HUNTED BY MY STEPFATHER'S BILLIONAIRE BASTARD SON

Chapter 13: No Room for Trust

Evangeline

I had been determined to get rid of the child that now grew slowly but steadily inside me.

But with Dane's disapproval came the offer of an option — the option of choosing freedom without abandoning Mother. To finally pursue the life I wanted without looking back and wondering whether I had made the right call.

Mother might have married a billionaire, and even taken his name. But his death and permanent absence showed that she had never truly belonged in his world. His wealth had never been hers to claim.

We were back to square one, like we'd never left. But if I kept this baby, if I accepted Dane's offer, Mother and I were not going to return to living from hand to mouth.

With her in that care home and the child finally born, I could finally become a ballerina, just like I'd always wanted.

I had said yes to Dane's offer. But he was unconvinced I wasn't going to pull some wicked stunt in the coming days or weeks, and so had his attorney draw up an agreement, as well as an NDA that was going to lock my hands and mouth in legal binds.

When the documents were ready, I was going to have to sign away my choice to get rid of the evidence of the affair with my stepfather for good. And I couldn't wholly convince myself that it was for the best.

So, yes, instead of visiting the clinic for an evacuation, like I had originally intended, I was going instead to meet a gynecologist and schedule my antenatal journey going forward.

Dane's phone rang, loud and jarring. I blinked and sat up straighter, taking a quick glance at his phone screen.

Dane picked it up and slid it to his ear, listening to the voice on the other end for several seconds without saying anything.

I watched him out of the corner of my eye, saw his gaze slide to the rearview mirror.

My stomach rolled, and I turned to eye the cars behind us. But nothing seemed out of the ordinary. There was no suspicious SUV tailing us.

"You know what to do," Dane's voice came out, irritation coloring his tone. "I pay you to call the shots, not to inform me of your inadequacies," he gritted. His face was twisted into a scowl, and I wondered who the pitiful person on the other end was, receiving Dane's tongue-lashing.

"I do not expect you to control the weather or part the sea open, Sullivan. But what I do expect is that you do what you're paid to do."

There was a long pause.

"The last thing I want is for the paparazzi to know my current location, Sullivan. I do not care whether you have to part the weather with your fists in the air, or create a roadblock in police uniform. But if I'm papped today, you're out of a job."

He slammed the phone down and pressed hard on the pedal.

"What's going on?" I asked, because I couldn't help but feel that this had something to do with us.

"Nothing you should worry yourself about." Dane's tone was dismissive.

"Well, if that conversation you just had involves the paparazzi sniffing us out, then I deserve to know."

"And what would you do?" Dane turned those dark eyes on me. Ever judgeful. Ever reproachful. "Create a quick solution? Become the avatar?"

Dane's tone was not only mocking but condescending, and rage built up within me like lava.

But I swallowed the sharp insult that had filled my mouth. I wasn't going to stoop to his level. If Dane decided to retract his offer, I stood to lose more.

"I think I might have an idea on how we can evade the paps."

"How?" Dane scoffed. "Do you have a clown hat we can disguise ourselves in?"

Annoyance bubbled inside me. His severe underestimation of me made me dislike him more than I already did.

"The hospital could use their ambulance to distract them. And I could use a face mask to get into the hospital without them getting a good look at my face."

I waited, expecting another cutting remark.

"That could work," Dane said instead.

And I looked up quickly, my heart warming in ways it wasn't supposed to.

Dane picked up his phone.

"Sullivan," he muttered. "Create a distraction with the hospital's ambulance. Have them make a phony journey to my home."

And then he dropped the phone.

I turned around again to eye the cars behind us. "I don't see any suspicious vehicle."

"You won't see a Chevrolet or a Ford Explorer, if that's what you're expecting to find. The paparazzi now drive motorcycles, taxis, and anything else that can help them melt into the crowd."

I blinked in surprise.

"How did they know to find us?"

"They've been camped outside my home since the announcement of Gavin's death."

I understood how evasive the paparazzi could be, because I had experienced them firsthand at Mother's wedding.

"We're here," Dane said, as he pulled into the hospital's underground parking lot.

"There would be no need for that hospital mask." Dane muttered as we stepped out of the car.

He directed us towards a private escalator that was going to take us straight to the top floor.

I swallowed the anxiety that climbed up my throat as we stepped into the flawless hallway.

I was truly about to do this. I was truly about to keep Gavin's heir.

Dane moved with confidence and purpose, and I trudged behind him, summoning courage I didn't actually have.

And then he pulled the door open, and we stepped into the cold office.

A man dressed in a white coat and a smile stood up and rounded his desk, taking Dane's hand in a handshake.

"It's a pleasure to have you here, Mr. Calder."

"Good afternoon, Mr. Bennett," Dane greeted politely as he shook the doctor's hand — one powerful pump, and then he let go and gestured towards me.

Going straight to the point.

"Kindly confirm whether she's truly pregnant, and carry out a prenatal paternity test."

My mouth dropped open, and shame engulfed me. Dane thought I was faking the pregnancy.