The Billionaire Bride He Took for Granted novel · Chapter 21 of 24

Chapter 21: The Letter in His Pocket

Miles's POV

I had carried her grandfather's letter in my breast pocket for six years.

It had gone soft at the folds.

I stood in the library with my back to the fire when Simone came in, and I held it out before I could lose my nerve.

"He gave it to me the week before he died," I said. "He told me to hand it over when you were done with the wrong man."

"You've had it since I was twenty-five."

"Yes."

"And you never thought I was done."

"I thought you'd tell me when."

She took it and sat on the arm of the leather chair.

She read it with her lips moving a little.

It was one page in his heavy blue ink.

I knew it by heart.

My dear girl. If Miles is giving you this, then you have finally seen the man for what he is, and I am sorry I could not save you the trouble. I tried. You would not have listened. You were always a child who had to touch the stove.

Don't be ashamed of the money you spent on him. It was yours to spend.

Be ashamed of nothing but the years you spent hiding who you were so he could feel big.

And Miles. If you are the one holding this, I want you to know I did not choose you for her. I chose you for the books. What came after was your own doing, and I hope very much that it is.

She stopped reading.

Her hand had gone to her mouth.

"He knew," she said, in a small voice.

"I think he guessed."

"He never said."

"He never said anything to anyone. He just sat in his chair and watched us all be fools."

She laughed, wetly, and wiped her eyes.

Then she looked up at me.

"You're frightened," she said.

I had not meant her to see.

"Yes."

"Of what?"

I told her, because I had never lied to her and I was not going to start now.

"That I'm the thing standing at the door," I said. "That in a month you'll wake up with a clear head and a baby and an empty calendar, and I'll be the man who was there. The nearest one."

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