The Beautiful Billionaire

LINDEN

“Wow. You’re gonna be a father?” Willa hugged me so tight. “I can’t wait to be an aunt. And dang, you and Estelle will have cute mini Estelle and Gabe.”

“Thanks.” My word- a single lifeless word came out of my mouth since I left Estelle, and it didn’t miss from everyone’s kin ears.

“Why so glum, Gabriel Rembrandt?”

“What’s wrong, son?” Moses asked.

I looked at Moses. “You seem not surprised?”

“I’ve known it in a while now.”

My eyes narrowed. “And you did not tell me? Why?”

“It’s not my secret to tell. And I warned you. Haven’t I told you to stop moping and do something before you regret it? And I even told you your life would drastically change, but having a child didn’t come to your mind.”

“You two had a fight,” Quinn said. I called him out from his team because I needed him when I met who had Jasper.

“Yeah. I was furious. She was about to marry that piece of-” I still had that shiver every time I remembered Weston. It sickened me. “While she has my child.” The words of my child were music to my ear, and my heart skipped a bit, knowing I was going to be a father in a few months until I fucked up big time.

“I’ve known Estelle for years. She hated that dick- one of many reasons she ran away. She would rather lose Star and be poor than sacrifice herself or your child. Trust me. She always finds a way to do the right thing. She could be selfless for the better, but she could be selfish for the right thing.”

“Klayton Weston is a manwhore who thinks he rules the world. He has big dreams but waits until it falls on his lap. He’s not a good man for Estelle.” Kye patted my shoulder. “You, on the other hand, may not be perfect, but you will be a good father. Estelle needs you now, brother. She can’t keep that up. She’s strong and can withstand strong emotions but still needs a baby daddy. Whatever happened in the past, let it be in the past. Let it be a lesson for both of you that keeping secrets can ruin a relationship. And I know you have a lot on your plate right now. This Jasper case won’t be over anytime soon. Be with her, man.” That was inspiring, even if I didn’t know how to unscrew my life.

“What is your plan, Gabe?”

I looked at Willa and shrugged. “I have no fucking idea.”

Sax shook to laugh. “So our wingman here has no clue now that the table has turned? You were there for them when Rome and Princess Charlotte were in trouble. So as for Cade and London. You had Cenric and Sadie’s back all the time. You even helped Mykel and Adley. You always put what’s broken back together and make it strong. Sleep it over, or get drunk. Tomorrow is a new day. You will gonna be a father, man. Be with Estelle.”

“I know it must have been painful finding out the truth from someone like Hanslo, and you found it too late, but think about Estelle’s feelings. She must be shocked. And she was in the middle of chaos, losing her battle against two people she once trusted. She stood her ground and fought against her father and someone like Tyrion. She was vulnerable but went to battle, son. Give her a break. I’m sure she was planning on telling you, and she wants to stay and be with you because she wasn’t running away after getting her company back and finding out she had your child.”

I managed to nod slightly at Moses.

“You really didn’t notice anything?” Sax asked.

“Like what, dickhead?” Kye elbowed him.

“I was just asking because pregnant gets the tummy big, and the period stops.”

“I don’t know.” I shrugged again, still in absolute despair after fucking things up with Estelle. “I just didn’t think she would keep secrets from me, I guess, especially when it comes to bigger than the both of us kind of secret. I trusted her, that’s all. I felt she was hiding something from me, but not about our child.” I sighed, running my fingers through my hair. “I guess I was just hurt that it’s been weeks, and if she could keep-”

“Whoa. Whoa. You and she have a lot of things to learn from each other, trials to face, but don’t go there,” Sax said.

“One thing that is clear to me is she doesn’t want to get married. She’s scared of history repeating itself. Look at me.” I gazed at Sax. “I grew up without a mother figure. Her parents cannot stand with each other. And now I feel like I’m losing my shit, and I just said something to her that I don’t think I could take it back.”

“Oh, boy,” Sax was the first to react before everyone sighed and sagged against the couch.

On the other hand, Moses just looked at me more sympathetically than judgment.

“What did you say, Gabe?” Grunting, Willa asked.

“It’s nothing, Willa.”

“Oh, my God. Do you really think I would believe you with that look? Dad will be thrilled, though.”

“What did you say, Son?”

I knew it would blow back in my face, but since they asked, then they would have it. “I told her I’m marrying her for the kid.”

“Oh, my God! You’re so dead, Gabriel Rembrandt!” Willa was so pissed off she threw and emptied her drink into my face. “You are dead to me if you won’t take it back and apologize to your pregnant girlfriend. She’s pregnant for crying out loud! She must be so hurt and alone, abandoned by her jerk baby daddy. You jerk. Dad raised you to be better than that, Gabe. You truly disappoint me, asshole.”

