Married for His Secret Heir

Was he hoping that she’d change her mind? She couldn’t quite tell by his tone. Or was he making sure she didn’t want more from him than he was willing to offer?

“I’m sure. We’ll have separate beds and separate lives.”

“Not so fast on the separate lives. If we want everyone, including the paparazzi, to believe the baby is mine, we’re going to have to present a happy front.”

He was right. Still, she hesitated. Could she really agree to this arrangement? It was so cold and calculated.

Luca took a steadying breath and then dropped to his knee. He took her hand in his. And then he gazed up into her eyes.

“Luca, what are you doing?”

“Proposing. If you’ll let me.”

“But you don’t have to—”

“I want to.”

“And what about your sister?”

He frowned. “What does any of this have to do with Annabelle?”

“It’s her week. You know, her engagement celebration.”

“And?”

“And we can’t let anyone know that we’ve gotten engaged. It’ll overshadow Annabelle’s moment in the spotlight.”

“First of all, I’m not proposing an engagement. I want you to elope with me. Today. Right now. As for my sister...” Luca rubbed the back of his neck. “We won’t tell anyone about our marriage until after the reception on Saturday. Okay?”

Elena’s heart was pounding so hard that it echoed in her ears. “But—”

“Shush. Let me do this before I forget what I’m going to say.”

She pressed a hand to her mouth, but her gaze never left his. This was it. He was going to propose and then they were to be married. It would all be done so quickly, so neatly. No fanfare. No frilly dress. No romantic moments.

And yet, she could not deny that it was best for their child. She could no longer put her needs and wants first. She was about to be a mother.

“Elena, we’ve known each other since we were little kids playing in the palace gardens. You’ve been there with me through the best and worst times of my life. Somehow it seems fitting that we are pledging to join our lives officially. I promise to always be there for you and for our child. Will you marry me?”

Tears ran down her cheeks. Instead of tears of joy, they were tears of sadness. This wasn’t how she’d imagined this moment working out. And her pregnancy hormones were working overtime, making her a sappy mess.

He removed the ring from his pinkie. “I know you’re expecting a diamond, but I didn’t have a chance to get you one. I hope you don’t mind if I use this as a temporary substitute under the circumstances.”

She gazed down at the gold ring with his family’s crest engraved upon it. Luca held it poised at the end of her finger. She couldn’t believe that this was all really happening. It was like she was moving through a dream.

And then she nodded her head. “Yes, I’ll marry you—we’ll marry you.”

He placed one hand over her still-flat abdomen. With the other hand, he slid the ring on her finger. It was a little tight, but it would do.

This was the beginning of a whole new future for her, him and their baby.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

THE HEAVILY TINTED town car eased out of the palace gates.

It appeared the paparazzi was off chasing another story.

Elena breathed a sigh of relief.