Now her worst nightmare had come true.
“I’m so sorry,” her sister said again.
She stared at the face that was so similar to hers. Lillian had brought her an answer to the question she’d never wanted to know.
Would Julian be just as happy with her as with me?
“Yes” was not the response she’d been hoping for.
Am I really that forgettable?
She should have known better. She shouldn’t have let herself hope. No one had ever cared enough to try telling them apart. Why would they? Holly was simply the backup Abbott. So long as Lillian was around, she wasn’t needed.
Even, it seemed, by Julian.
Her nails gouged into her palms. She was always the understudy. Always the B team. In life and, it seemed, in love as well.
Why am I never enough for anyone?
What was she doing wrong? Surely it wasn’t just the inheritance. This had happened too many times over the years for her to believe it all came down to money. No, something about her was lacking. Something others always seemed to sense. If she could just figure out what it was, maybe she could fix it. Maybe she could become…
Someone Julian would remember.
Her throat tightened. That wasn’t fair. He was the victim here. And when the truth about their company came out, that would all get even worse.
Too bad she didn’t have the energy to care right now.
“I wanted you to be right,” Lillian said, her shoulders slumping. “I don’t want to marry him any more than you want me to, but what other option is there? I hid this from you for a reason. I couldn’t see any way out and still can’t. What can we do?”
She’d never seen her sister look so defeated.
I know the feeling.
“Nothing,” she whispered. “There’s nothing we can do.”
They were just pawns caught in their father’s game. Pawns, and their hearts, were expendable.
“If I could think of anything…”
“You tried,” she said, feeling numb. “You tried to save us.”
I didn’t even realize we needed saving.
“And I couldn’t even do that right.” Pain flashed across Lillian’s face. “All I had to do was convince a man who hates our father more than we do to help, and I couldn’t…” Her voice trailed off. “I’m the oldest. It’s my job to protect you, and I hurt you worse than anyone.”
“Not you,” she said.
No one had ever driven a knife into her chest the way Julian had, and the worst part was, he would never have any idea.
“What are we going to do?” Lillian said.
That was the million-dollar question. Because if Julian couldn’t tell them apart, then their relationship wasn’t as strong as she’d thought.
I was so sure he’d pass.
Then she would have had the proof to strengthen her resolve. She might have actually believed confessing to him would make a difference.
Now she realized he’d been playing the game as much as she had. Saying what she wanted to hear in order to get her down the aisle, just the way he wanted.
Was I only ever business to him?
If he couldn’t recognize her, he probably would have been happy with anyone else. Maybe her appeal had only ever been the merger in the first place.
I thought I was special.
And morons like that deserved to get their hearts broken.
“Holly? Are you okay?”
No.
And she wouldn’t be for a long time.
But for now, they had bigger problems than her heartache.
“If he doesn’t care about me, he won’t help,” she said through numb lips.
“We can’t tell him,” her sister agreed. “Not if the employees are our main concern.”
Her father had been right all along. Julian had never seen her as anything more than a stepping stone. And now that everything was laid bare, she had to keep up her side of the bargain.
“We gambled and lost,” she said. “Time to face the music.”
She took a deep breath. The numbness was starting to fade and being in public when it disappeared entirely wasn’t an option. It was the only thing holding her together.
“I can’t be here,” she said, grabbing her purse. “I’ll see you at home.”
“Holly.”
“Bye.”
She navigated through the café without really seeing the other patrons. Only one thought was in her mind.
If he can’t recognize me, he can’t love me.
And that truth was about to bring her to her knees.
Chapter Seventeen
Holly peered into the mirror hanging above the mantel and touched the bags under her eyes. The last thing she wanted to do was smile and playact all night, but it was Friday.
And Julian was coming over for a family dinner.
“You can do this,” she said to her reflection. She’d spent the past two days trying to find a way to come to terms with everything that had happened, and now she was out of time.
He’d be here any moment.
Lillian appeared in the reflection and she turned away from the mirror. “You ready for this?” her sister asked.
She crossed the living room to the French doors that led out into the garden and stared out at the darkness. “Fine,” she said.
“He’ll be here soon.”
“I know.”
Her sister hesitated. “Is there anything I can do to help you?”
“I just—need a minute.”
Lillian nodded. “It won’t be a long evening. I’ll cut it short. And you don’t need to worry. He won’t notice anything is different.”
Her heart cracked at the words. “Yeah. Got that.”
“Sorry.” Lillian sighed. “Looks like I’m as good at cheering you up as I am at saving the company.”
“It’ll all be fine,” she forced herself to say. “We’ll get through this. Excuse me.”
She slipped through the doors before Lillian could say anything else. Her sister meant well, but there was nothing to say.
