Chapter 37: Rushed to Surrender

The next three weeks rolled by in a blur. How could my life have been

overturned within a matter of 20 days? A small hump stretched the

skin of my abdomen and soon I wouldn't be able to fit the wedding

dress. I would make a sacrifice and marry Smith Mason for the sake of

the baby, but I prayed he wouldn't take it for granted.

  I rang Lily, and she became so elated that the phone line almost

busted from her screeching. And then I called Dane.

  "Don't do that, Livia," he warned through the wires.

  A thickness formed in my throat. "Do what?"

  "Settle for him." His voice was deep and confident.

  My shoulders fell as I blew out hot air. I knew he would say

something like that. "I'm out of choices."

  "Run away with me."

  Escaping from the craziness sat front and center on my mind, but

going with Dane would have been complete insanity. It was like