Page 82 of Misdeeds of a Billionaire

I swallowed. “Like what? What could you possibly want from me?”

He made no attempt to answer. What did I expect? After all, he was a ruthless billionaire. Just like his father. A shudder rolled down my spine. This wouldn’t just impact me. It was about my son. My sister. I had to make the right decision for them. How could I possibly marry Byron and bring them around someone like Byron’s father? Yet, marrying Byron was currently my only option at saving the remains of my family. So I’d do what I must.

“My time is precious, Dr. Swan. Let’s get going.”

His hand on my lower back, Byron led me out the door and into the lounge where I found my sister and son, playing with theThomas the Trainset. Leaving Byron’s side, I rushed to my family. The two people I’d do anything for.

“Hey, guys.” I lowered myself behind my son and kissed the back of his head. “You ready?”

My sister’s gaze burned the side of my cheek, but I couldn’t meet her eyes. I feared that if I said anything, my voice would betray me. My desperation. I also feared she would see in my eyes how thoroughly spent I was after what we’d just done in Byron’s office.

Ares’s big blue eyes met mine, gripping the blue train. “I don’t want to go, Maman.”

I smiled and gently brushed his hair away from his forehead. He needed a haircut, but we’d been on the move so much, it hadn’t been a priority. Staying alive was. And then there was the fact that Ares hated anyone giving him a haircut. He tolerated me and Billie, but our skills were sad.

“I know, baby.”

“Why don’t you take your favorite train car from this set, and we’ll go shopping for your own train set?” Byron said gently. Ares’s gaze lit up and darted over my shoulder. I followed it to find Byron leaning against the wall, his hands tucked in the front pockets of his suit pants.

“Really?”

Byron smiled, extending his hand out. “Ready?”

Ares nodded eagerly, but wouldn’t move from my side until I inclined my head. The fact he wanted to go to him made my chest heavy. Light. Sad. Happy. So many damn emotions swirled inside me that it made it hard to process them all.

But one thing was certain.

I wouldn’t allow the Ashfords to hurt my son the way they had hurt me.

* * *

Byron opened the back door for us. Billie and Ares climbed inside, and I followed.

“Take us home. Once you drop us off, I’d like you to run some errands so we can ensure our guests feel comfortable,” he ordered the chauffeur. Upon his acknowledgement, he clicked the remote to raise the partition. I didn’t have the emotional bandwidth to consider what he meant by that.

Billie flicked me a curious look, but I gave her a barely noticeable shake of my head. “Not now,” I mouthed. Not that I had many answers. Byron said he wanted to marry me today, yet I couldn’t fathom how that would be possible. He didn’t have a marriage license. Nothing was making sense.

My gaze darted to my ex-lover. He looked just as handsome as he did six years ago. His dark suit highlighted his broad shoulders and looked like it had been sewn directly onto his body. Everything about him screamed wealth. Sophistication. Self-confidence.

Next to him, I felt like a scrawny little mouse. That was the result of his father’s words from six years ago. The lasting impact he’d obviously left on me. I hated him for it.

Byron cracked his knuckles, then pulled out his phone and started typing. Aswishfilled the enclosed space every time he sent off a message. It was as if he readied for war. World domination was not out of the realm of possibility for this man.

Tension danced through the air, and it was only thanks to Ares that it didn’t suffocate me. If it weren’t for him, the drive to the Ashford home—a mansion, I realized—would have been uncomfortably tense and quiet.

Anotherswishfilled the air and Byron put the phone on the seat, next to him. His gaze landed on Ares who was rattling off his imagination while playing with his train. To my surprise, Byron’s expression softened.

I swallowed, turning my head to look out the window.

How would I survive him again?

Chapter34

Byron

Iled my son, my soon-to-be-wife, and Billie into my home.

I had already sent a note to Winston who’d ensure Billie was out of my way. Those two had their own shit to figure out. Odette and my son were my priority.