Bought By The Paralyzed Billionaire

"Miss Riley, you are three weeks pregnant!" the doctor announced, eyes wide. A cold chill spread over my body. I gripped the handle of my chair tightly at the news. No. No. God, no. This is not possible. We just had s!x once. No one gets pregnant on their first time. "You must have made a mistake, Doctor!" I almost screamed, tears already pouring down my cheeks. "This can't be. I can't be pregnant." "I'm afraid it's true, Miss Riley. The lab test confirms it. You have a child growing inside of you." I didn’t miss the disgusted look on her face. My gaze dropped to my stomach and it felt like every drop of blood had drained out of my body. My fingers and lips trembled. I pressed my eyelids together. I told Ray I didn’t want to do it. I pleaded with him to wait—at least until maybe the night before our wedding, if he was ever going to propose to me. Yet, he didn’t listen. He threatened to end our relationship, and I couldn’t let that happen. I love him so much. He’s my escape from my stepfather and sister. A chill ran down my spine at the thought of my father. Mr. Andrew Monroe. What would happen if the world found out Mr. Andrew Monroe’s daughter was pregnant out of wedlock? There’s nothing Father holds more dearly than his reputation. "Miss Riley, is there anything else you’d like? I’d like to call in the next patient." I swallowed hard, holding my sobs back. "Please don’t disclose this news to anyone." The hesitation in her eyes made me drop to my knees and grab her hand. She immediately stood, startled. "What are you doing?" "Please, I’m begging you. I’ll pay you however much you want, just please don’t tell anyone about this." I cried out desperately. She blinked, pressing her lips together. "Uh… it’s okay then. I won’t disclose the news… as long as your offer stands." I sniffled and got to my feet. She handed me the paper, and I grabbed it alongside my bag before leaving the office. I wiped my tears, straightened my shoulders, and forced myself to look proper so no one would suspect a thing. I’ll have to tell Ray about this. Yes. He’ll be happy that I’m carrying his baby. I’ve seen the way he plays with his nephew, with so much affection in his eyes. A small chuckle escaped my lips. Maybe this isn’t such bad news after all. If we get married before the baby comes, Father’s reputation wouldn’t be ruined. I smiled, a faint hope blooming in my chest. I quickened my steps, eager to get to Ray’s place soon, but as I headed for the stairs, I noticed a man dressed in casual clothes, in a wheelchair, moving toward the edge. I gasped. What’s he doing? He’s going to get himself injured. I raced toward him, and before he could reach the edge, I grabbed the wheelchair handles and pulled him back. "What are you doing? Do you want to get yourself killed?!" I yelled, my heart racing for some reason. He lifted his eyes through a bush of blonde hair to gaze at me. My heart stuttered to a halt. The world narrowed to the startling blue of his eyes, like the sky on a clear winter morning. "Excuse me?" I let go of his wheelchair and straightened, staring down at him. "You should use the elevator next time or ask a nurse to assist you if you want to get down." A faint smile brushed the corners of his lips, enough to make a small dimple appear on his cheek. "I didn’t want to bother the beautiful nurses, and I have elevator fright, so I’ll just use the stairs." He grabbed his wheels, attempting to move, but I held him back, eyes wide with shock. "Have you lost it? How do you plan on getting down?" "With my wheels, of course." I narrowed my brows at him. Did he have a brain injury too? "Let go of me, darling. This place makes me sick. I need some fresh air." He looked at me, frowning this time. "Okay, since you want to get down so badly… uh, let me call a nurse—" "Get your hands off my wheelchair or—" "Okay, I’ll help you down instead. If you go yourself, you’re going to get hurt. I’m not going to let that happen, so please, let me help you." I said desperately, locking my gaze with his, hoping the words would penetrate his senses. His frown dissolved into a confused somewhat surprised look. He held my gaze without a word, so I took it as a yes. "Can you try and stand? I’ll hold you up." "And…" he started softly, his gaze steady on mine. "How do I know I won’t fall off you?" I smiled faintly at him. "This isn’t the first time I’m doing this." I saw the question in his eyes but didn’t respond. Some memories are meant to be completely forgotten. I stretched out my hand for his. He didn’t move at first, just kept his piercing gaze on me, sending more knots to my stomach than I could handle. After a few seconds, his large hand finally engulfed mine. I helped him up and looped his arm around my shoulder. My breath caught. He was really heavy, but I could do this. "Tell me your name, darling." His bold yet soft voice whispered into my ear as I walked him down. "Riley." "Other names?" "You can just stick with Riley." When we reached the ground floor, I helped him into a chair. Immediately, I felt the questioning eyes of people flood us. They must recognize me. I ignored their stares and rushed back upstairs to bring his wheelchair. I helped him back onto it and released a tired sigh. "You can wheel yourself outside and get some fresh air. I’ll be leaving now." "Wait!" he said immediately, holding my hand. My gaze dropped to his hand on mine. I quickly snatched it away and shoved my hand into my coat pocket. "I’m sorry, but could you give me your number? I’d love to see you again." "There’s no need for that. This was just me offering help—" "It means a lot more to me." My heart raced at the desperate look in his eyes. Oh Lord, what’s this? I clenched my fists at my sides. The only time I’d been looked at like this was when Ray was begging me to let him touch me. "I have a boyfriend," I told him, even though I shouldn’t. "I love him so much. I’m sorry, but I can’t." My eyes grew wide as he held up the report the doctor had given me. "Is he the father of your child?" I snatched the paper out of his hand and immediately looked away before anyone could think he was referring to me. "How dare you take it from my pocket!" "It fell off." "And you read it!" "I’m sorry, I didn’t know I wasn’t supposed to." I didn’t wait another moment. I walked out of the hospital just as two husky men in black rushed in. He was calling my name, but I only walked faster until I reached my car. I started the ignition, the engine roaring to life. I pulled out of the hospital without looking back. Oh God, I pray I never run into him again.