAYLEY AND LEANNE finally got Paula to sit after Julian left the dining area.
“I knew something was wrong. Why didn’t you tell us what happened?” Paula asked as she sat.
Hayley sighed. “I don’t know. I felt stupid, I guess.”
“You haven’t done anything wrong, Hayley.” Frank put his glass of water down harder than necessary. “This is all on him.”
“No. It’s on me.”
“Darling.” Frank coughed and pressed a hand to his chest.
“Deep breaths, Frank.” Paula got up. “You need your medication.”
“I’m fine,” Frank said and waved it off. “I’ll be better once we’re out of here. Come with us, Hayley. You don’t need to stay with a man like that.”
“I know I don’t need to, but I chose to enter into this marriage.”
“But you don’t have to remain in it.” Frank dragged his chair over to Hayley and sat. “He cheated. It isn’t your fault that he can’t stay faithful.”
Hayley leaned back in the chair. “I don’t think he saw himself as being unfaithful.”
“Please don’t make excuses for him,” Paula said from across the table. “It makes me want to strangle him.”
“Leave him,” Frank said. “Money isn’t all that important.”
“You think I’m staying in the marriage because of money?”
“I think it’s normal to be concerned about how you’re going to survive after leaving your family.”
“Leanne had set aside money for me,” Hayley said.
“But she’d wasted almost all of it on Julian.” Leanne rolled her eyes when Hayley glared at her. “But don’t worry, I’ll get it back from him.”
“You can come stay with us. You don’t need any money to do that.”
“She’ll come stay with me once the annulment is through,” Leanne said. “But she doesn’t want to leave until Julian gets back on his feet.”
Paula rolled her eyes. “He’s a grown man. You don’t have to take care of him.”
“This marriage may mean nothing to him, but I’m his wife—even if it’s just in name. I’m not going to leave him when he needs someone with him. He doesn’t have anyone but me. No matter what happens to me, I’ll always have you guys.”
“Julian doesn’t deserve you.” Frank closed his eyes, seemingly taking the moment to inhale deeply through his nose. “He has more than enough staff here to help him. He isn’t on his own.”
“Exactly,” Paula said. “Serve him the annulment papers now.” She paused for a moment. “Is there a reason why it’s an annulment and not divorce?”
“Because they’re only married in name,” Leanne said.
Paula closed her eyes as her chest rose and fell slowly. “So the secretary isn’t the only problem.”
Hayley pursed and released her lips. “I’ll leave,” she said before Frank and Paula grew angrier. “I’d decided to leave, and I would’ve done so if it weren’t for the car accident.”
“The car accident doesn’t have to change anything,” Frank said.
“It does, for me.”
Leanne leaned back in her chair and crossed her legs. “Don’t bother trying to convince her otherwise. Trust me. I’ve tried.”
“Why? Is this because you’re still in love with him?” Paula asked.
“Of course not.” She couldn’t be. “I’m just trying to be a decent human being. You guys have always said we should help those in need.”
“He isn’t in need, darling.” Paula opened her arms as if she was showing her the apartment. “He can hire all the help he needs. He doesn’t need you.”
“I know, but nevertheless, I’m staying.”
“Hayley,” Frank and Paula said at the same time.
“I’ve made up my mind. Once he’s out of his wheelchair, I’ll serve him the annulment papers.”
Paula shook her head. “I know you, darling. If Julian were to be nice to you, you’d fall right back in love with him.”
“I won’t.” Hayley wouldn’t allow that to happen. “I know he’s only being nice because I’m his main support right now. I know he’ll forget all about me once he gets back to his old life, and I’m okay with that.”
Paula came around the table and gave her a hug. “My sweet Hayley, I’m making it my life mission to find you the best husband in the world. I’m going to start auditions now.”
Hayley chuckled. “Okay. I’ll meet whoever you want to set me up with. But this time, I’m going to decide for myself who I’m going to marry.”
“We wouldn’t have it any other way.” Paula released her and glanced at the food on the dining table.
“Don’t worry. Someone will clear this away.” Hayley pushed to her feet.
“I’m sorry this had to happen on your birthday.” Leanne got up and gave her a hug.
“We’ll have another celebration when everything’s over,” Paula said. “I promise.”
Frank stood and rubbed a hand over his mouth. “Are you sure you want to stay here?”
“I’ll be safe here. There are video cameras all around the lobby and parking garage. There’s security.”
Frank sighed and nodded. “Fine.”
She sighed and gave Frank a hug. “I’ll be fine. I promise.”
“We are calling every day to check in. You’d better answer your phone.” Paula cupped a hand against Hayley’s cheek. “And don’t fall back in love with him.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“I mean it.”
“Don’t worry. My eyes are wide open.” She blinked twice and widened her eyes.
“Miss Hayley.” Doreen appeared in the dining area with a bouquet of red roses and a small black paper bag. “These are for you.”
Paula arched a brow at Hayley.
“I don’t even like red roses.”
