Part 2Loved A Billionaire In Disguise

The second we walked through the door, Holden practically tripped over himself to heat up the food and set it in front of me.

I tasted absolutely nothing. I just sat there, hollow and numb, mechanically lifting the fork to my mouth, over and over.

"June," he murmured, crouching beside my chair. "I know you've been so depressed these last few days. But you know our situation. We just couldn't keep the baby right now."

"I don't care how hard I have to work, but I could never live with myself if I made you and a child suffer through this kind of poverty."

"Please don't be sad, baby. I swear to you, we'll have kids one day. When I finally make something of myself, I am going to give you and our baby the most beautiful life in the world."

My hand stalled. And then, the dam broke. The tears fell so fast I couldn't breathe.

Holden panicked. He scrambled up, pulling me into his chest, wiping my face frantically, murmuring against my hair. "June, baby, please don't cry."

"I'm so sorry. I'm a failure. I'm so, so sorry."

His voice actually cracked. He sounded so utterly heartbroken.

But behind my closed eyes, all I could see were flashes of him lounging in that velvet booth, letting those girls drape themselves over him, laughing at their jokes. I saw the mocking twist of his lips as he told his friends I was too stupid to figure him out.

"Holden..." I gripped the fabric of his cheap jacket, my knuckles turning white. I wanted to scream. "Are you hiding something from me? Why are you doing this? Is this just a game to you? Or did you really think I was some gold-digger who only wanted your money, so you had to put on this elaborate show?"

But the words died in my throat. My brain was a chaotic reel of the last three years—every struggle we shared, every tear we shed over unpaid bills. Were all those tender, intimate, desperate moments a complete fabrication?

When I finally cried myself out, I lay quiet against his chest and whispered, "Holden, do you love me?"

"You silly girl," he kissed the top of my head. "How could I not love you?"

I had asked him that question a hundred times before. Not out of insecurity, but just because I loved hearing him say it.

But tonight was the first time I couldn't bring myself to look him in the eyes.

"No. You don't."

"Holden, you never loved me at all."