Our eyes locked, and I saw it clearly: the guilt and the shock that flashed across his face.
My heart seized like a fist had closed around it and squeezed. The pain was suffocating, radiating through every nerve, stinging my nose and scalding my eyes.
I opened my mouth, tried to make a sound, but Julian's gaze dropped to Grace Barnes's swollen belly, and he shot me a look. A warning.
Grace noticed him go still. She turned, curious, and when she saw me, a blush crept across her cheeks. She gently pushed Julian away.
Her voice was soft, explanatory.
"The housekeeper's on vacation, so I found an organizer online."
"Miss Harding can organize and cook. Two birds, one stone."
Then she turned to me, beaming with unmistakable happiness.
"Miss Harding, this is my husband, Julian Weiss. CEO of the Weiss Group."
"Sorry about the PDA." She let out a shy little laugh. "That's just how we are. He's always surprising me with sweet little gestures."
I forced my face into something that was supposed to be a smile. It probably looked worse than crying. I swallowed the lump in my throat and fought to keep my voice steady.
"Mr. Weiss treats you so well."