"I called to make sure that it was all kept a secret so that my family wouldn't freak out and so that our clients, who are counting on the Iverson's to keep AIS, weren't aware that we were not 'trying' for the heir." He got on his knees next to my bed.
"I swear to you, Lilli, I did not change your pills or give you some fucking drug. I just...I was scared to deal with my uncle, my family, and the clients." He grabbed my right hand and refused to let go of it. Placing his forehead on my hand he continued.
"I would never do that to you, Lilli. I love you. Can't you see how in love I am with you?"
My breath caught.
He loved me? He chooses now to tell me that he loves me! Was it just a ploy for him to use?
I sighed and threw my head back.
"I don't know whether I should believe you or not, Aidan. I really just don't know." Then I remembered that he didn't answer me about Becca. "What about Becca?" I eyed him.
He exhaled heavily.
"Becca and I...well...we, um, had a fling."
"When?" I snapped.
His eyes came up to mine quickly.
"No, no, no...before you. She got slightly...attached to me and even broke into my apartment, as well as my grandfather's...erm...our home." I scowled at him. "We never pressed charges. My Uncle Henry and I are the only ones who know about it. The Ball was the first time I had seen her since then. I had hoped that she wouldn’t start...her um...tendencies again."
I pulled my hand away and rolled over to my side, away from him. "I need to be alone." I heard him shuffle out of the room.
"Lilli?" I looked up to Dr. Munthers with tears straining my face.
"I'm sorry that you had to witness—"
"Don't say another word." She smiled kindly. "However, I need to finish your examination. I can come back if you’d prefer?"
I shook my head.
"No, I want to get to my father."
She continued on with the scan and the other internal exams.
"Well, I would place you at roughly two months pregnant and doing very well." She smiled down on me. "I can discharge you. You need to start scheduling regular visits with your family doc...or, um...I'll provide you with a list of highly referred OB/GYN's in New York, okay?"
"Thank you," I wiped the tears from my face.
"A nurse will be in to discharge you soon." She got to the door and paused. "And don't be afraid to call me if you have any questions, okay?"
I nodded and smiled at her before she walked out of the room.
Mentally exhausted, I rolled to my side and sobbed as everything ran through my head. Aidan's revelations made sense. But, at the same time, I just didn't know for sure if I could trust him. He says he loves me, but what if it is simply because now I hold the key to his precious AIS? I was too exhausted to think any more about it and drifted into blackness.
Dixon and Phoebe appeared in my room after I had been woken up by the nurse to be discharged. Dixon had the wheelchair and Phoebe was gathering my bags. I hadn't seen or heard from Aidan and, honestly, I preferred it this way, for now.
Once I was in the chair, Dixon wheeled me to my father. He still had a small blue tint to his lips, but that was normal. I remembered from last time. I stood, overcome with wanting to just be a small girl again, I climbed into the bed and laid on my dad, crying into his chest.
"Whhhatssss wronng?" His raspy voice pulled me from my grief.
"Oh, daddy, don't talk. Just rest." I cupped his cheek with my hand and smiled at him.
He started to open his mouth, but I stopped him.
"When you are better and we are home, okay?"
Though he looked at me with concern and annoyance, he complied. I laid back down on his chest and he moved a hand to my head. I squeezed onto him, hoping that I could draw strength from him.
Chapter Ten
Discovery
Lilli
I laid with Donald until I fell asleep, just like when I was a little girl. Millie’s voice woke me from my restless slumber. I groaned and rubbed the dried tears from my swollen eyes.
"Lilli?" She whispered and patted my arm.
"Hmm?" I sat up.
"Um…you have a visitor." I looked up at Millie and followed her gaze over my left shoulder.
There stood a disheveled Aidan. He looked as bad as I felt. I felt my face instantly harden.
"I don’t want to talk to you right now." I growled out low.
"Please, Lil…" I cut him off.
"Just go," I sighed out and rubbed my stiff neck.
"Lilli," I looked up at Millie who had a very motherly look on her face. "Go on now. Give the man a chance to speak." She raised a brow at me as if she were daring me to argue with her.
I huffed and got up, pushing past Aidan as I walked out of the hospital room door. I didn’t stop. I continued until I came across the waiting room that held the vending machines. Smiling at a couple who were seated with magazines, snacks, and a couple of pillows, I walked to the soda machine. After getting a bottle of root beer from the machine, I turned to face Aidan.
"Well?" I took another sip.