Chapter 22

Liya’s heart fell. What had she done? How could she have forgotten Blake’s betrayal? She pulled Blake’s bedsheet over her body to cover her nakedness. He was asleep beside her, one arm curved protectively around her waist. She tried to move but even through his sleep, he pulled her closer and tightened his grip. Her body ached from his expert lovemaking. Every inch burned from his touch, eager for more of Blake’s wonderful strokes. Only her head was at war with her heart.

How could she have forgotten I’m nothing but a pawn in Blake’s game? Why hadn’t she stopped him? Things shouldn’t have gone this far. Blake pulled his hand off her for a second. Liya snuck out of his bed quickly. She raced into the bathroom and stood in front of the mirror. She wrapped herself in a bath towel. Her face was still flushed from Blake’s lovemaking. Her eyes sparkled and her hair was tousled. She glared at her reflection. She shouldn’t have done this.

“How could you have been so stupid, Liya? How could you have forgotten?” she asked her reflection in the bathroom mirror. “Blake Stone doesn’t love you. He never did and he never will. You knew this engagement was a farce all along, Liya. You should have stopped Blake before things got this far.”

“What are you talking about?”

She swung around sharply, almost dropping the towel shielding her nudity.

Blake crossed the distance between them and grabbed her by her shoulders. “Repeat what you just said.”

Anger at his betrayal fueled her courage. At university her friends had often complained she was too naive. She understood now what they’d meant. How dare she dream Blake’s intentions with their farce of an engagement were anything less than noble?

“I should’ve stopped you.” Her voice trembled.

“Why?” he asked, moving closer to her. she kept stepping backwards but she knew in a few steps she’d have nowhere to go.

Liya cringed as Blake’s expression hardened. Fury darkened his eyes. Anger clouded his voice. “Because I heard you say.”

“Heard me say what?” He was so close she felt his breath on her face.

Her insides shivered. What would Blake do if she told him the truth? She took a deep breath as if she was gathering her courage. She was about to find out. “I heard you tell Andrew that our engagement is nothing but a farce.”

The atmosphere around them thickened with tension. Liya tried to hold her ground but her courage faded fast.

“How long have you known?” Blake demanded.

“Since yesterday.”

“And yet you didn’t say anything.”

She tried not to tremble when Blake’s voice dropped.

“Why did you pretend you knew nothing then?”

Liya’s back hit the shower cubicle. “Because of Sophia.”

“Sophia,” Blake repeated. “How does my daughter matter to you?”

“Because,” Liya whispered, “I know what it feels like to be used as a pawn—” her voice trailed off before she revealed too much.

“My daughter doesn’t need your pity.”

Liya cringed at the sudden iciness in Blake’s voice.

“We managed fine before you came along. I don’t see why we cannot continue without you. Sophia is young and she will learn to adapt to different situations. You’re not irreplaceable, you know.”

Blake’s insult stung Liya. “I’m glad to hear that. Being nothing more than a mere pawn in your game hasn’t exactly been easy for me to handle.” She swallowed the painful lump in her throat and forced back her tears.

“What was the need to go through with all this—” he gestured at her appearance— “if you knew the truth all along?”

Liya kept quiet.

“Did you perhaps hope to seduce me into really going ahead and marrying you?”

“That isn’t true,” Liya protested.

“Then why?”

Because I know what it’s like for a little girl to yearn for a mother’s love, she answered silently.

“I must admit you really surprised me, Liya. The last thing I expected to find beneath your sweet, innocent face is a vindictive, conniving, self-centered sneak. I wonder what else you had up your sleeve. I guess I shouldn’t even be surprised because deep down all women are the same.”

“That’s not fair! You were the one who lied to me first. Had I known the truth from the beginning I wouldn’t have reacted this way! I have no intention of staying now that I’ve told you I know the truth. I’d rather leave while Sophia is asleep.” Liya bit her bottom lip to keep from crying. She jumped when Blake grabbed her hand.

“You’re not going anywhere. You know full well what this will do to Liya. I swear, Liya, if you jeopardize my little girl’s emotions you will see the worst of me.” He let go off her and stormed off.

Liya sank to the floor. Why did she have to tell Blake she knew their engagement was a fake? She should’ve just kept quiet. She brushed aside her tears. Why was she crying? It’s like she believed Blake Stone was really in love with her.

It didn’t matter that for a moment Blake’s proposal had seemed real. The handsome billionaire had made her feel like the most precious and loved woman on the planet. She couldn’t stop her tears from burning a trail down her face. Her heart knew the truth. Something had sparked inside the first day she met Blake — something that made her believe dreams came true.

She knew now that dreams didn’t materialize into reality. Only the ruthless got what they wanted in the real world. Ruthless businessmen like Blake Stone who created relationships out of lies, and then lost their minds when they were caught out. She wiped her face. She needed to pull herself together and see this situation through. For Sophia’s sake.