Page 137 of Marrying the Billionaire Single Dad

"You mean it’s right foryou," I spit out. "You’re so fucking selfish. Why didn’t I realize that? You’re doing it just to save yourself heartbreak. So you don’t have to experience the highs and lows of a relationship. You’d rather not try. You prefer to give up a chance at true love and a marriage and all the experiences you could have because... You. Are. A. Coward."

"I’m not—”

"You are," I snap. "In fact, you are so afraid of heartbreak, that you've been using your daughter as a shield all along. By pretending Riley is alive, you protect yourself not only from the pain of losing her, but also from the pain of losing anyone else."

His features harden. "You don't know what you're talking about."

I shake my head, "That’s where you’re wrong. I know you better than you know yourself. And, it's only now that I’m realizing why I proposed to you."

"Because you love me?"

"You actually have the audacity to throw that in my face, now?"

He glances away, then back at me. "You love me; that's why you asked me to marry you."

"Not only," I snarl. "I proposed to you, because I knew you didn't have the guts to ask me to marry you. Because I knew if I left it to you, you'd put it off, or never come around to it, or always have an excuse as to why it wasn't right for us. You'd always reduce what we have to a transaction or something where our feelings were irrelevant. It's why I took the opportunity when I saw it. Because I knew you loved me, even before you told me. Before you could even admit it to yourself. Because Iknowwe are right for each other. We'd be so amazing together, Damian."

"You're wrong." His jaw firms, "I am completely wrong for you. In fact, I am the last person you should associate with."

I gape at him, then throw up my one good arm, "You’re pathetic, Damian Savage, you know that? You're a wuss."

He winces, then straightens his shoulders. "Now you know." His lips twist. "Now you realize why there can't be a future for us, in any form."

I open and close my mouth. "Really?" I stare. "You're doing this now? After everything we've been through, you're backing away?"

"This is the only way."

"It's not." My eyes begin to burn.

"It is."

"Don't do this." I reach for him and he pushes his chair back.

"You promised you wouldn't leave me," I choke out through a throat gone dry.

"And you know, I never keep my promises." He holds my gaze, leaving me in no doubt of his intent. His eyes are clear, his expression vacant.

Asshole. How can he do this? How can he be so calm when my entire world is collapsing around me? "I hate you," I cry. "I wish I'd never met you in person."

"Good." He nods, as if this were his intention all along.

I gape at him. "That’s all you have to say to me?" I sputter.

"Not only." He rises to his feet. "You can keep the flat." He pivots and stalks to the door, and damn him, but I can’t let him go, not without saying or doing something to hurt him as much as he’s hurt me.

"Tell Riley I said goodbye."

He pauses mid-step. His big body jolts as if I’d just whipped him or shot him all over again. He stays there immobile, a beat, another. Then straightens up to his full height.

"Goodbye, Julia." He heads for the doors and walks out.

45

#DamianSavage delivers another flop, this time his joke marriage

#DamianSavage are you coming? Or going? Pun intended…

#DamianSavage he’s free girls, but baby daddy material he sure isn’t anymore…