Julian remained in his office, as tempted as he was to put himself in front of the elevator so he could stop Hayley from leaving. If he had to grovel, he would. But his presence would only make things more difficult for Hayley.
He looked over at his phone. Colin had texted him to let him know about Charlene’s interview. Julian hadn’t bothered to reply. What was out there was out there. There was nothing he could do to make everything go away.
Colin sent him another text. I’ll handle it.
His head snapped up to the door when someone knocked on it. “Come in.”
Hayley popped her head into the office. “They’re gone.”
“Are you leaving with them?”
“Not now.”
Not now.
She pushed the door fully open, revealing the bouquet of flowers and the small paper bag she was holding.
Julian winced.
“They came when Frank, Paula, and Leanne were leaving.”
Julian sighed. “I’m so sorry, Hayley.” He ran his hand through his hair. “I really wanted to—”
“I know, and I appreciate your effort.” She looked at the flowers, then back at him. “You didn’t have to get these for me.”
“It’s your birthday.”
“Right.” She glanced at the flowers. “I should put these somewhere, then.”
“If you want to.”
She cracked a small smile.
“You can come in, you know.”
“You told me never to step into your office.”
Julian would have sighed, but that wasn’t going to help the situation. He wheeled himself back from the office desk and over to Hayley. “I’m sorry, Hayley.” He took her hand holding the bag, then wheeled his c
hair back, leading her into the room and over to the couch.
“I’m sorry for everything I’ve done to you,” he said when she’d sat and put the flowers aside. “I’m sorry for every rude and thoughtless thing I’ve said to you. I really am. I know I’ve been a terrible husband, and—”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“It does. I’m really sorry, and I’ll do everything in my power to make it up to you.”
Hayley blinked twice, but she didn’t reply.
“I’m sorry about Charlene. I swear to you that nothing happened between Charlene and me. I didn’t cheat on you with anyone.”
Hayley turned away.
“Nothing happened. I’ll swear on whatever you want me to swear on. I’ll—”
“Okay. I get it,” she said and turned back to him. Her watchful gaze studied his face for a moment. “I believe you.”
“And for the record, you’re allowed to go anywhere in the penthouse. This is your place too.”
She forced a smile through pursed lips.
“I’m serious.”
“Of course.”
Julian swallowed his sigh. He’d just have to prove to her that he meant everything he said. “I’m sorry for ruining your birthday.”
“You’re sorry for a lot of things today,” she said. “Don’t worry. It isn’t a big deal.”
He took the bag from her hand, pulled a black velvet box out of it, and opened it. “Happy birthday.”
“Thanks.”
“Not a fan of jewelry?”
“Why would you say that?”
“You know your smile is different when you’re being polite and when you actually mean it.”
She tucked her hair behind her ear. “I already have a lot of jewelry. It isn’t as if I wear it all the time.” She cleared her throat. “But thank you, I appreciate them.” She closed the box holding the diamond earrings. “I’ll leave you to—”
Julian put a hand on her leg. “What would you like then? If you could get something for yourself, what would you buy?”
She pinched her lips and shrugged. “I already have everything I need.”
“There must be something. A new car?”
“I don’t drive.”
“You don’t?”
“I have Desmond.”
“Who?”
“My chauffeur.”
“Right.” How could he forget? He’d told the security guards to allow Hayley’s chauffeur into the garage. “Bags? Shoes? Clothes?”
“I have more than enough of those.”
“I’d expected you to need more space than half my closet.” Not only had she kept to her half, it wasn’t even half as packed as he’d expected it to be.
“Really, Julian. I don’t need anything. You don’t have to buy me anything to make me feel better either.”
“I’m not buying you a gift to make you feel better. I want to get you something you like for your birthday.” He reached over for her hand. “And I’ll fix things with Frank and Paula. I promise.” He ran his thumb over the back of her knuckles.
The past few hours had been heaven. To be able to hold her and hear her laugh.
He would do whatever he had to in order to get back in the good graces of Frank and Paula, because that would mean more to Hayley than any thing he could buy.
“You don’t have to do that. Actually, it’d be better if you just forgot about them.”
Julian gave Hayley his most charming smile. “There must be something you’d like to have. Anything.”
“You’ve already gotten me a pair of diamond earrings.”
“You can throw those away.”
She frowned. “What a waste.”
“Then donate them. I don’t mind.” He leaned forward and gave her hand a soft squeeze. “So?”
She pursed and released her lips. “Well, there’s a cell phone case Leanne and I were looking at. The one that survived being dropped out of a helicopter.”
His eyes narrowed. “Are you sure it isn’t a gimmick?”
“Haven’t you seen the video?”
He shook his head, and Hayley grabbed her phone and showed him the video on her phone. His brows rose. “Okay, I’ll get the case for you.”
A Google search got him the website. “Which design would you like?”
“Sea shell.”
Julian nodded. “And which do you think Leanne would like?”
Her brows drew together.
