Carrying An Heir For The Wrong Billionaire

CONRAD My brows furrowed as I glanced at the familiar yet strange figure in front of me. You? What are you doing here?" I asked. She slowly pulled her son closer to her, staring at me. She opened her mouth to speak, but shut it quickly. She just stared. Her silence was irritating and annoying. I tightened my jaw, tucked my hands in my pockets and strode to her. "When I ask a question , I expect an answer immediately," I said, stopping a few inches away from where she stood. She tightened her grip on her son's hand and cleared her throat. "I came here to meet Mr Conrad Pierre," she began, her voice firm. "I am his soon to be wife." I narrowed my eyes, looking at her. "Soon to be wife? Who are you?" "Amelia Hughes, the substitute bride you wanted." I scoffed. Substitute bride. She definitely wasn't pleased by that fact. "Momma, where are we?" the little boy asked, looking at her. My brows furrowed again as I glanced at him. He looked at me as if scanning my features. It was the same boy. His face was filled with happiness and vulnerability. Something that was long gone from me. And that was when it hit me. She was Hughes' daughter and the child probably belonged to her. "Who is he? And why are you with him?" I asked, freeing my hands from my pockets and pointing at the little boy. She glanced at him, then back at me. "He is my son. Noah." I looked at the boy again and he was staring at me, his wavy hair covering his green eyes. I looked away and turned to face the other side of the room. "Those lying humans," I said under my breath. They never mentioned a child with her. "There will be no problem, Mr Pierre," her mother had said. Now, the little child would be a problem to me. I couldn't have a vulnerable human staying with me in the same house. Ever. I turned to face her, clearly avoiding the child's gaze. "You may leave here." "What?" "You will no longer be a substitute bride, so you can leave at once." "What do you mean by__" "I can't have your son causing nuisance around here, especially if you can't control him," I interrupted, my voice cold. "I can control my son," she said, patting her child's hair. "What happened at the hospital was a mistake. He didn't mean to bump into you." "Whatever. I don't need a substitute anymore." She left her son's hand and shook her palms together. "If it's because of that incident, I'm sorry and it won't happen again," she said, her voice suddenly soft. I glanced at my watch, figuring out the time. "I don't really care about any of that. You need to leave now." She stood motionless, staring at me, her eyes faltering. She squeezed her hands, unable to utter a word. "Didn't you hear anything I said? Why are you still here?" Amelia's chin quivered, but she stood her ground, pulling Noah closer to her side. "I... I can't go back, Mr Pierre," she finally managed, her voice barely above a whisper, yet laced with a desperation she couldn't hide well. I scoffed, a humorless sound. "That is hardly my concern. I don't want your son anywhere around me." "He's a good boy and he behaves well," she said, with slight confidence in her eyes. There's no one else to take care of him except for me. I will ensure he causes no trouble." "That's absurd," I snapped, about to tell her off when a calm voice interrupted me. "Mr Conrad," my assistant, Colton called. I turned to look at him as he stood beside the staircase, his hands crossed at his back. "What is it this time?" I asked, as I strode to him. Annoyance had already filled my voice. "I don't think it's a good idea telling her to leave," he whispered. "Crap!" "You have to reconsider it, Mr Conrad. If she leaves, you won't find another bride within a day." I exhaled, loosening the tie on my neck. "That child, Colton. He is everything I was. Everything I hated, and everything I wish would never come near me again." My breath was becoming uneven, sweat appearing on my neck. The room suddenly felt hot and I felt like I was suffocating. I didn't want to remember any past events. I didn't want to have to go back to rehab because of the hatred I'm feeling once again. Colton glanced at the child, then at me. "Keep it together, Mr Conrad. You can't afford failing your father and making him think you're not worthy of anything. "To hell with failing him," I muttered. "About the child... you can think of what you'll do to stay away from him," Colton said, his voice calm. "But the lady needs to stay." I ran a hand through my hair, my jaw tight. The very thought of that child in my home, a constant reminder of vulnerability and the past I desperately tried to bury was intolerable. Yet, Colton was right. This was the last chance I had to claim what my father had denied me. "Very well then," I said and turned to leave, walking to where Amelia stood. Just then, her son stepped forward and tried to touch my hand, but I quickly stepped back. "Stay put, Noah," Amelia said, pulling him back to her. "Don't walk around or try to touch anyone." I cleared my throat, and looked at her, my eyes hardened. "First, keep him far away from me." She nodded in affirmation, gripping her son's hand tightly. "The wedding will take place tomorrow morning," I said firmly. Darn that old man. My father had insisted that I shouldn't go ahead with the wedding preparations until he returned from his trip to Rome-for the third time this month. He might have guessed that I was up to no good again. At least, it wouldn't be the first time his intuition was right. "I still don't want your son anywhere around this house." "I am the only person he has," she said, her voice cracking. "He won't cause you any harm, please__" I shook my head, frustration brewing. "You can keep him with you only on one condition."