Chapter 30

Chapter 29

Daniella’s Pov

My stomach rolls over the second I open my eyes, and I have to race to the bathroom before I even brush my teeth.

Kneeling on the cold tile floor, clutching my stomach while I throw up into the toilet, I feel completely helpless. I am so tired. Every morning is the same sick nightmare, and I know I cannot hide this growing secret for much longer. Soon, my flat stomach will round out, people will start staring, and Gareth will figure out the truth. Worst of all, Kent is starting to care too much. Every time he looks at me with those deep, dark eyes, my heart breaks all over again.

By the time I manage to get dressed and walk onto the university campus, my legs feel like heavy stone. The morning air is cold, but my skin feels hot and sweaty. I tell myself that today I will stay far away from Kent’s classroom. I will keep my head down, do my work, and protect both of us from the mess we created.

Of course, plans never work out the way you want them to.

As I walk down the crowded hallway toward my first lecture, a tall figure steps right into my path. I look up, and my breath catches in my throat.

Kent is standing there. His dark suit is neat, but the look on his face is stormy and worried. He checks to make sure no other students are walking past us, then steps closer, keeping his voice low and urgent.

"Are you feeling better?" Kent asks without saying hello. His dark eyes scan my pale face. "You texted me late last night saying you were throwing up and scared. I wanted to come to your apartment right then, Daniella. Don't do that. Don't shut me out when you're sick."

My heart skips a beat. The fact that he wanted to leave his fancy family engagement party just to check on me makes my chest ache.

"I'm fine," I whisper, looking down at the floor so he won't see how much his words affect me. "It was just a bad night, Kent. You shouldn't be here talking to me like this in the middle of the hallway. Someone will see us."

"Let them look," Kent starts to say, but a sudden loud voice cuts him off.

"Hey, Daniella! There you are!"

Logan appears out of nowhere, flashing his bright, easy smile. He walks right up to us, completely ignoring the stiff, freezing glare Kent is shooting his way. Logan doesn't seem to care that Kent is a strict professor; he just reaches out and gently takes the heavy stack of books right out of my arms.

"Let me carry those for you," Logan says cheerfully, looking down at me with kind, warm eyes. "You look exhausted today, Daniella. Did you even eat breakfast? You need to take care of yourself."

I offer Logan a small, tired smile. "Thanks, Logan. I'm just a little worn out."

"I can walk you to your next class," Logan offers, turning around so we can walk together down the hall.

Out of the corner of my eye, I look back at Kent. His jaw is locked so tight I think his teeth might break. His hands are curled into hard fists at his sides, and the look in his dark eyes is pure, burning jealousy. It is an unexpected flash of wild emotion that I have never seen on him before, and it hits me right in the chest. He hates that Logan is standing next to me. He hates that another man is paying attention to me.

Throughout the rest of the morning classes, Logan stays by my side. He shares his notes with me, makes me laugh when I feel like crying, and treats me like I actually matter. It feels nice to have someone treat me normally for once. But everywhere I turn, I can feel Kent’s eyes on us. Even from across the lecture hall, his dark gaze burns straight into the back of my head.

When the final class ends, I pack my bag quickly and head toward the back exit, hoping to slip away before anyone stops me.

I don't make it.

A strong hand grabs my wrist—gently, but firmly—and pulls me into a dark, empty storage room near the lecture hall. The heavy door clicks shut behind us, locking out the noise of the hallway.

I turn around, and Kent is standing right in front of me, trapping me between his body and the wooden shelves.

"What are you doing?" I gasp, my heart pounding wildly against my ribs.

"What was that back there with Logan?" Kent demands, his voice low, sharp, and full of raw frustration. "Why is he carrying your books? Why is he always hovering around you?"

Anger flares up inside me, hot and sudden. After everything we have been through—after he stood in front of me engaged to another woman, tied to a multi-million-dollar contract—he has the nerve to interrogate me about another guy?

"Why do you care?" I snap back, pushing my hands against his chest. "You are engaged to Freya! You are going to marry a rich socialite and live your perfect high-society life! You have no right to question me about Logan, or anyone else!"

Kent flinches. My words hit him like a physical blow. He opens his mouth to argue, but nothing comes out. He struggles to find an answer because he knows I am completely right. He is trapped, and he knows it.

The angry fire in his eyes slowly fades into something much deeper and more painful. He reaches out, his warm fingers gently touching my cheek, tracing my skin with a desperate softness.

"You're right," Kent whispers, his voice breaking just a little bit. "I am engaged. I am trapped by my family, by the contract, and by everything I am supposed to be."

He leans in closer, his forehead resting gently against mine. I can feel his warm breath on my lips.

"I know I have no right," Kent confesses, a thick ache in his voice. "Seeing another man look at you... seeing him talk to you, touch your books, make you smile... it bothers me more than anything ever has. It tears me apart, Daniella."

My eyes burn with hot tears. My chest feels like it is being crushed under a heavy weight. He cares about me. He really, truly cares. But it is all for nothing.

I pull back just enough to look right into his dark, troubled eyes. My hands shake as I grip the straps of my backpack.

"Would you feel the same way, Kent?" I ask softly, my voice trembling so hard I can barely get the words out. "Would you still care... if I told you I was carrying another man's child?"

The silence that follows is deafening.

Kent freezes completely. The color drains from his face, his eyes widen in pure shock, and he goes absolutely silent.