Bought By The Paralyzed Billionaire

CHAPTER 3

My blurry gaze locks with Ray, who immediately looks away, gritting his teeth.

"Ray... Don’t tell me..." I trail off, unable to fight the thoughts flooding into my head.

I must be dreaming. This... it’s not possible! Not my boyfriend and... and my step-sister.

Diana’s lips curve into a wicked smile as she places her palms on Ray’s chest and looks up at him affectionately.

"Do you want to tell her about us, or should I do it myself, uh, baby?"

I look at him, waiting for him to say something—to explain what in heaven’s name is going on here—but he just remains silent!

My heart trembles with anger.

"What were you doing in there with her?"

His gaze finally meets mine, hard yet laced with a flicker of softness. "Isn’t it obvious?"

I close my eyes and shake my head, bursting into a pained laugh.

"We spent two years together and you... you do this to me?"

"Aww, isn’t that sad?" Diana whines mockingly, letting out a venomous laugh.

My eyes snap open.

"Just shut up if I’m not speaking to you!" I snap, clenching my fists at my sides.

Something cruel flashes through her eyes instantly. She lunges toward me, but Ray holds her back. Oh, I wish he didn’t.

" You bastard! I'll teach you not to run your mouth!"

"Calm down, baby, there’s no use getting violent," he whispers soothingly to her, running his hand through her hair the way he normally does when I’m having a bad day.

My heart clenches as she wraps her arms around his waist and leans her head on his chest.

Really... This is it?

"You are right, my love." She smiles, tracing her fingers against the waistband of his briefs. "Why don’t we get back to where we stopped before she intruded?"

He smiles down at her. "Of course baby."

And he really has the nerve to try heading back into the room.

"Ray," I call, maybe because something in me still believes I can snap him out of whatever spell she must have put on him.

I walk up to him and reach out to cup his cheek, but he looks away. "Wasn’t I enough for you? Why would you hurt me this much? We’ve been through so many things together, you always told me you loved me—"

I pause when Diana bursts into laughter. She lifts her head and looks at me with a sneer.

"The only reason Ray was with you all these years is because I told him to. Isn’t that right, Ray?"

He nods stiffly, avoiding my gaze. I can see the veins bulging on his hand. Something is not right.

I grab his arm. "Come on, you can talk to me if anything is wrong. I know you’d never hurt me."

"Let go of me, Riley."

"You told me I was the most beautiful girl you’d ever seen. You said I—"

"Those were just words, Riley!" he snaps, running a hand through his hair as he breathes heavily. "It was so easy to rile you up. I mean, come on. Are you that stupid? Didn’t you understand the only reason I wanted you was because I wanted to have fun with your body?"

"No, that’s a lie! You do love me," I weep, trying to hold on to him, but he drags his hand away and pushes me aside.

I stumble back and bury my face in my palms. No.

"Now that I’ve gotten what I wanted, there’s no use being with you again. Diana is the one I’m in love with."

"That’s to show you how much of a p********e you are, just like your dead mother," Diana adds, and then I hear the slamming of the door.

I failed her. Mother had warned me not to let a man have me until I was married, and now, I...

I burst into fresh tears, unable to control the swelling in my heart. Mother would be ashamed of me wherever she is, and Father won’t hesitate to disown me.

There’s no way I’d tell Ray about this baby. Even if he was willing to accept it, I cannot let him have anything to do with my child.

It may be a mistake, but it’s mine. Mother kept me despite everything, and I’ll do the same.

I just need to find a way out of this before Father finds out. Something. Anything to do. But I have no clue where to start.

"Oh, Ray. I love you so much."

"I know you do, baby."

I turn away quickly, unable to bear the sounds coming from them. I take out the handkerchief in my bag and wipe my tears.

Just when I pull out of the garage, it starts raining heavily.

My fingers tremble on the steering wheel and I’m crying again. The frustrating sound of cars honking at me makes the tears flow more violently.

I decide I can’t take it anymore and pull over beside the highway, knowing fully well I can get mobbed. I step out of the car and grip the railings, letting the rain pour down on me.

I need to do something. I have two options, either to get married before the baby comes or abort it and the latter's impossible.

" Are you okay?"

I flinch when I feel someone grab my shoulder. My wet gaze fixes on a grey haired woman with bright blue eyes who looks close to her seventies. She looks oddly familiar.

" I... Yes, I'm fine." I respond quickly. My eyes widen immediately when I realize she's under the heavy rain. " Oh, my. You'll get sick, why are you under the rain?"

She smiles softly. " Don't worry about me, I may be old but I'm as strong as a teen."

" Don't you have a car or an umbrella?"

She looks away and scratches her neck. I don't even wait for an explanation, I help her into my car. She gets in and I quickly rush to the driver's sit and switch off the air conditioner.

"Don't you have children? How careless can they be to let you out alone by this time?"

She just smiles at me. " I came to ask you if you were fine and now you are the one so concerned about me. Tell me darling, are you single?"

I blink, taken aback by the question. The ache in my heart rekindles again. I press my lips together, trying desperately to pull myself together.

Luckily, she continues speaking. "Don't mind me."

I pull the car back into motion. "Where do you stay? I'll drop you off."

"The Hilton Estate."

My grip on the steering wheel tightens. Hilton Estate? The Hiltons live there. They are one of the richest families in New York. I glance at her dress in the mirror and—Jesus, how am I only now realizing how expensive it looks?

Why then was she out on the street without a ride?

A few minutes later, I pull up to the massive golden gates of the estate. She orders the guards to open the gate. I drive through and into a luxurious mansion, far bigger and more glorious than Father’s.

"Park over there." She points at a parking lot.

I kill the engine just as the sun dips toward the horizon.

"You should get a hot bath so you don’t fall sick."

She nods. "My feet are a bit sore. Can you walk me to the doorstep?"

My gaze flickers to the bodyguards who had surrounded the car the moment I arrived. Strangely, they retreat all at once. I glance back at her, and she grins weirdly at me.

I need to get home soon to prepare for the dinner party tonight. I wish I didn’t have to go. I really need to get myself together.

Either way, I nod and step out of the car. I help her out, gripping her hand, supporting her as she walks—almost perfectly fine.

"So, did someone break your heart? There's hardly no other reason a full grown lady will cry so much."

"Uh, no. I just… got some really bad news," I lie.

She gives me a sympathetic look. "Whatever it is, bad things don’t last forever."

I wish I could believe that. I help her to the front door.

"I would love to see you again. Here’s my business card." She smiles sheepishly and hands me a sleek black card.

I accept it and bid her farewell, but just as I turn around to leave, a Mercedes pulls into the porch. Must be one of the Hiltons.

I head toward my car, my gaze dropping to the business card. I raise a brow.

Weird. Adam Hilton. What woman bears Adam?

I lift my eyes toward the car as it slides into the space next to mine, and my heart leaps into my throat when I see him.

The same man I'd helped at the hospital.

His bright blue eyes lock on me, sparkling with so much excitement that I can barely comprehend.