Page 20 of Pregnant By A Rich Demon 2

And then she started crying.

Not the pretty kind of crying—the ugly kind. The kind that came from somewhere deep and broken, the kind that had been held back for too long.

I wrapped my arms around her and held on.

“I’m sorry,” she sobbed into my shoulder. “I’m so sorry for being such a bitch to you about everything.”

“You weren’t a bitch.”

“Yes, I was.” She pulled back, wiping her face with the back of her hand. “I been giving you so much shit about the surrogacy, and the baby daddy, and all of it. The whole time, I been drowning and too proud to say anything.”

“You were protecting me,” I said. “That’s what you do. That’s what you’ve always done.”

“But you didn’t need protecting.” She laughed through the tears. “You been handling your business this whole time, and I been treating you like you stupid.”

“I am stupid,” I said. “I’m pregnant by a man I barely know, carrying a baby I’m supposed to give away, and I’m pretty sure I’m in love with him, even though he has a whole other life.”

Raven’s eyes went wide.

“Youlovehim?”

I winced.

“Long story.”

“Truth!”

“Later,” I said quickly. “Right now, we’re talking about you and your new shop, which I want to see. Today.”

She stared at me for a long moment.

Then she folded the check carefully and tucked it into her bra.

“Okay,” she said quietly. “Okay.”

She stood and grabbed her comb.

“But first I’m finishing your hair,” she said, her voice steadier now. “Because you look a mess, and I got a reputation to maintain.”

I smiled.

“Yes, ma’am.”

I sat back in the chair and watched her work in the mirror.

Her hands were still shaking slightly, but her face had softened.

The hardness was still there—it always would be with Raven—but underneath it now was something softer.

Gratitude.

Relief.

And maybe, just maybe, the beginning of letting someone else carry some of the weight.

“Thank you,” she said quietly, not looking at me.

“You’re welcome.”