Chapter 218

Julian

I stared at Megan across the desk and steepled my hands on the desk in front of me.  This was the first time I had called her to my home since the disastrous party, the first time I had seen her alone. And there was a good reason for that.

Namely my wife.

Cassie wouldn't understand, she wouldn't understand why I had brought her here to our home either but I needed to have this conversation in private. It was a delicate subject and whilst I didn't want prying ears listening in , I wanted the safety net of my staff around in case rumours got out of hand again.

"Thank you for coming at such short notice Cassie." I motioned to the seat opposite. And she slipped into it. The look on her face was pleasant and open but that was because she didn't know what I was about to say.

"Of course I did Julian. I've missed you. I'm glad to see that you and Cassie have worked things out." Everything was said in a kind voice but there was hardness in her eyes.

How had I not noticed that hardness before?

"Yes, well she is worth the effort."

It was the wrong thing to say. The stony look deepened. It was any mention of my wife that did it.

"I love her very much."

The hardness turned into pure hatred. I didn't understand it. Why was Megan so bitter when it came to my wife? Had she always been that way?

But already knew the answer to that. Yes. For some reason she hated Cassie and the feeling was now mutual.

I loved Megan like a sister. She had helped me more than she had wronged me but I could see that Cassie's dislike was warranted now.

It was the reason I needed to do this. I couldn't fix my marriage and with it my kingdom with them squabbling.

"You love her?" She whispered.

I nodded.

Slowly she blinked and it was like she turned into a different woman. One I didn't know and didn't much want to know.

"So I am relieving you of the title of doctor to the king. I have found you a position in-"

She slammed her hands down on the desk with so much force that the water in my glass spilled over. Her eyes flashed. "You have found me? How dare you Julian. How dare you try and tell me anything. I will not be cast aside."

I frowned, a deep line appearing between my eyebrows. "I am not casting you aside. I am relieving you of your job by giving you another one. Surely you can understand why I need to do that? How can I have you as the royal doctor when my family detest you."

"I won't let you do this Julian. You can't just ditch me now you are bored of me. I was good enough when your darling wife -"

I launched myself to my feet. "Stop acting like a scorned lover, Megan. This is purely a business arrangement. Yes we were friends but it was never more than that and you know it."

"I thought you cared about me." Tears sprung up in her eyes but this time I couldn't tell whether they were real or not.

Sighing I slid back into my chair. "I do care about you Megan. And I will look after you."

"Then look after me." She said evenly and there was no sign of emotion in her voice at all. "I don't want to work anymore."

I stared at her in silence.

"I mean I shouldn't work in my condition should I?" Cocking her head to the side, she stroked across her stomach. Her completely flat stomach but I knew what she was saying.

I swallowed hard. Visibly gulping.

"You're pregnant?" I couldn't believe I was even saying the words.

"About nine weeks and I've really been feeling it." Her eyes locked with mine. "I think it would be best for me and my baby if I stopped working altogether don't you?"

Still I couldn't speak. What the hell was happening here?

"I am sure." I said finally. "That we can arrange for you to have some great maternity benefits Megan. Maybe more office work and-"

"No." She shook her head. "You don't seem to understand Julian. I don't want to work at all. I want you to look after me and my baby. It's the least you can do really. Isn't it?"

"What?" I paled. "You want me to keep you?"

"Yes. I will need an allowance and a driver I think and-" she smiled. "And I don't think a penthouse will be suitable , so maybe an actual house. With a staff."

She was crazy. "And why would I do this? Shouldn't you be asking your baby's father to support you? I mean as your friend I will do what I can to make you comfortable going forward."

"The baby's father is you." She levelled her eyes on me. Not blinking and almost daring me to argue back with her.

I couldn't help it. I laughed.

"Come now Megan." I shook my head. "We both know I am not this baby's father. I have never touched you and while I might have been fooled by this lie before I won't be now. I have never slept with you, the baby you're carrying can't be mine."

She was crazy if she thought I was going to fall for this again. Absolutely nuts. How had I not seen this before?

"Well, we know that don't we Julian. Even after years of her sleeping away like a damn princess you didn't even look at me. Not enough anyway. You needed me for emotional support and not physical. Do you know how exhausting it was pretending to like you?"

"Get out." I said through gritted teeth. This had all been her plan. All of these years and she had just been playing the long game. And in a way she had won. Because Cassie hated me.

"Oh I don't think so. You're going to give me everything I want Julian. Otherwise your wife and your kingdom will know that you cast aside the mother of your baby."

My mouth fell open. "But it's not my baby?"

Throwing back her blonde head she laughed. "But who will Cassie believe? After everything she has seen and witnessed, who do you think she will believe?"

The blood drained from my face. Cassie would believe Megan.