Page 50 of Marrying a Billionaire

Lillian relaxed against her pillows as she breathed through another contraction. Tamara was not going to be happy when Lillian told her what she’d agreed to. But at this point, Lillian was so confused, she didn’t know what she was doing. All she knew was Reed was out of her life and that pain hurt her more than allowing her ex back into it.

Chapter Eighteen

Reed paced in his grandfather’s study. It had been an hour since he’d put Lillian on that helicopter, and he was a mess. Every time he passed the windows that faced the back lawn, his gaze fell to the helicopter pad and the memory of Lillian in his arms rushed back to him. He could feel her against his chest as if she were there with him.

Growling, he rubbed his hands over his face. Why had he been such an idiot? What was wrong with him?

Pain took hold of his chest as the truth flooded his mind. It was because he loved her. She was everything to him and now she was gone. He’d tried to tell her, but she brushed him off as if he didn’t matter. As if this marriage had only been what it was designed to be. A contract between the two of them.

But it had become something more. He’d felt it and he was sure Lillian had felt it as well.

She was just scared. Of what, he didn’t know, but he had to find out. As he made his way to the door to leave, a knock startled him. Pulling it open he glanced down to see Cassie standing there with a determined look. He raised an eyebrow.

“Where are you going?” she asked as she took a step back and studied him.

Not wanting to waste time standing there, explaining himself to his sister, he tried to step past her. “I have a place to be,” he said.

Cassie folded her arms and remained in his path. “You’re an idiot,” she said.

Reed hesitated as he glanced down at his sister. “What?”

“You let the most amazing girl slip through your grasp. There’s only one explanation for that. You are an idiot.” She emphasized her words with a gab to his chest.

Had she not been in the same room as him? “Cas, she told me not to come.”

Cassie rolled her eyes. “And you listened? Clearly that woman wanted you there. No one wants to go to the hospital alone. Not when the person they love is on another island.” She steeled her expression as if that was going to intimidate him.

“Cas, I love that you are trying to be all protective, but I don’t need it,” he said, reaching out and pulling his kid sister into a hug.

She stiffened for a moment and then pulled back so she could look up at him. “You don’t?”

Reed shook his head. “I’m going to the hospital. I realized that I need to be there even if she doesn’t want me there. We’re family and family don’t abandon each other.”

A wide smile spread across her face. “Yeah, they don’t.” She reached out and wrapped her arms around his chest. He laughed as she squeezed him. “You’re not as dumb as you look, big bro,” she said, pulling away and punching his shoulder.

He pretended to wince from the pain and then smiled at her. “I’m happy,” he said.

She patted his back. “Go get her.”

Reed nodded and swallowed as he passed by her. It was a half hour boat ride to the mainland and then another thirty minutes to the hospital. He hoped she would be there when he arrived. And perhaps, she would be excited to see him. But that might be pushing his luck, so he focused his energy on her being there.

* * *

With traffic, it took an hour longer then he’d planned. Ground travel was such a time suck. He walked through the sliding doors of the hospital and glanced around. A woman sat at the information desk, tapping on the keyboard in front of her. He swallowed as he approached.

He wasn’t sure what he was going to say to her or how much information she could give away. But he was going to try to locate Lillian. It was the least he could do.

“Hello,” he said, leaning against the counter.

The woman’s bright green eyes met his and her jaw slacked. “You’re Reed Williamson,” she said, exhaling and letting her gaze roam over him.

It was strange to be recognized. But it made sense. Everything about his life this last week had been publicized. He put on his biggest grin. “I am.” He leaned closer. “And I’m looking for someone.”

She nodded as her fingernails clicked on the keys. “Lillian. I saw her get airlifted from your grandfather’s home.” She narrowed her eyes as she stuck out her finger and ran it along the glass of the monitor. “Ah, here she is.”

Relief flooded his chest. “That’s amazing. Can you tell me her room number?”

Her gaze made its way over to him as she raised her eyebrows. “We’re really not supposed to do that.”

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