When the Billionaire Begs novel · Chapter 23 of 24
Chapter 23: On His Knees
The gravel was cold, and the guests stood behind the doors like a wall of black and gold.
Carlton knelt on the stone with his head up.
Phones rose in the crowd, one after another.
I looked at the lenses and then at him.
"Put them down," I said, to nobody and everybody. "All of you. Put them down."
The nearest phones lowered.
A few more followed.
Carlton stared at me.
"I didn't come to see him hurt on camera," I said. "I came to be paid."
"Claire," he said, hoarse. "I'm begging you."
"I heard you at the hospital."
"This isn't the hospital." His voice rose, and cracked, and he did not lower it. "I'll say it where everyone can hear. It was me, not only my mother. I put my hand on your wrist and bruised it, and I watched you cry."
Nobody moved on the steps.
"I want to give you everything. The house. The shares. My name, if you want it."
"I don't."
"Then tell me what you want."
"I want you to get up."
"I can't. Not until you tell me you'll try."
"Try what?"
"To forgive me."
I took a slow breath.
The cold air stung my throat.
I looked at the man I had slept beside for three years, the wide shoulders now bent, the sharp jaw trembling.
He was in more pain than I had ever seen him in.
I felt it, and it did not move me an inch.
"Carlton," I said. "No."
His face broke.
"I'm not saying it to punish you. I'm saying it because it's true. The woman who would have forgiven you died at that mixer, when she deleted the apology."
"I'll wait."
"Don't."
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