The Blackmail Baby by Natalie Rivers Read Free Book Online Page A

tiled wall and smoothed her hands over her hot face. Everything had come together in an unbearable build-up of misery. And at that moment it was impossible to separate her grief for her friend from her distress over the intolerable situation she’d found herself in with Lorenzo.
    The water continued to pour down and shereached automatically for the shampoo. For a few minutes she would take refuge in everyday necessities and routines.
    A little while later, wrapped securely in a fluffy white bathrobe, Chloe emerged from the en suite. Mrs Guest put down her book and looked up with a smile.
    ‘Mr Valente popped in,’ she said, making a knot tighten inside Chloe’s stomach. ‘He said that unfortunately he had to work late. But because he knew how tired you were, he would sleep in the guest room tonight—he said he didn’t want to disturb you or little Emma.’
    ‘Thank you for telling me,’ Chloe said. As Mrs Guest left, closing the door behind her, she wondered what the older lady had made of the message. While she and Lorenzo had been together they’d never slept in separate bedrooms.
    Chloe crawled into bed and tried to sleep, but although she was exhausted she couldn’t relax. All she could think about was Lorenzo’s final comment that she would remain his wife.
    She couldn’t understand why he had said that. It didn’t seem to make any sense. Deep in her heart she longed to stay married to Lorenzo—she still wanted everything she had wanted when she accepted his proposal to be his wife.
    But the situation was completely differentnow. She had Emma to consider. And now she knew that he did not love her.
     
    The following morning Chloe found herself alone in the house. Or rather, Lorenzo was not there. Mrs Guest was in the kitchen and her husband was working in the garden.
    Chloe busied herself looking after Emma, but her mind was full of confusing thoughts about the future, making it impossible for her to relax. So she carried Emma out into the garden, hoping to find a way to distract them both.
    Once again she was struck by what a beautiful place Lorenzo had bought. Chloe knew he hadn’t intended it to be their main home—he would never leave the grand Venetian palazzo, which had been in his family for generations. But this house with its clean modern lines and light, airy feel made a very pleasant complement to the ornate, history-filled palace.
    ‘Good morning!’ Mr Guest appeared around the corner of the house carrying a box, which appeared to contain some kind of baby’s toy.
    ‘Hello.’ Chloe smiled. It was a relief that Lorenzo had employed such a friendly, down-to-earth couple to look after the house. She’d always felt slightly uncomfortable around his formal and super-efficient staff in Venice.
    ‘I thought the little one might like a turn in this.’He held up the box and Chloe realised that it contained a high-backed baby’s swing seat. ‘I don’t know how old she is, but it says on the box that it’s suitable for infants six months and up.’
    ‘She’s five and a half months now,’ Chloe said, looking down at the baby in her arms, ‘but she holds herself well, and I’m sure she’d love to try it.’
    She followed Mr Guest back round the corner, to a charming children’s play area, complete with swings, slides, a climbing frame and a covered box that Chloe assumed was a sandpit.
    ‘This is amazing,’ she said as she watched Mr Guest attach the swing seat to the wooden frame. ‘Did the previous people have children?’
    ‘I don’t think so. Mr Valente had this done when he bought the place. I know neither of you realised you’d have a little one so soon, but your husband is obviously very keen on kids. There we are,’ he added, stepping back and eyeing his work to ensure the seat was hanging level. ‘Give that a try.’
    ‘Thank you,’ Chloe said, as she carefully secured Emma in the seat and gave her a little push. But Mr Guest’s comment about Lorenzo had taken her