The Billionaire’s Hidden Heiress
[Book 2] Chapter 42

Lorelai

POV

When I wake back up, I give a small cry as pain shoots through my ribs, my body sitting awkwardly upright. I'm not surprised to replace that I'm in the hospital, but as I glance around the room, it occurs to me that I'm in a private room, the door firmly closed and Knox sitting on a chair with a resolute expression on his face that changes to concern as he stands and moves over to me.

"Don't move too much" he chides as I struggle slightly to get more upright, his hands quickly replaceing the remote to sit the bed up "You must be in a lot of pain."

I flush. He adjusts the bed covers over me, smoothing them and patting them gently. It's touching to see his concern. "What happened?" I rasp, touching my throat, which feels sore.

He took hold of my hand, his warm and comforting, gently pressing it to his lips as I stared at him in astonishment. "I came across your boyfriend beating the ever-living daylights out of you," he said bluntly, and I blushed, my cheeks burning a bright furious red as I stared down at the bed, feeling more ashamed than ever.

"You should never have had to see that" I whispered, feeling my eyes begin to well up with tears "I'm sorry that you had to come to my rescue. Is he..." I hesitated and then blurt out "Is he dead?"

God almighty, what a terrible thing to hope for, but I couldn't help but wonder if maybe Knox had done something I had only dreamed about. I stared at him, and he gave me a reassuring smile. "No he's not dead," he said quietly, and I tried not to show my disappointment.

If Jackson wasn't dead then...

"Where is he?" my voice is barely above a whisper.

"Nowhere that you will ever have to worry about again."

I looked up sharply. Knox doesn't know how dangerous Jackson is. He doesn't know the extent that man will go to have what he wants, and he wants me. "Knox, he's dangerous, if he's free then..."

"I never said he was free" Knox interrupted, his eyes hard. "I merely said that you wouldn't have to worry about him again, and I meant it. Why did you never tell me what he was doing to you?" his voice is chilly. "Those times, like when you said you had a bad cramp, the bruises hidden under your foundation, you were hiding the fact he was abusing you, weren't you?"

I avoided his gaze, my fingers lightly plucking at the bedsheet. "I couldn't tell you". My voice was shaky. "It was my problem to deal with. He would have hurt you if I even tried..."

"I'm a Grant damnit Lorelai" he explodes at me as I cringe "he couldn't touch me if he tried. Do you know how devastated it feels knowing how long you've been putting up with his hands on you? How guilty I feel making you work when you were clearly in pain and in need of rest? How much it infuriates me to know that bastard, had you so much underneath his thumb that you were too frightened to go to somebody for help?"

I feel my shoulders slump as I take in the wild look in his eyes, the gestures as he motions towards me, frustration on his face, and something else, something else I can't quite decipher. I blinked, trying hard not to cry.

"I didn't want to burden you" I whispered.

"Burden me" his voice is dangerous now. "I detest any man that puts his hands on a woman, regardless of the

circumstances. It wouldn't have mattered how I felt about you, if you had come to me for help, I would have helped. Ian and my father would have done so too."

I duck my head "I'm used to being on my own, I guess I didn't realize that it was okay to ask for help. I'm sorry Knox, but I was afraid" I admitted, my lower lip quivering as I glanced up to see him looming over me, "he had me convinced he would kill me one day and I guess when you came across us he..."

"He was close to doing it" Knox finished heavily, "he tried to kill you in front of me Lorelai, he put a knife to your throat while you were unconscious."

His hand grips mine tightly. To my surprise, I felt it shaking slightly and my eyes widened. He still looked volatile. "Why did you come?" I asked.

"Why did you leave?" he countered back, narrowing his eyes "You didn't even give us a chance to talk. I woke up, and you were gone, like a ghost."

I bit my lip. "I was embarrassed," I whispered. "I thought that you would come to your senses and realize it was a mistake. I didn't want you to feel like you had to..."

"Had what?" he says, annoyed "I was angry to replace you gone. Damnit Lorelai, how have you not realized the extent of my feelings for you yet? Are you that oblivious or are you really this naive?" he demands as I blush.