“You said both of you saw it together, right?”
“She likes the dark wooden one.” Hayley pushed herself to her feet, then swayed dangerously to one side.
“Hayley.” Julian reached out, his arm snaking around her waist, but it wasn’t enough to steady her.
Hayley fell back on the couch, shut her eyes, and dropped her head into her hands.
“Hayley, what’s wrong?” He put a hand on the back of her head, stroking her hair.
“Nothing. I’m just feeling faint.”
“That’s not nothing,” he said. “We’re going to the hospital.”
“No.” She reached out and grabbed the arm rest of his wheelchair. “No. I’m fine.” Her chest heaved as she took a deep breath. “I’m okay. I’ll be fine after a while.”
“Has this happened before?”
“Once.”
“Hayley.” He swallowed his frustration. If he hadn’t been busy making sure he was the worst husband in the entire universe, she probably would have told him. “What can I do?”
Her chest rose again. “I’m okay. I’m okay.” She rubbed a hand over her forehead.
“We’re going to the hospital.” He opened the office door and shouted for Doreen.
“Julian, I’m fine.”
“Have you had fainting spells like that your whole life?”
She shook her head.
“Then you’re not fine. You were in a car accident not too long ago. What if there’s a clot or something?” He reached for her hand again when she paled. “It’s probably nothing, but I just want to be sure, okay? I’d rather not have to deal with the Casas if anything happens to you.”
She cracked a smile and nodded.
Chapter Fourteen
HAYLEY GLANCED AT Julian’s hand over hers. He’d held her hand when Frank and Paula came over, but he’d continue to do so after they left, while they were at the hospital, and now in the car heading back to the penthouse.
Hayley wasn’t sure what to make of his behavior.
Don’t overthink things. He was just feeling bad about ruining her birthday. Or as Frank said, she was the main support in his life—which was the reason why he was suddenly being so nice to her. She’d promised Paula that her eyes were open. She wouldn’t fall for Julian again.
All this would mean nothing to him once he got better.
So don’t go falling back in love with someone who won’t even look for you in the rear-view mirror once everything is back to normal.
“Are you feeling okay?” Julian asked with a soft squeeze of her hand.
She pulled her hand from his. “I’m fine.”
After going through the MRI, the doctor had checked her blood pressure. Her blood pressure was incredibly low, and he had wanted to admit her. She didn’t want to, and thankfully, Julian was against the idea too.
There were too many people in the hospital. If Ted Shears could escape from the hospital in a mix-up, he could easily get into whatever room Hayley was in. Instead, he made the doctor explain everything he had to take note of and promised to bring her back for another check-up if her blood pressure didn’t rise in a couple of days.
“It’s probably just from the change of diet,” she said.
The doctor had thought that she’d gone on some extreme diet, but she hadn’t. She did mention that she’d hired a nutritionist so there had been some drastic changes to their meals. She was used to eating lots of meat and carbohydrates, but the carbohydrates had now been replaced by salad with healthy oils and vinegar for dressing.
“Speaking of that, you can eat whatever you want. You don’t need to suffer through the salads.”
“Right. Like I’m going to be stuffing down squid-ink pasta while you’re having salad and chicken breast.”
“I don’t mind.”
She waved it off. “It isn’t as if it isn’t tasty. It’s okay. It just takes some getting used to. It’s healthier, and it’s supposed to be good for my health too.”
He nodded slowly. “I’ll get Anita to bake some brownies or muffins. You can have those after dinner. It should help with your blood pressure. Which do you prefer?”
Hayley blinked, surprised that Julian would ask for her preference. She’d thought that his insistence on getting her a present of something she wanted was the result of guilt.
He arched a brow. “Do you hate both? Or do you love both so much you don’t know how to choose? We could ask Anita to bake both.”
She shook her head. “I prefer muffins.”
“Any particular kind of muffins?”
“Chocolate.”
“Chocolate muffins it is.” He sent off a text to Anita, then turned his attention back to her. “So, what are your favorite flowers?”
“Why?”
“Not red roses I gathered.”
Oh, no. What did she do with the roses Julian got her? She rewound her memories. “I left them in the office.” She’d set them aside when she was talking to Julian, then forgot all about them. She would have thought she’d be much happier to receive flowers from her husband. But reality was vastly different from her imagination.
“Don’t worry about it.” He continued staring at her, and it took a moment for Hayley to realize he was waiting for an answer to his question.
No, she didn't like red roses. So what was her favorite flower? “I don’t know. I haven’t given much thought to having a favorite flower.” What were the flowers she’d imagined herself getting? She wasn't sure. Something light pink, she supposed.
He laughed, and she couldn’t help but smile.
“Julian,” she said when she caught herself smiling. She had to set things right. She didn’t want to take the chance of getting the wrong idea about Julian’s intentions, then allowing herself to fall into another fantasy. “I told Frank and Paula about the annulment. Once you’ve recovered, we’ll annul the marriage.”
