Page 13 of Forbidden Billionaires: Vol. 3

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Make-believe. I didn’t have to truly believe it. I just had to pretend to believe it.

I finished dressing and stared into the mirror at the face I didn’t recognize.I can do this. Right?

The dress I was wearing was sophisticated and uncomfortable. I missed my leggings and tank tops. Maybe they’d be back at my place.Our place. God.

How could I play make-believe when I didn’t even know what I was about to get myself into? I had no idea where I lived. No idea who I was. I took a deep breath.Just pretend. It’ll all be over soon.

I smiled at my reflection and tried not to grimace at the face I didn’t recognize.

“Penny,” James said with a knock on the door.

I opened it and stared at my husband. Just thinking about the word “husband” did make me believe I was in an alternate world.Accept it.

“You ready to get out of here?” He looked hopeful. And tired. Or maybe it was something else. The brown hue of his eyes seemed to swirl with secrets. I found myself wanting to know every single one of them before I awoke from this dream.

“Yup. Take me home, husband.”

He gave me a strange look. “You’ve stopped fighting the truth?”

“Sure.”

He shook his head, clearly not believing me. But he put out his hand for me anyway.

I slipped my hand into his and felt the same spark that I had yesterday. I could get used to this. It was easy to feel safe by his side as we made our way through the hospital.

“The car is right outside,” he said as he stopped before the exit. His hand fell from mine and I instantly felt cold.

“Aren’t you coming?”

“Yeah, I’ll be right there.” He looked down at his watch like he was studying something.

“Is everything okay?”

He smiled and looked back up at me. “Everything’s fine, Penny. I just forgot something from your room. I’ll be right back down.”

“I’ll see you at the car then.” I made my way out the doors even though I had no idea what our car looked like. I glanced over my shoulder before the doors closed. James had his hand pressed against the wall and was hunched over slightly. Maybe he wasn’t as broken as I originally thought. Maybe the dark circles under his eyes weren’t caused by me. Maybe it was something else entirely. He looked…ill.

I was about to walk back into the hospital when someone called my name. I turned around just in time to see the man before he threw his arms around me.

“I knew you needed me back,” he said. “Despite what Jen thinks, this is the best position I’ve ever had, and I’m not going anywhere this time.”

Who the hell was this? And who the hell was Jen? “Oh, okay,” I said without hugging him back.

He pulled away. “Sorry. I…let me start over. I’m Ian.” He held out his hand for me to shake. “I’m engaged to James’ sister, Jen. You know…your sister-in-law.”

“Ah, got you.” I had met Jen the other day.I think.“So you’re my soon to be brother-in-law.”

“Also the head of your security detail.”

“Security detail? Why on earth do we need a security detail?”

“Well, for starters because it seems like everyone’s out to get you.”

I laughed. “Who? I don’t think I have any enemies. I barely talk enough for someone to realize if they hate me or not.”

“Just trust me when I say that you need us.”