Surrogate for the Alpha Prince in a Coma novel Chapter 321

Chapter 321

Lillian’s POV

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Fortunately, with the table between us, it wasn’t difficult to avoid his kiss. All I had to do was lean back, all the way against the chair. Like this, he needed another inch or two to close the distance, which he just didn’t have.

“I’m sorry,” I said.

He closed his eyes and lowered his head. “I can’t convince you?”

“No,” I told him. “Not with money, or lavish trips. Not with anything.”

“I see.”

“Truly, Ben, I value our friendship, and I hope dearly that I can depend on you in the times ahead. Things are going to be difficult, I know that. But I can’t change my mind, my heart, or my morals. Even if I didn’t already love Grayson, I couldn’t just turn my back on him now.

“I was worried you might say something like that,” Benedict said, still not looking at me. “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry about this. You can’t blame me for attempting to follow my heart, can you?”

“No,” I said. “But I hope you can understand that I can’t return your feelings. I’m hopeful we can still be friends.”

“We’ll always be friends,” he said. Though the words should have been a promise, they felt somewhat distant. Maybe because he was avoiding my gaze now, I could feel an invisible wall coming up between us.

I had hoped, when accepting this meeting, that I could reconnect with my friend and even gain his support during the upcoming rebellion. Now, reminded of Grayson’s warning, I thought I had better keep the plans to myself.

I wanted to trust Benedict, but I just couldn’t risk Grayson to do it.

I knew I had hurt Benedict by refusing his advances. In time, after he’d had time for his wounds to heal, perhaps we could be the kind of friends I wanted to be. For now, I would be courteous but also guarded.

We ate our food in silence. When we did speak, it was only about innocuous things like the weather or new stores in town. After, I gave him another brief hug, somehow even shorter than last time. I paid my bill and left.

I was careful returning to the mansion, taking the long way, and ducking around a few corners to lose someone if I was being followed.

When I arrived back at the mansion, Grayson and his warrior advisors were back in another meeting. They seemed to be putting on the finishing touches of a plan. My stomach dropped when I overheard some of it.

It mainly involved Grayson putting himself on display before the Queen, using himself as the distraction while others sneaked down to rescue Prime Beta and the other supporters.

The minute the meeting ended, I went to Grayson. “I cannot agree with this plan.”

“It is the best way.”

“You would be putting yourself in way too much danger.”

Grayson softened, looking at me. He lifted a hand and placed it to my cheek. I leaned into it, cooling somewhat, but my worry was still a hurricane inside of me.

“If anything happens to you…” I said, trying to help him understand my concern.

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He seemed to. He stepped closer and swept his thumb back and forth over my cheekbone. “I have to be seen, Lily, and this is the best, most public way possible. Too many people still believe I am dead. A rebellion would never take hold unless the people have someone to support. When they see me, my return could be the spark that makes them demand change.”

Of course he was right, and showing up at his father’s funeral, coming back from his own grave, would be a dramatic entrance, enough to get people talking and maybe cause them to act.

But it was still dangerous, and I didn’t like that.

“I’m tired of watching you rush into danger,” I said.

He stepped closer, then leaned down and kissed me. “It will be over soon,” he promised.

Grayson’s POV

That evening, as Lily went to tend to the children, I returned to my study to go through my mail. In the pile, I discovered a letter forwarded from the hospital. Seeing it, I froze. I knew what this was.

The paternity test results.

Inside of this envelope was the truth about my family. Were the children mine biologically, or weren’t they?

I held the letter, so small for the giant news it held, but I hesitated to open it.

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