“After the faked suicide,” I go on in whispers. “I’ll set you up here, in the house. I’ll keep Anders working for me. You know him, the butler?”
She nods and I cuddle her against my body, trying to make her feel better.
“He won’t tell a soul. We can trust him.”
“What about the rest of the staff?” she wants to know.
“I’ll fire everyone. We can’t risk this coming out. You’ll have free reign of the premises. You can do whatever the hell you want – we can even travel together – as long as nobody from Eden Falls sees you. Just Anders and me.”
“But for how long?”
I knew this question would come next, and I also know I’m woefully underprepared for it.
I close the distance between us, kissing her lips gently.
“I’m assuming your father will bring the other girl here?” I ask, and she nods. “Well, then he’ll still want me to marry her. You know he needs this alliance between our families. And I’ll go along with it, pretend I’ll get married to the new girl.”
“But you don’t even know her,” she whines. “What if she’s terrible? An awful, whiny, annoying bitch?”
“Nothing like you, huh?” I grin at her wickedly, and she smacks my forearm. “Kidding. It doesn’t matter what she’s like, because I’ll never, ever feel anything for her.”
She gives me a doubtful look. “Even if she’s pretty?”
“Pretty?” I repeat. “I don’t give a shit about pretty. I have the most stunning girl in the world already.”
Seemingly pleased with my answer, she grins, even though another tear’s sliding down her cheek as we speak. “What happens after?”
I squeeze her hand, knowing the next part of the plan will be the worst for her to hear.
“I go along with the plan, but I never marry her,” I say softly. “You know your father-err, Emilian Oakes just wants an heir. A kid that’s got his blood and my own. So, I’ll just give him that.”
“W-What?” she asks, her bottom lip jutting out in obvious disagreement. “You’re going to marry her and have kids?”
“No,” I smirk. “I’m going to fuck her the moment she gets here. Knock her up. Then Oakes has what he wants, and you can come out of hiding. I’ll marry you.”
“But she’ll have your kid, Dexter,” she shakes her head angrily. “This is a horrible, sick plan.”
“It won’t mean anything to me,” I insist. “I’m just giving Oakes what he wants so he’ll leave us alone. So we can start a life together.”
“But I don’t want you to sleep with her,” she whispers, more tears sleeping down her cheeks.
“It won’t mean anything,” I say, making her look at me. “It won’t mean anything, baby… The only thing that matters is right here before me. You’re all I want. I don’t give a shit about this new girl.”
“Her name’s Pandora,” Lily Anna sniffles.
“A really stupid fucking name,” I say, and she manages a smile. “It sounds like a name for a toy, a doll, not a real person.”
“You’re serious about this,” Lily Anna finally manages. “You’d really do that. For me.”
“I’d do anything for you,” I tell her. “Fucking anything, you know that.”
She stares at me, shakily asking, “So there’s really nothing else we can do?”
“No,” I shake my head. “
I don’t think so. Even if I help you hide, one of the two families will find you and demand you return. There’s gonna be a fucking legal battle over this. It’ll get fucking ugly, baby.”
“I can’t believe this is my life,” she sobs. “I don’t want this to be my life!”