Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 61942 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 310(@200wpm)___ 248(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61942 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 310(@200wpm)___ 248(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
I didn’t want to think about it.
“And he lied to you,” she said. “He was using you the entire time. You don’t owe him anything.”
Even if that were true, my heart continued to weep.
“Victor is handsome, strong, wealthy, and Dad likes him—”
“You’re really pushing for this, aren’t you?”
“Well, it would be a dream come true. We could be a close family again. I know nothing would make Daddy happier.”
Yes, having me under his thumb would really bring him joy.
“Victor said you two were really happy once.”
It was so long ago it was hard to remember, but we had been happy. If I hadn’t been raped, we’d probably still be married, about to celebrate our ninth wedding anniversary, having two little ones running around. “Catherine?”
“Yeah?”
“How would you feel if Victor were hurting me?”
All the color drained from her face.
“How would you feel if you knew he’d given me a broken arm?”
“That’s not fair—”
“It is fair, Catherine. Maybe you don’t care about yourself as much as you should, so imagining it happening to someone you love will help you understand. You don’t have kids, so it would be easy for you to leave.”
“Easy? I told you what would happen if I did that. I would lose everything.”
“And money is more important than happiness?”
“Laura, money is happiness.”
That was all my family cared about. Money and power. And if that were ever threatened, they would do anything to protect it. Literally. “Happiness is living a life that doesn’t revolve around money. Happiness is being at peace with whatever hand you’ve been dealt. You’re dependent on something for joy, which means you’re a prisoner to it, which means you’ll never truly be happy.”
Victor sat across from me in the restaurant, wearing a tight shirt on his muscled arms. He’d shaved that morning, so his hard jawline was on display. I used to think he was the most handsome man I’d ever seen, but now he came in second to someone else.
“Not hungry?” Victor had his arms on the table, a fork in one hand and a knife in the other.
“Not so much.”
“Didn’t go well with Catherine?”
“She’s brainwashed.”
“I’ll do all I can to keep Lucas on his best behavior.”
“I appreciate that, but that’s not your responsibility. Catherine should leave him.”
“Catherine has never known anything outside her father’s world. I’m not surprised.”
“And he did that by design.” He liked everything to be under his control. That included people.
He took a few bites of his food then washed it down with red wine.
“Catherine told me I’m being watched.”
“I figured you would be.”
“Are they watching you too?”
“I don’t think so. Leonardo knows I’d been trying to make things right with you long before this all happened. I’m sure he assumes I’m pouncing because you’re available again.”
I looked down at my food, uncomfortable by what he’d said. “How’s your mom?”
“The same. Still drops off meals on a weekly basis.”
“That’s ironic since I never cooked for you anyway.”
He gave a shrug. “She’s upset that I’m still a bachelor. Worries about me.”
“And your dad?”
Now his eyes flinched. “Passed away a couple years ago.”
My heart gave a tug because I’d loved his parents. They were good people. “I’m sorry, Victor.”
“Years pass, and it gets better…but only so much.”
“If it helps…I know how you feel.”
His eyes locked on mine. “I know you do—and I wish you didn’t.”
Silence stretched between us. It went on for a long time, neither one of us knowing what to say.
Then he spoke again. “Your father is having this big party next weekend. I think you should come with me.”
“Really?”
“You need to start spending time with him if you want this plan to work.”
It was ironic. I wanted to earn his trust and affection, but I didn’t actually want to spend time with him. “I guess.”
“And it’s a chance for them to see us together instead of spying on us.”
“Yeah…”
“So that’s a yes?”
“Guess it is.”
I checked my appearance in the full-length mirror. A little black dress with my mother’s diamond earrings. Sky-high heels that hurt my feet the moment I put them on. A knock sounded on the door, and I felt a bit sick.
Sick for a lot of reasons.
When Victor saw me, his eyes quickly dragged over my body like he couldn’t resist a look. He was in a suit, and he always looked handsome in a suit. He didn’t say a word as we left the apartment and headed to his car downstairs.
The drive was spent in silence.
My phone was in my clutch. My stomach was in my throat.
We arrived at the party, the valet took the car, and we walked inside.
Victor’s hand went to my lower back.
I almost jumped out of my skin when he touched me.
He caught my eye. “Is this okay?”
No one had touched me since Bartholomew. Even though it meant nothing, it felt like a betrayal. I gave a nod.