Page 71 of Modern Romance May 2026 Books 1-4
‘I’m sorry—’ He broke off and swore. ‘But your brother, parents, friends, home, school, you lost everything. I’m sorry your brother died. I get they were grieving, but they shouldn’t have done that to you—’
‘But they did and I’m better off without them in my life.’
‘You’re not in touch with them at all?’ he asked. ‘Your brother?’
‘I’ve sent care packages to him but had no reply.’
‘Lily…’
A hard lump formed in her throat and she couldn’t look up. She didn’t want to allow his anger to soothe her. She didn’t want to revisit the wounds that she’d worked hard to hide, but were still raw. She hadn’t told him to get his sympathy. He simply needed to understand why he had to keep his distance. ‘They think I’m disloyal and when they find out about you, they’ll strike. They’ll ask for things.’ They were greedy and entitled in a different way to him, in a worse way. ‘They’ll damage you, Massimo. They’ll cause gossip and scandal and—’
‘You don’t need to worry about me. I can handle them.’ He put his hand over hers. ‘Youdon’t want everything in your life exposed. It still hurts.’
Of course it still hurt.
‘Rejectionalwayshurts,’ she said roughly. ‘Especially when it’s people who are supposed to love you.’
The pain of their rejection—that absolute ostracism—wasn’t something she’d ever allow to happen to her again.
‘ButI’mokay.’ She didn’t want him pitying her. ‘And I had support. Derek and Jean were incredible. They let me live in the caravan at the edge of their property the whole time I was an apprentice. I—’
‘A caravan?’ he interrupted, incredulous. ‘Not their house?’
‘I didn’t want that,’ she said stiffly.
He had no right to judge them; that had been her choice. She was never going to invade the older couple’s space. They’d been more than generous enough to her.
‘I needed my independence and the caravan was wonderful,’ she said defensively. ‘It’s cosy and safe and I can heat it in minutes. I have everything I need in the one room.’
‘You still live there?’ His incredulity didn’t lessen.
‘While I’m in the travelling crew. I like going back there. They don’t charge me nearly enough rent. I still owe them.’
She’d never wanted to overstep—she’d needed help but tried to take as little as possible and paid back in volunteer hours at the track.
‘I’ll take care of it,’ he said.
‘No, it’smydebt,’ she said huskily. ‘I wouldn’t have told you if I’d thought you’d do that. That’snotwhat I want—’
‘But it’s what can happen.’ His nostrils flared. ‘Whatshouldhappen.’
‘Because you’ve gotten me pregnant?’ She shook her head. He didn’t need to assume entire responsibility for her life’s failures. She didn’t need rescuing and she didn’t want to cause him more problems than he’d ever intended to take on. ‘You’re missing the point. Wecan’tmarry. You can’t have in-laws who—’
‘Sound like they’re not going to impact on us, given they have nothing to do with you,’ he interrupted bluntly.
She winced. ‘But they’ll try. And people will find out. They’ll probably try to sell secrets they don’t even know. And all your precious sponsors, all those brand collaborations with the drivers. No one willtrustyou if you’re with me. They’re small time but they’re still scandalous. They’ll tarnish your reputation.’
‘Wealthy people can weather all kinds of controversies. We get away with almost anything,’ he said quietly. ‘A few criminal elements is nothing. Every family has them. Half the wealthy are dodgy, you know.’
‘Not like this.’ She shook her head. ‘You care too much about your company to let any connection with me wreck it.’
He smiled. ‘If you’re that worried, we’ll get the social media team to soft launch us. It’ll be fine.’
Soft launch? ‘You mean we’ll be a PR strategy?’ She was utterly offended. ‘So I’m like a product? Do I need personal branding? I’m not going to be a commodity you’re going to sell to the public.’
Would the baby be another product eventually?
So. Not. Fine.