I stare. He looks deadly serious now. His hand is still gripping mine like he's afraid to let go. His mouth is flattened in a thin line and his eyes are blazing. They are so dark that they are almost pitch black in color. He clenches his jaw. "Do you think I would have made love to you if I didn't care? Do you think I would use you like that?"

"You're a Grant, I'm a nobody" I blurt out as he growled lowly in his throat "You don't want somebody lowly like me. I was just being..."

"Stubborn" he hissed as my mouth parted in shock, "I think I can make up my own mind about who and what I want, don't you think?"

He looked like he was fuming now. I had never seen him this angry before. He still held my hand but he was gentle with his touch despite the fury he was exhibiting. I was in a state of disbelief and certain that I was dreaming.

"We live in different worlds, Knox," I tried again.

"So? It just means you're not ruined by the wealthy elite world", he argues, raising a brow, "you're kind, you're compassionate, loving and sweet Lorelai. Who wouldn't want a girlfriend like that?" he asks quietly, shocking me speechless for a moment. I gape. "Girlfriend" I splutter.

He relaxes slightly now, giving me a cocky grin. "Girlfriend" he nods, looking pleased with himself. "Knox"

"Stop thinking about the difference between us. I know you like me" he interrupted smugly as I paused. "You wouldn't have had s*x with me otherwise. You're not that type of person and I respect you for that. I've never felt this way towards any other girl before. You do have the right to say no..."

Is it my imagination or is he starting to look a little uncertain now, "but I'm hoping that you'll realize that I'm a catch" he finishes with a grin, "and agree to date my sorry behind anyway."

I giggled despite myself. "But won't your father and lan object?"

I straighten up and wince. Knox shakes his head. "Father has always maintained that we have the right to date whoever we choose. He wants us to replace somebody to love, just like our sister Flair did."

He cups my chin, his fingers lightly stroking my cheek as he turns my face to look upwards at him. "I could have killed Jackson for what he did to you. I'm sorry I didn't come earlier to save you" his voice is thick with regret. "I'm here for you now though, if you'll just let me", he promised.

Tears trickle down my cheeks. He tenderly wipes them away. I can feel my chest heaving. It's like a dam is bursting loose even as I desperately try to hold the flood back. He holds me against him. "You've been afraid for so long, just let it out" he murmurs "I promise you'll never have to feel this kind of fear ever again. You'll be safe from now on" he promised.

I burst into a flood of noisy tears. The kind that has you gasping for breath. He rubs circles on my back, grabs a tissue, and wipes my eyes as I fight to replace the words to thank him properly. There are no words. The thought of never having to lay eyes on Jackson again has filled me up with hope and, for the first time in years, I feel safe and comforted by this man who claimed to have feelings for me.

I feel his lips on the top of my head. His arms wrapped around me. My tears begin to lessen. "What happens now?" I asked between gasps. "I can't work for you and be your girlfriend."

It wouldn't be right, would it?

He chuckles "Well you could, I happen to be quite fond of the maid's outfit", he says as I glare at him feigning indignance, "but you're right. As my girlfriend, you would be required to stop working and move into the mansion."

The words hang in the air. I stared at him in disbelief. "Move into the mansion?"

He sounds so nonchalant about it. As though it's nothing to ask a girl to move into your home with you and financially support them. Maybe to him, it wasn't, but to me, this was a huge deal and something that needed to be carefully thought about. He nods. "But what about work? I can't just rely on you for money", I began to protest, feeling slightly panicked.

He puts a finger to my lips before I can get hysterical. "Shush" he mutters, "We can work out the details later between the two of us. I know how much you value your independence. Right now" he stops and looks meaningfully at me, "right now I want to kiss you on the lips."

He bends down and presses his lips to mine, gentle as he parts them, his tongue gently caressing mine as he grips the back of my neck softly. I moan, feeling my body beginning to tremble, the pain forgotten about as he holds me in his arms. When he pulls back, his eyes are filled with regret.

"I have some business to take care of" he says gruffly "but I'll be back as soon as I can. Until then the doctors will take care of everything you need."

I nod blankly. He strokes my cheek. "See you soon" he whispers and then turns and heads out the door, while I put a hand to my lips, my heart racing. What had just happened?