Danielle sat in silence, unable to answer his question. Should she tell him where they had met before? What if he judged her? It was obvious he didn’t remember her. Why would he? She wasn’t someone important in his life! She met his gaze and sucked in a deep breath. “Yes, but it isn’t worth mentioning!” She concentrated on her food, but it piqued Knox’s curiosity more. He wasn’t letting this go. Surely he would have remembered her if he had met her. Was she making it all up? Why would she?“Still. Tell me!” It was more of an order, and Danielle looked away. She couldn’t let him see how much he had meant to her once upon a time. Not anymore! He had killed her feelings for him. Her phone buzzed with an incoming call from Loretta, but Danielle immediately disconnected it. What could Loretta have to say now? Danielle was too upset with her to take her call. “Who’s call was it? I thought I already clarified with you on this. I want exclusivity with you until you deliver my heir. You ca
Danielle walked out of Loretta’s house in a state of confusion. She didn’t have any other option than to return to Knox’s penthouse now. With her apartment keys in his custody, going home wasn’t even an option left for her. How could she be so dumb? She should have taken the keys from him last night. It was doubtful if he would have conceded them to her. Loretta had been quite worried about her, pleading with her to stay back. Danielle didn’t want to. She wanted to get this over and done with as early as possible. Her work was suffering because of Knox’s stubbornness. Booking a cab, she opted to go to his penthouse and ask him to do what was needed and release her. Her phone buzzed with two messages, but she slipped it into her pocket. Maybe it was Loretta pleading again with her to return to her house. Loretta had stuffed some money into her hands to tide over the moment, and Danielle was thankful to her friend. Without money, she would have walked down to Ocean Avenue! It was onl
He got into bed with her, hovering over her to grind his massive c*ck into her curvy body. A gasp escaped her lips, driving him crazy. “Open your eyes, Danielle. I’m sure I’m far better looking than the others who’ve fucked you!” Knox felt agitated by her drama by now. Danielle shook her head, her throat choked with emotions. She had never expected her first time to be this way, with a brute who hated her and insulted her for no reason. Every word he uttered was filled with so much malice, that it broke her heart and echoed in her head. Did she really deserve this? She hadn’t expected him to actually go ahead with his plans so soon! She wasn’t mentally prepared at all! It was better to close her eyes than to watch the hatred in his eyes while he entered her. Her innocent heart, her vulnerable mind, and her sweet nature suffered a tremendous setback because of his insensitivity. Danielle was sure she would never be the same again. Knox Cromwell broke her! “Just do it, Mr. Cromwell!
A Fortnight LaterDanielle sat in her new office, checking her mail inbox absent-mindedly. They had converted granny Emma’s garage into a makeshift office and started afresh. With Brian Young’s help, she broke the lock at her apartment and later had it repaired too. However, Loretta and her granny insisted she stay with them in case Knox Cromwell sought her out. Danielle agreed and packed up everything she might need and moved into Loretta’s house. Ever since, they had been busy with setting up their office. The hurt Knox’s behavior had inflicted on her was still there, but now Danielle found a new purpose in life. She would give her everything to pull up her mom’s dream company. With Knox having lost interest in her, she felt relieved! For almost a week, she had expected him to seek her out, jumping at the sound of the doorbell, but not anymore. She realized he had moved on after getting what he wanted. However, she was still confused about the status of their agreement. Would he s
Knox reached his penthouse in the wee hours of the morning. The last twenty-two days had been the most hectic ones in his life. After wrapping up work in New York, he had to leave for London and eventually to Paris. Afterwards, he went to Copenhagen to sell his apartment and sever all connections with the city! He knew he would never return and neither would Andrea! He trudged up to his room to rest his tired body, but one look around the place brought the memories gushing back. Knox stared at the bed, remembering how he had treated Danielle. He had been so busy; he had completely forgotten about her. It worried him when he realized she hadn’t contacted him at all since the day she left this place. Did that mean she didn’t conceive his heir? He would have to find out! Although Knox lay down to rest his aching body, he couldn’t get a wink of sleep. Danielle’s haunting, innocent eyes drove him crazy! He had wronged her, but didn’t she deserve it? She might not sell her body for a li
Loretta didn’t say a word to Knox, her body trembling with fury as she consoled her friend. “Shh! Calm down, Dani! I’m sure he can have a word with Dr. Felicity Murray, your OB/Gynecologist to find out for himself.” She wiped Danielle’s tears and helped her down the bed. A nurse arrived to escort her to the car, and they left in silence. Knox followed them out, his gaze stuck on Danielle. Strangely, he felt a deep remorse for everything he did to her! He wanted to pick her up in his arms and take her home to undo the hurt he had inflicted on her. Maybe he would soon! With a sigh, he watched her go. Not once did she turn her head to look in his direction! He knew he deserved the treatment! After they left, he turned to look for her doctor. He had to meet Dr. Felicity Murray and find out the truth. Luckily, the nurse guided him to the doctor, who was on her way to the OPD. “Yes, I’m treating Danielle. She’s 3 weeks pregnant but we had to admit her because of severe dehydration. Are
“I can walk. You don’t have to act like you care.” Danielle hated the way they decided her fate. If granny Emma couldn’t manage, she could have informed her. Why did she bundle her out in such haste? Now she was forced to go back to live with the man she hated!“I apologized, didn’t I?” His face was grim as he deposited her on the passenger side. “That doesn’t lessen the hurt.” He sighed, closing the door and going over to the driver’s side. Danielle wanted to get out of his car and run, but where would she go? Her condition didn’t allow her to fight his decision and go back to her apartment to live alone.She couldn’t live alone when the whole day she struggled with her daily tasks. The nausea and fatigue made her lose all her stamina. Now she had to depend on others for everything. It was a helpless feeling indeed! Danielle wished her mom was still alive! She would never have thrown her out.One thing she realized after her mom’s death. No one could replace her! As Knox drove her
Knox peered into her room with an infectious grin on his face. “Andrea sent us dinner! Are you joining me?” She blushed, remembering the dream vividly! “Yes, in a minute.” Instead of leaving, he walked into the room to help her to her feet. “Are you feeling better?” With his arm around her shoulders, guiding her towards the dining room, Danielle felt her heart skip a beat. If he continued this act, she would easily forget her grudges against him and fall for him all over again. No, she had to guard her stupid heart! “Yes. You can let go. I am fine!” She repented the moment the words slipped out of her mouth. He released her and eased out a chair for her to sit on. “Good. I wanted to talk to you after dinner.” Danielle was immediately on high alert. What did he want to talk about? Was it about their agreement? Did he want to cancel the agreement and marry her instead? Maybe he didn’t want her to leave after giving birth. Maybe he genuinely started caring about her. “About what?”