The cool night air washed over her as she crossed the patio and gripped the rail, looking out over the dark garden.
How was she supposed to get through this evening? It would kill her to smile at Julian and pretend they were meeting for the first time.
Her chest throbbed.
Grow up. Lillian’s plan to save us all is gone. There’s nothing we can do. This is between Julian and my father now.
All she had to do was stand by and watch the man she was crazy about marry the wrong woman.
Despair gnawed at her. Every Christmas. Every Easter. Every family dinner would be torture for the rest of her life. She’d have to look across the table at Julian fawning over Lillian without ever realizing the one he’d first kissed wasn’t sitting by his side.
I can’t do it.
The very idea turned her stomach.
Which meant she needed to leave. She was caught between too many lies. The man she was crazy about only saw her as a business tactic, and her father had no qualms about using her as a tool without telling her what was actually at stake. It was too much. When this was all over with and the rings had been exchanged, she was done. She’d run as fast and as far as she could get.
I hear Asia is gorgeous this time of year.
A one-way ticket to the other side of the world was just what the doctor ordered.
That was, assuming she survived the next week until the wedding.
Sound from behind her caught her attention. Drifting closer to the large windows, she looked into the living room and watched as Julian step through the door.
Holly stumbled. She’d thought she could get through this. Really, she had. But seeing him here, in the same room as Lillian, ripped her heart in a way she’d never anticipated.
Standing outside the window, she watched her sister greet her lover. Saw his easy smile as he looked down at the woman he thought he knew.
&nbs
p; That’s not me. Why can’t you see that?
But he never would. And here she was again. Literally standing on the outside looking in at the life she wanted.
Put the company first. Focus on the people you are saving. They’re all that matters now. It’s just one night. You can get through this.
Somehow.
John entered the room, saying something that made Lillian gesture toward the patio.
That’s my cue.
Taking a deep breath, she touched her glasses to make sure they were in place and opened the French doors.
“Good evening, everyone,” she said, stepping into the room.
Black eyes clashed with hers, freezing her in place.
See me.
“Holly come meet your sister’s betrothed. This is Julian Worth.”
On leaden feet, she crossed the room to him and held out her hand. “It’s wonderful to finally meet you, Julian.”
For a split second, she could have sworn barely controlled rage filled his eyes before his expression smoothed into a friendly smile.
Did I just imagine that?
It was the only explanation.
“Nice to meet you. Why haven’t we crossed paths before?”
“Holly was away traveling for the company,” John said. “We’re thrilled to have her back.”
“I see.”
Julian reached out to take her hanging hand. But the second he touched her, she realized her mistake. Fire shot through her veins when their fingers brushed.
Mine.
Except he wasn’t. Not anymore.
Pain stabbed her chest as she realized he’d never been hers to start with. She’d just been the right woman in the right city—or rather, her sister had. His company was the love of his life, and she should have known right from the beginning who she was dealing with. She’d let herself get caught up in the romance, and now the music had ended.
Clearing her throat, she pulled her hand back and took a step away from him. “I’m looking forward to the wedding.”
“Are you?” His voice was as deadpan as his expression.
“Uniting our companies will impact many lives.”
“We’re all saints.”
She frowned. Why was he mocking her? “Father,” she said, turning her attention away from Julian. “Last time I checked, dinner was almost ready. Let’s move into the dining room.”
“Excellent. I’m starved. Shall we?”
John led the way to the dining room while Julian escorted Lillian.
Holly trailed behind them, watching Julian’s back. He was close enough to touch, and yet, she’d lost any right to do so.
It was never your right. He was always supposed to be for someone else.
It was her fault she’d gotten lost in her own daydream.
She slid into her chair, far too aware that Julian sat directly opposite to her. By his side, her sister took her seat, unhappiness painted on her features when she thought no one was looking.
Her father tried to strike up a conversation about the business as the first course was brought out. She listened with half an ear; much the way Lillian was. Her fingers twitched with the urge to check her watch every five seconds just to see if time was moving faster than it felt.
“So, Holly, tell me about yourself,” Julian said, interrupting her father.
Her head jerked up, startled to hear her real name on his lips.
“Me?” she squeaked.
He didn’t crack a smile. “If we’re going to be family, then we should get to know each other.” He smiled at Lillian. “Just like we did, don’t you think, darling?”
Darling? He’d never once called her that. She was his sweetheart. That one word, whispered in her ear, could make her shiver in anticipation.
“Exactly my thinking,” Lillian replied with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.
“The two of you must be very similar,” Julian said.
Lillian snorted. “You’d be surprised.”
“Oh?”
Holly swallowed at his question. “Lillian is far more comfortable in the spotlight than I am,” she explained.
