The Heir I Hid From My Billionaire Ex

BetterOffWithoutYou_4

The car came to a halt suddenly, and he jerked forward at the impact, almost hitting her head, but he was quick to block it with his hand so she wouldn't be hurt.

Her breathing was heavy, and she tried to catch her breath. It all happened so fast that she barely had time to process what had just happened.

He said nothing to her, and slowly she looked up to see where he had brought her.

Her breath caught. The building before her reminded her of one thing she had tried so hard to forget but had failed every single time. It sent a feeling to the pit of her stomach.

"Does it remind you of something?" His cold voice hit her. Then he finally turned to look at her. She could only stare ahead, not daring to meet his eyes.

How could she, after the lie she'd kept from him, after everything that had put her on his bad side?

"It meant nothing. Just a building, that's all I see," she said, her voice lower than she intended. But she hadn't expected him to grab her chin, not enough to hurt her, but hard enough to make her look at him. There was barely any space between them now.

"Then look me in the eyes and tell me it meant nothing again," he said, his voice colder than before, sending shivers down her spine.

Her lips parted to say something, yet no words came. Being this close to him after so many years, she had no idea her body would react to him just the way it did back then.

She was never over him. She had only made herself believe she hadn't really felt anything, but the moment she looked into his eyes, she melted, her heart thudding so fast it hurt.

Before she knew it, her eyes grew teary, and in that moment she saw something flicker in his, it softened. But the moment didn't last before his lips curled into a devilish smile.

"What? You can't say a word now?" His voice turned colder.

"Or do you think I'd be moved by your tears? That's in the past now, darling. I'd do anything just to watch you shed these beautiful tears." He spoke slowly, making sure every word engraved itself into her, until he saw fear flicker in her eyes.

Satisfied, he let go of her face roughly. She winced in pain, her mind refusing to believe this was the same man she used to know. She sniffed slightly, knowing full well she deserved it.

She turned toward the door, and this time he unlocked it for her. She reached to open it but hesitated.

"You really have nothing to say to me?" he asked.

"I'm sorry," she muttered, and finally opened the door before stepping out. Immediately the door closed behind her. He opened his own door and got out hurriedly. She hadn't gone far before he pulled her back and pinned her against the car, trapping her.

"What are you doing?" she asked, blinking.

"Did you really think I'd let you go?" he asked. She finally met his eyes, wondering what he was getting at.

"W… what do you mean?" she stuttered, trying to hide her fear, but he could smell it on her, the same way he could smell her rose-like perfume.

He leaned in slowly, and she leaned back but was stopped by the car. His mouth stopped right next to her ear.

"That child from years ago…" he started, and she gasped slightly, shocked. How did he find out?

"What child?" she asked, trying not to waver. She dared to look into his eyes, her lips tilting into a smirk. If she wanted to protect Owen, she could swallow her fear right now.

"The one I remember was my unborn child, flushed out of my womb," she said, and he scoffed at her sudden boldness, which only fueled the hatred already growing in his heart for her.

"I heard your father's company is going bankrupt, and he's trying to seek help from Karina," he whispered, and her eyes widened.

"Judging by the shock on your face, I guess you had no idea what was about to hit your family. Good luck with it." He added, before he leaned away from her, showing her a smirk deep enough to reveal his dimple.

With that, he walked around the car and got back in, leaving her alone. Her heart raced at the news she'd just heard. Her father had mentioned nothing about this, and Karina, of all people, would never help them after what Hazel had done to her son.

★

True to what he'd said, she encountered a few men in black suits on her way home, just coming out of the house. A few of them muttered greetings as they passed her.

Hazel ran inside and headed for her father's home office. When she couldn't find him anywhere close by, she pushed forward, and when she got there, he was on call. He ended it immediately when she entered.

"Dad, what's going on?" Hazel asked impatiently.

Cox looked at his daughter, set aside his glasses, and sat down behind the desk. "I don't know what you've heard," he replied calmly.

"Are you really reaching out to Karina for help since the company went bankrupt?" she said. Despite that, Cox still looked relaxed, unmoved, even as Hazel felt restless for no reason she could name.

"And where did you hear that?" he asked.

That moment, Hazel realized she'd already said more than she should have. Her eyes darted anywhere but at him.

"Raven," she said, swallowing hard after saying his name.

Cox laughed hard, then stopped and looked at her. "You came just yesterday, and you've already met him? I reached out to that bastard before I reached out to his mother, and he dares reach out to you after the humiliation I suffered."

"It's not what you think, Dad," she defended. He had it wrong — he hadn't reached out to her. She had gone to the reunion knowing he would be there.

"Karina would never…"

"I have something that belongs to her. She won't be able to resist the offer," Cox stated.

Hazel froze at his words, not sure what she'd just heard. "You… you're not thinking of using my son as—" She stopped when she realized she hadn't seen Owen or heard him running around.

"Where is Owen?" she asked, her heart pounding so hard it hurt.

"Dad!" she snapped, her eyes growing teary when Cox kept silent. She had almost forgotten who her father was.

He was the kind of person who would abandon anyone for a business transaction.

"The company is at stake, you stupid girl. He's their bloodline, Raven King's f*ckin heir."

"He's my son," she yelled, finally letting her frustration out, brushing her hair back. "Not anybody's heir or bloodline."

"You can seduce your way into making Raven agree to help the company, and your son stays a secret," he stated, and she almost couldn't believe her ears. How could her own father stoop so low?

How could he blackmail her with her own son? She had been wrong to think he would ever approve of Owen, when he had clearly told her to get rid of him once before.

If they ever found out about him, he would be taken away from her forever. She couldn't let that happen.

"I'll do whatever you say. Don't involve Owen in this," she said, determined. "That's the end of us, after you get what you wanted. I'll move out of your house. We'd be better off without you."

She would do what he wanted, get her son far away from this place.

That was the only way she could protect him.