25. Jane

Istared at the ceiling as images from last night did a slideshow in my head. I still can"t believe I had slept with William. Legally, he was my husband but I never expected our relationship to get to this point. I felt strangely happy with the turn of events. I knew I should be worried about what this meant for our relationship but I couldn't bring myself to care right now.

Muffled voices seeped into the room but that was all I could hear from William's conversation with Riley. I'd never met the woman but I already felt jealous. Things were bad enough with Layla. I didn't need anyone else getting in the way of…

In the way of what?

What was this?

Who was I to William and what kind of relationship did we have?

It was no longer strictly professional so what were we now? To be honest, it had stopped being professional from the moment he kissed me at our wedding. That kiss changed something between us.

I got out of bed and decided to join William outside. He'd been on the phone with Riley for a while now. I wondered what they were talking about. I smiled as I stepped out of the room. William was standing a few feet away with his back towards me. His shoulders looked tense. I wanted to smooth a hand over his skin and relieve whatever tension he felt. He turned to look at me. When our eyes collided my face fell. I didn't know what it was but I knew it wasn't good news.

"Yes, Grandfather. We'll be expecting you," William said before hanging up. He gave me a soft smile that did little to hide his trepidation. "What's up?"

"That was Bernard?"

"Yes, he's coming over."

"Why?" I asked then I suddenly felt stupid for asking. "Not that you need to give me an explanation for why your grandfather is coming here. This is your penthouse."

William took both my hands in his and kissed each of them. He never broke eye contact with me as he spoke. "This is your penthouse too. What is mine is yours, after all. Actually, I was thinking maybe you could decorate the place, give it your own unique touch."

He was avoiding the conversation. "What's wrong, William?"

"It's nothing I can't handle. You don't have to—

"William."

He sighed deeply. "They found out."

He didn't need to tell me who they were or what they had found out. We had only one big secret tying us together. The world had found out that William and I were in a fake marriage. "How bad is it?" I asked.

William looked at his phone. He clicked on the link and the site loaded. When it came up, William stared at the screen with squinted eyes. His gaze zeroed in on something and I could see the wheels turning in his head. He handed me the phone and told me to excuse him because he needed to make a call.

William's plans were cut short when Bernard Aldaine sauntered into the hallway. The old man, who had been nothing but kind to me, seemed cold and unwelcoming.

"What is the meaning of this?" He asked, facing William. He barely acknowledged my presence. There was a time when Bernard would all but shove William aside to get to me. He welcomed me into his family and I betrayed him. I instantly felt guilty.

"What is this, William?" Bernard asked again.

"Grandfather, I can explain."

"What else is there to explain? I can"t believe you would get married to someone just to keep your position as CEO. I asked you to find a bride because I wanted you to find love. I wanted you to actually experience love, not buy it." He turned to glare at me as he spoke.

The look in his eyes made the hairs on the back of my neck stand. I'd never seen him so upset. William had told me his grandfather had a malicious side but I'd never expected to see it. Let alone have it directed at me.

"What will the board say when they find out? Now you might actually lose your position to Bolton. Didn't you think for a second how this might affect the company? I thought you were smarter than—

Bernard paused and his face slowly contorted. He placed a hand on his chest and squeezed. I knew what was happening. He was having a heart attack.

William ran to him while I called the ambulance. Everything became incredibly chaotic. Josie screamed when she saw Bernard. She almost fainted because she was freaking out so much. The ambulance arrived but it was difficult to get Bernard out of the building on the stretcher. It took the efforts of three EMTs, William's doorman, and William himself to get Bernard down to the ambulance. All the while I walked with them, fear filling up my chest until I could barely breathe.

What if he doesn't make it?

What if he… dies?

William would never forgive himself if that happened and neither would I. Our deception just might cost his grandfather his life.

How could either of us live with that fact?

When we finally got to the hospital, Bernard was wheeled away on the stretcher. William tried to go with him but he wasn't allowed. I placed my hand in his and pulled him away from the closed doors of the emergency room.

Bernard will be fine, I told myself. He had to be.

William and I sat in the waiting room, our legs shaking in unison as fear gripped us both. We didn't say anything but it was clear how we were both feeling.

