Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 76840 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76840 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
“Y-yes.”
“But there’s nothing. There’s nothing except this.” He pressed his lips to his sister’s head. “You can’t live the rest of your life with this much pain in your heart. It’s impossible. You must find the courage to face him again, Annie – if not for your sake, then for us. Do it for us.”
Three
“You will likely say I am being biased again, but you have progressed a lot since the first time you came to me, mio figlio.”
“You’re right, Padre Adolfo. I don’t believe you.” Marcus’ tone was faintly ironic, but the twitch of his lips effectively softened the words. “You are a priest before a psychologist, I think. Being optimistic is intrinsic in your line of work.”
The bespectacled white-haired man seated in front of him laughed. “You, on the other hand, are too hard on yourself.” Leaning forward, the priest gave his young and most generous benefactor a brief pat on the hand. “You are a changed man, Marcus.”
The Italian billionaire didn’t speak.
Leaning back, the priest said with an understanding smile, “I may not be as pessimistic as you are, but you must also remember that my, err, line of work prohibits me from lying.”
There was a moment of silence before Marcus inclined his head, saying with a faint grimace, “Touché, Padre.”
“Know that the words weren’t meant to score a point. They’re only to open your eyes to who you’ve become.” Standing up from his armchair to signify the end of their counseling session, the priest offered his hand to the younger man, saying firmly, “No more looking back, Marcus. You are a different man now. Not perfect, but then only God is. What you are now is the best man you can be – and you can only be better when you finally take that leap of faith we have been preparing the entire year for.”
The priest’s words remained with Marcus even when he had long left the parish and was boarding his jet for a half-day flight to Europe. Padre Adolfo made it sound so damn easy, but he knew that when the moment to take the said fucking leap came – he wasn’t sure at all if he would be able to do it.
The last twelve months had not been good to Marcus Ravelli. Every damn day was still a constant struggle, and when he was alone – like now – he couldn’t help questioning himself. Even if he did change – even if he had changed – was that enough to make him deserving of another chance with Anneke?
Being served divorce papers had brought Marcus to the lowest point of his life, and he had ceased caring about anything, anyone, and certainly not himself. His company would’ve gone belly-up if not for Jaike urging her husband Derek Christopoulos to make a timely intervention. The couple had been the only ones unafraid of him – and cared enough for him – to keep Marcus from self-destructing. Even so, he had resisted their every effort to help him, his manner violent and abrasive until that one day the Greek billionaire had bailed him out of jail.
“Drunken fights are your thing now?” Derek asked pleasantly as soon as Marcus stumbled inside the limousine after him.
“Fuck you.”
“You’re welcome.” As the limousine sped away, the younger man suggested, “How about a bargain?”
Marcus only looked at the Greek billionaire, and when the other man raised his eyebrow at him as if expecting an answer, he said derisively, “I’m supposed to be the drunk one here.”
“You are, but my offer also stands true. Let me tell you a story, and if you still choose not to straighten up your act, then we’ll stay out of your hair, permanently.”
“You’re either fucking pulling my leg or you’re insane. Do you think you’re fucking Scheherazade and you can change my fucking mind just because of one goddamn story?”
The younger man only shrugged. “Take it or leave it. That’s the only offer you’ll get from me.”
Marcus shook his head, muttering in disgust, “Suit yourself. Talk away.”
“Well then—-”
“Aren’t you going to start with ‘once upon a fucking time’?” he sneered.
Derek only smiled. “If you think it matters, then why not?” Turning away, the Greek billionaire settled his green gaze on the passing scenery outside the car window. “Once upon a fucking time, I treated Jaike like a slut.”
Marcus stiffened in his seat.
But it had only gotten worse, and every goddamn word was like a bucket of ice-cold water pouring down his head. Marcus had thought he was long past feeling anything, but with every word Derek spoke—-
He realized he could still feel.
And when the Greek billionaire was done, Marcus could only ask numbly, “Why?” Why would Derek Christopoulos reveal to him such a thing?
“Because you’re acting like you’re the only man who could hurt the woman he loves.” Derek’s lips twisted. “But as you now know, that’s not true at all. In fact, between the two of us – which do you think is the bigger monster?”