THE BILLIONAIRE EXCEPTION

What came next

CHAPTER TWO

Taking the deepest breath my lungs could manage, I wiped my tears with the sleeve of my blouse. I started the engine.

I just needed to leave.

I drove the car out of the parking space.

I didn't know where I was going. I only knew I couldn't stay. Not one second longer.

The city had begun to glow beneath the evening lights. Shops were bustling with customers. Somewhere in this city, people were falling in love.

Mine had just died.

My vision blurred again. I wiped away my tears and tightened my grip on the steering wheel.

Traffic thickened as I approached the next intersection. Cars crawled one after the other. Motorcycles kept squeezing between lanes.

The traffic light changed to green. Someone behind me leaned on their horn. The vehicles began to move.

I pressed gently on the accelerator.

My mind wandered. I could still hear Maya's voice: "You were always the interruption."

Then Noah's: "You should return it."

My chest tightened.

The tears returned.

I looked down to wipe them.

That second was all it took.

Thud!

The impact snapped me forward against my seatbelt.

"No..." I looked up in horror.

The front of my car had kissed the rear bumper of a black Range Rover.

"Oh, God." My hand flew to my mouth. "Please, not today."

With trembling legs, I stepped out of my car.

"I'm so sorry!" I called before the driver had even opened his door. "I wasn't paying attention! I'll pay for the damage. I'm really sorry."

The driver's door opened.

The first thing I noticed was a polished black shoe. Then long legs. Then a suit tailored to perfection. Finally, his face.

Sharp jawline. Calm expression. He appeared to be in his thirties.

He glanced briefly at the tiny scratch on his car before shifting his attention to me. He lingered on my tear-battered face. My messed-up mascara. My swollen eyes. The way my hand wouldn't stop shaking.

For a second, none of us spoke.

"Miss, are you okay?" His voice was soft.

Okay?

I stared back at him. Of all the things I expected to hear, this wasn't one of them.

Fresh tears rolled down my face. "I'm sorry," I whispered. "I'm having the worst day of my life."

His eyes shifted to the passenger seat of my car. The luxurious black gift box had fallen open during the collision. He could clearly see the engraving: TO FOREVER AND BEYOND, HAPPY ANNIVERSARY MY LOVE, LOVE VIVIAN.

"You shouldn't be driving."

I managed a weak smile.

"I'll have someone take care of the paperwork. You don't need to worry about the car tonight."

"I hit your car," I protested. "The least I can do is.."

"The least you can do," he interrupted gently, "is get home safely."

Before I could argue again, he pulled a black business card from his pocket and slipped it into my hand. "If you ever need anything, call me."

I accepted the card. "Thank you."

He gave me a small nod before turning away.

Just then, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed behind him. A man in a neatly pressed suit appeared, slightly out of breath.

"There you are, Mr. Blackwood."

The stranger stopped walking. "We've been looking everywhere for you."

"I know."

"Your grandfather and everyone is waiting."

"I'll be there."

"Sir, tonight isn't a meeting you can afford to miss."

Damian glanced back at me. His expression softened for the briefest second.

"Let's go."

The two men walked away.

I looked down at the business card in my hand. Then my phone buzzed. I almost ignored it, but it was a news notification.

BREAKING NEWS: BLACKWOOD FAMILY SUCCESSION CRISIS AS HEIR DISAPPEARS HOURS BEFORE OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT.

My thumb froze. I looked up. Damian was getting into his car.

Then another notification appeared. This one made my stomach drop.

BLACKWOOD HEIR, DAMIAN BLACKWOOD, MISSING FROM FAMILY ESTATE.

Missing? But he was standing right there. Alive.

I stared at the screen. Then at Damian.

My heart suddenly started pounding.

Damian suddenly stopped. He turned. Our eyes met across the distance.

He walked back toward me. He looked around before lowering his voice.

"Don't tell anyone you met me."

Before I could ask why, he walked away.

I stood frozen beside my damaged car. The city continued moving around me. Cars passed. People talked. But I heard none of it.

Because suddenly, the worst day of my life had taken a very strange turn.

I had no idea why the man who had just saved me from a traffic accident was apparently supposed to be missing, but one thing I knew at that moment was I needed to find a place to sleep, and my only option was a hotel…

My eyes burned. My body ached; every muscle in my body was tensed with a pressure I couldn't name.

I drove, and I found a modest hotel off the highway, nothing fancy, just a clean sign, a well-lit parking lot, and a promise of a bed that doesn't come with memories.

The clerk barely looked up as I slid my last credit card across the counter. I held my breath as she swiped it.

Approved.

I almost collapsed with relief.

Room 44, she said, sliding a key card towards me. Check-out is 11am.

I nodded, too exhausted to speak. The elevator groaned as it carried me to the second floor. The hallways were quiet. The carpet was worn but vacuumed. Room 44 smelled faintly of lemon disinfectant and stale air conditioning.

I locked the door behind me. My suitcase sat on the floor like a silent witness to my unravelling. I didn't even bother to unpack; I didn't even bother to change my clothes. I collapsed onto the bed in my jeans.

The pillow was too soft, the sheets smelled like industrial bleach, but I didn't care.

I closed my eyes and let the exhaustion pull me down.

My breathing slowed, my muscles finally relaxed.

No pretending, no betrayal.

For the first time in eighteen months no one was lying to me.