Sitting here reminded me of the night my parents died. I'd also sat in the waiting room while the doctors did their best to save them. Memories of that night flooded my mind. I remembered Ryan doing his best to assure me that they would be okay.

I knew he was lying.

His voice broke with each word he said and his hands shook violently. He was terrified but he tried to keep it together for my sake. There was no point though.

Somehow I already knew that our parents wouldn't be walking out of the emergency room. I spent the night committing the last moments with my parents to memory.

"You'll be okay by yourself, right?"

"Yes, Mom. I will. Go out and have fun," I said with a bright smile.

She looked at me, uncertainty clouding her features. "Okay. Just call us if you need anything."

"Jane's a big girl, Cassie. She can handle being home alone," my dad said as he walked up to me. He placed a gentle kiss on my forehead. "Don't do anything crazy."

"I wouldn't even dream of it. I'll see you two when you get back."

But I never saw them again. Tears streamed down my cheeks. I really hoped things wouldn't end the same way with Bernard. The thought of him dying like this made my heart ache.

William's hand closed over mine. I turned to look at him and he used his thumb to wipe away my tears. I was supposed to be comforting him but instead, he was comforting me.

I tried to stop crying. I didn't want to add to whatever misery William was already feeling. I tried but I couldn't stop. The tears flowed freely.

"I'm sorry," I said as fresh tears flowed.

William wiped them away. "Don't be."

Silence fell between us again. His hand never left my own. He squeezed and caressed until I had finally calmed down. The doctor walked out a few minutes later. William and I rushed over to him.

"How's my grandfather?"

"He's out of danger so you don't have to worry anymore."

I breathed a sigh of relief. "Can we see him?"

"He's still unconscious so maybe it would be best if you waited a few hours."

William nodded. "Thank you, doctor."

When the doctor walked away, William and I sat back on the chairs outside the emergency room.

"He's okay," William said breathlessly, his relief evident in his voice.

Today started with a series of problems but finally, there was some good news. Bernard Aldaine survived his heart attack. He still had many more years to live.

Bernard's hospital room was almost as luxurious as William's penthouse. I didn't even know there were rooms like these in hospitals.

I walked behind William as he approached Bernard's bed. The old man was still unconscious but the doctor said he would wake up soon.

My gaze drifted around the wide room, landing on the waiting area by the corner that had a couch and a center table. I'd never seen a room like this before.

William stopped in front of Bernard's bed. He held his grandfather"s hand and sighed. "Forgive me."

Bernard remained unconscious. William stepped aside so I could see him. I placed a hand on Bernard's arm and kissed his forehead. "I'm glad you're okay," I whispered. "You can't leave so soon. Who will yell at William when he gets out of line?"

I could have sworn I saw his lips tip up slightly at my joke. It gave me more hope that he would pull through this better than ever.

"He doesn't yell at me," William said as he walked over to the waiting area. He took a seat and folded his arms. "We talk like grown men."

I sat beside him with a small smile. "Yes, I'm sure."

For a moment, William simply stared at me without saying a word. Then he said the last thing I expected him to say. "I think we should get a divorce?"

"What?" It was embarrassing how much that statement disconcerted me. Why would he even suggest that?

"The truth is out. There's no point keeping you tied to me. You've been waiting in the hospital with me for hours when you should be out doing other things. This isn't your problem. You shouldn't have to put your life on hold."

I squeezed his hand. "I am here because I want to be here, William. I'm not leaving you."

He brought my hand to his lips and placed a kiss on it. "Thank you."

Bernard's voice shocked us apart. "I must say that I really didn't expect that."

"Grandfather." William was at Bernard's side in seconds. "When did you wake up?"

"To be honest, I've been awake for quite some time now."

I gasped. "I knew I saw you smiling!"

"I couldn't help myself," Bernard said with a laugh.

"Why did you pretend to be unconscious?" William asked.

"At first I was just too tired to open my eyes but I"m glad that happened. It gave me a chance to hear how you two speak to each other. I can't believe I doubted it for a second."

"Doubted what?" I asked.

"How much you two love each other."

William and I stared at each other with wide eyes. I shook my head as I turned back to his grandfather. He was probably just talking under the influence of some drug. He was saying things that didn't make sense. There was no way William and I loved each other.

That was impossible.