The Billionaire’s Hidden Heiress
[Book 2] Chapter 73

Lorelai POV

We began to settle into a routine back at the mansion, one that involved Knox doing his work in the morning and then taking frequent breaks in order to take care of me or to pause and merely spend time with me. By mutual agreement, nothing more was said in relation to the pregnancy, but I knew that we would have to make the announcement eventually. We couldn't keep continuing to hide it from his Father and lan. It didn't feel right or fair. I said as much to Knox, who agreed, as we watched a sneaky Midnight slink around the room, grabbing coins and various items when he thought we weren't looking.

"I'd feel better if we had managed to replace Karen" Knox grumbled as we headed down to dinner, but I was insistent, "the little b***h is hiding off the grid" he scowled, "who would have guessed she was more psycho than her daughter." "She's grieving," I said quietly. "it must have been excruciating losing her child the way she did."

On some surface, part of me could understand where Karen's emotions were stemming from, but another part of me didn't understand her desire to take it out on Knox and lan to the extent that she was willing to sacrifice those that they loved in order to have their revenge.

"Grief is no excuse," Knox said with a low growl as we reached the dining room. "Trust me when I tell you that Charlotte deserved everything that came to her."

I remained silent. Now that I was pregnant, part of me felt sorry for Charlotte and what she must have endured when she lost her child before she killed herself, but I wasn't about to tell Knox that. Instead, we entered the room, only to halt in our tracks as we saw none other than Abigail Stevens and an older gentleman who could only be her father sitting at the table, along with Mr Grant and lan. Knox was not pleased while I did my best to bite my tongue.

Mr Grant gave us a welcoming smile and gestured to the older gentleman and Abigail "Knox, Lorelai, I was hoping you would come down to dinner. Lorelai, this is Mr Stevens, and you, of course, know Abigail" he said a little regretfully, "they came to talk business to us and I invited them to dinner."

He at least, looked apologetic when he glanced at me. I fought back the urge to snarl at her, but it was difficult and I still lost part of my composure.

"She's a little hard to forget," I said snidely and saw Mr Grant look at me regretfully, while Abigail gave me a smug look, rising to her feet and bowing her head slightly.

"Forgive me for my lack of grace in divulging that video to everyone, Miss Mathews, I have learned my lesson, and I am sorry for being such a terrible person."

"My daughter is extremely sorry for her part in leaking the video and doing what amounts to bullying and smearing Mathews' name", her father also interrupted, casting his daughter a warning glance.

I gave a small smile while Abigail cast her father a disgruntled look. "Let's just forget about it please," I said, glancing at Knox who was glowering at his father and taking my seat, while Abigail did the same. "You are most gracious," Mr Stevens said appreciatively, while Mr Grant nodded "Compassion is clearly a trait that you excel in."

As compliments went, it was nice, but it made me a little apprehensive as Knox sat down, staring hard at Abigail, his eyes narrowed and filled with threats. Knox, it appeared, did not excel at compassion. The maids began to put plates down in front of everyone and I fought back feelings of nausea as I began to delicately cut into the chicken breast that was stuffed with some sort of creamy sauce. So much for revealing the pregnancy, I thought slightly put out. I would not be making the announcement while Abigail and her father were present.

lan glanced at Knox and smirked. "So how is the wedding planning going?" he asked, and I swore I saw Abigail stiffen at the remark, but when I looked over, her body had relaxed, and she was smiling, although it did not quite reach her eyes.

Knox sighed. "Who would have thought that planning something so relatively simple is actually so difficult in comparison? Everything down to the last detail, such as the color of the sashes on the chairs, has to be picked" he complained to lan, whose eyes twinkled with amusement.

"I like picking everything" I interrupted, glaring at my fiancée, "if it was up to Knox it would all be plain white", I teased. "What's wrong with that?" Knox asked, mystified, "It's clean, it's crisp, and you don't have to think about it." "Why don't you just elope," lan said teasingly.

Knox's eyes lit up "You know that's not such a bad idea", he began, and I held up my hand and shook my head, effectively cutting him off. "Don't even think about it", I warned him with a laugh "You know that you're expected to have a wedding ceremony being a Grant. No eloping" I told him as he eyed me disappointingly, "besides, I've dreamed of my wedding since I was a small child."