“Willa, calm down, honey. They say, strike while the iron is hot. He will see Estelle and apologize, and he will propose like normal people, or I will withdraw all my support.”

I was losing my own argument as I turned to Moses, wiping the drink off my face. “You’re kidding me. Now I’m gonna be a father. I need all the support than ever.”Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

“Am I? Why do you think I threw you to Sicily? Do you think I wanted you to bring her home and let her be with that piece of garbage who thinks nothing but his junk? I’m not a matchmaker, but I know you will be good together. Despite growing up with a terrible father, she’s good with her mom and everyone, and she never stops reaching her dreams even though her father gave up on her before she even started. Does that ring any bell?”

I just blew a breath because what he said was true.

“Your father is a good man and never gave up on both of you. You have faced losses, your ex cheated on you, and people turned you down on your dreams, but you never gave up. You have the same resilience as Estelle. And you never gave up on the people you love. I knew Estelle was placed in a tough situation and faced difficult decisions over the last few weeks, understand her reason. You may have this heroism that you are willing to give up for us but think about her after losing everything she worked hard for years, and she still has to think how to raise a child without a ground to stand on.”

“She has me.”

“She doesn’t know that, man.” Sax glared. “You don’t do relationships.”

“I told her I didn’t want to fool around anymore. From the start, she knew I wasn’t looking for a fling,” I barked back.

“She’s not ready to settle down. You can’t just shove it on her.” Quinn had me shut up.

I slumped back into the chair.

“Now, what is your plan, big brother?” Willa was still furious.

Now it was my turn to throw a fit. “Why is it everyone thinks I’m the bad guy here? She’s the one who lied to me and kept our baby a secret from me for weeks. Should I just let it go?”

“Yes!” they replied in unison.

“Wow! You guys are dicks. You never consider my feelings.”

“You’re old and will get over with it.”

“Fuck you, Ryder!” I glared at Sax, who seemed happy than pissed.

“When is the wedding?”

“Next week,” Moses replied Quinn.

“It’s my wedding. I will plan for it, not you.” My eyes narrowed at Moses. I had no right to be mad at him, but he could have just told me that Estelle was pregnant, and it wouldn’t have come down to this.

“You want after tomorrow?”

I groaned in annoyance. “I kind of tell her it’s okay for me to get divorced after she gives birth.”

“Oh, God! I hate you right now, Gabriel! You better shut up, or I will pull your hair out of your scalp. You said nothing good tonight. God!”

“Calm down, or you will have an early heart attack. You can raise his kid, Willa.”

“Tell that to that asshole of a brother.” She shot back at Kye.

When Moses went silent, I suddenly felt nervous. Then he got up and walked away.

“Where is he going?” Quinn asked.

When Moses reached the door, he called my name. “Get your ass up from that chair and come with me.”

“Good luck,” Sax said to mock me.

I followed him. I didn’t expect him to take me to his study. Once inside, he sighed, which frightened me even more.

“You don’t wanna raise your kid out of wedlock. Then you should marry her sooner because I know you won’t stop looking for Jasper.”

I nodded.

“These people are dangerous, way more dangerous than Siciliano.”

“You know?”

“Hanslo didn’t tell you the name, but I already knew.”

“He said about Yelena’s relatives.”

“Have you heard about Nikolae Vasilyev?”

“No.” I shook my head.

“Because none would ever mention that name. Jasper is with Ilya, his firstborn. The man was groomed to replace his father. Nikolae is sick. If my data is correct, he has terminal cancer. Ilya wouldn’t want someone to take over his seat if not his blood, but he’s not married or has a kid. Do you know who would be the next in line?”

“Sadie?”

“Yeah. That’s why Jasper sacrifices his freedom for Sadie, and I don’t think Cenric will allow that and Sadie will ever take over that position and be involved with criminals. Then we will all be in danger and die because this person will not just fire a gun. They have bigger plans just to get what they want.”

“What should I do?”

“Get married. Meet Jasper to get closure.”

“I can’t give up on him.”

“You’re not, but you must find peace and cut him loose for all our sake. You’re also prolonging his life, our lives, and everyone around you. You can’t just think about saving Jasper anymore. I know what he means to you, but you’re going to be a father. The right thing you can do is give them a safe place to live. Try to be reasonable and selfish sometimes, son. No one will blame you for doing that.”

“Thank you.”

“You don’t need to thank me. What I want you to do is apologize to your pregnant girlfriend. Fiancee.”