Those intense eyes flicked back to her, pinning her in place.
“Holly prefers a quieter life,” her father cut in.
“But she’s brilliant,” Lillian said, coming to her defense. “She was always five steps ahead of everyone when we were growing up.”
“I see,” Julian said before returning his attention to his meal.
Adrenaline pumped through her body. Why had he focused on her? In the grand scheme of things, she shouldn’t matter at all to him. After all, when they’d been dating, he’d rarely bothered to ask about her sister. What had changed?
He’s just trying to be polite. Impress his future family.
Dropping her gaze, she sawed at her steak a touch too vehemently.
“I was thinking,” John said, breaking the awkward silence, “That we might all want to head up to the Hamptons for the weekend. Give you two love birds a chance to relax before the big day. What do you think?”
Lillian looked less than impressed with the idea, but Julian nodded. “Getting away from the city for a few days sounds like a great idea.”
Over my dead body will I be trapped in the same house as them for an entire weekend.
“Great idea,” she said with a forced smile. “Why don’t the three of you head up tomorrow morning, and I’ll stay behind to make sure everything is set for the wedding?”
Julian cut in before her father could. “Nonsense. With the amount we’re paying the wedding planner, she shouldn’t need you here. Besides, you’re going to be my sister-in-law. I’d like to get to know you better.”
What can I say to that?
“I really think I should stay behind—”
“Julian wants you to come,” John cut in. “We can make that happen. Can’t we, Holly?”
Trapped.
Again.
What else is new?
She smiled tightly. “Of course. Family comes first.”
Her smile never slipped even while she bled inside. No one needed to know how Julian had devastated her.
Why can’t you just look across the table and realize I’m right here?
But he’d only had eyes for Lillian tonight. Everything was back to the way it had always been meant to go. She was the weak link, and soon she’d have no place in this story. All she needed to do was get through the weekend.
The men went back to their conversation. Across the table, she stared at her sister, who wore an identical expression of despair.
This wedding will destroy both our lives.
And there wasn’t a damned thing she could do to stop it.
Chapter Eighteen
The Abbotts’s Hampton home was as beautiful as Julian had expected, but the lovely setting did nothing to tame the rage eating him alive.
He stood in his spacious suite, looking out the window at the two sisters as they strolled along the boardwalk toward the beach. Each time he looked at Holly, the pervasive anger swept back to the forefront.
Why did she do it?
She’d been covering for Lillian, but why take things so far?
What if I had a secret I couldn’t tell you?
The words drifted back to him along with the heartbreak that had been in her eyes that day. She’d told him she had a secret, and did she ever. But it was one he wasn’t sure he could forgive.
He’d gone from looking forward to his future to dreading his wedding day. He needed the Abbott connections, but how could he go through with this?
I’m marrying the wrong woman.
He watched Lillian smile at her sister, laughing as the wind caught her hair and whipped it around her face.
Holly’s lips twisted, but even from this distance, he could tell it wasn’t her usual smile. The one that was open and honest. The one that made his heart beat a little bit faster when she directed it his way.
He missed that smile.
What am I going to do?
Confronting the twins seemed like the fastest way to end this engagement. If that’s what he wanted.
I can’t marry Lillian.
Not even for the money or the name. He’d only ever be able to see her as the understudy to the woman he really wanted.
Why did they do this to me? Why did she do this to us?
He was missing half of this puzzle, and for the life of him, he couldn’t figure out what the answers were.
But this weekend Holly was trapped with him. He had forty-eight hours to get to the bottom of this mess. And if he didn’t…
Then there wouldn’t be a wedding.
Not even for millions would he marry the wrong sister.
His gaze settled on Holly. One way or another, she was going to tell him the truth before they left this house.
Even if that truth ruined all their futures.
…
“You’re sad,” Lillian said.
Holly glanced at her sister. “So are you.”
Lillian didn’t deny it. “I was so close. I really believed I had the solution. Only…”
“Only?”
She looked away. “Hate is stronger than love, apparently. How do you overcome that?”
Holly frowned. “Why did you go to San Francisco? What were you trying to do?”
Lillian shook her head. “It doesn’t matter anymore. I blew our one chance, and it’s my fault. I’ll pay the piper. This isn’t on you, Olly. I’ll see this marriage through and make sure no one loses their livelihoods. That’s the only thing I can protect anymore.”
She sighed. “Don’t you wish we were the sort of people who’d just say to hell with it all and walk away from this mess?”
Lillian smiled, a sad little twist of her lips. “Could you walk away from Julian?”
Pain slashed through her, so sharp it robbed her of breath.
Betraying the Billionaire (Abbott Sisters) Page 14