"Is that so?" Abigail's voice was frosty as she listened to the two of us. "I guess even poverty-stricken people have vivid imaginations."

Silence. For a moment I thought I had imagined the slight. But her father shot her a glance, "Abigail, that was unkind", he admonished, and Abigail glanced at me unapologetically.

"Sorry" her voice was nonchalant.

Knox looked like he wanted to say something more, but I did not want conflict at the table. I glanced down at my chicken breast and sighed, eating from the edge. The sauce was making me feel nauseous. I didn't know what it contained, but I could smell the strong scent of garlic combined with a multitude of other ingredients. I blinked, fighting the urge to gag.

"You know if you need help I'm sure that Flair would be more than happy to," Mr Grant said, a smile curving on his lips "She's very good when it comes to organizing, and I'm sure that when it comes to listening" he shoots a sharp glance at Knox who raises a brow "she might be better than Knox" he concludes with a chuckle.

I giggled "I did think about that, but I didn't want to put too much on her plate with the baby and everything," I admitted sheepishly.

Mr Grant guffawed "Trust me, Flair thrives on the challenge," he said, tsking "she'll appreciate you asking."

I nod. Knox notices I'm not eating and looks concerned. "Is everything alright?" he asks in a low whisper, "I can get them to make you something more plain" he offers, and I notice that Abigail is listening to our conversation closely.

I shook my head, "it's okay" I said weakly, picking at the food.

He looks unconvinced, but I shoot a discreet glance at Abigail, and he picks up the hint.

"lan, you'll be my best man, right?" he asks bluntly.

lan laughed, "I thought you would ask me, but you could have come up with a more interesting way," he said, grinning. "Naturally, I'll be your best man. Somebody has to make sure you don't get drunk the night before and actually make it to the altar", he jokes. I shook my head, laughing with them. The front doorbell rang. Strange. Mr Grant glances at the table. "Is anyone expecting company?" he asks.

We shake our heads. I hear the maids answering the door and the sound of raised voices. Is it my imagination or does Abigail look triumphant now? More sounds and yelling, and we got up, and headed to the front entryway. I wince. The bodyguards grabbed the intruders, but they continued to fight, yelling out obscenities. What were my parents thinking, coming here? I thought that they had been paid to leave me alone, but had this slipped Knox's mind with the pregnancy? "Release them and shut the door" Mr Grant's voice was icy cold.

He turns to Abigail and her father. "Stevens, I'm afraid we will have to finish our discussion another time," he adds. "Certainly" Mr Stevens agreed, quickly heading out of the house with Abigail in tow.

He turns to my mother and father, who are shaking their hands out and looking angered. "What is the meaning of this" he snarls, while Knox stands protectively in front of me and lan stands by my side, looking at the two of them in disgust.

My mother puts her hands on her skinny hips, her eyes slightly glazed. I recognize the signs. She's high on something. She gave a wicked grin. The bodyguards hover in the background. "Why I just want to visit my daughter," she says, her voice shrill "After all I am her mother," she continues smugly.

I sucked in my breath. My rage boils over. "You are no mother of mine," I say, viewing her with disgust even as she gives a small cackle of laughter "You are merely an egg donor as far as I'm concerned. I don't know what you wanted or think you're going to achieve by coming here, but you should leave," I told her between gritted teeth.

"Why you little ungrateful brat", my father begins, and is promptly stopped as Mr. Grant seizes him by the throat and holds him tight.

My father's eyes bulge in surprise. "None of that language here", he snaps, and my father nods, before Mr. Grant drops him, wiping his hands on his coat with revulsion.

Knox looks impressed by his father and so does lan. Both of them are glaring daggers at my parents who, despite themselves, continue to look pleased at their intrusiveness. "What do you want?" Mr Grant's voice is even.

Calm. It sounds as though he expected my parents to come here looking for me. He stares at them stony-faced. I feel sick, my stomach churning. My mother licks her lips, a sly smile on her face. She glances at my father, who nods at her to continue. Mr Grant waited impatiently. I put a hand to my mouth, feeling the desire to vomit my stomach's contents, struggling to keep it in. Knox puts a hand on my back, rubbing it absent-mindedly.

"We want a relationship with our daughter," my mother says, and that's enough to tip me over the edge.

I rush towards the kitchen sink and vomit profusely, bringing up everything as Knox holds back my hair, the sound of its contents splattering the sink as I heave.