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“The hell you will,” her father snarled behind her. “Ian can discuss this one. ”
She could see the pain Ian was hiding so carefully. What had she done? He counted her father as one of his few, true friends, and now she had come between them. Without the time it would have taken for Ian to see how he truly loved her, he was being torn between his friendship and his lusts.
“Daddy. ” She turned back slowly, staring beseechingly at the father who had always praised her, spoiled her, taught her to fight for what she believed in. “Daddy, please don’t do this. Please leave, just for a few moments. ”
She was trembling, fighting her tears as her gaze met her mother’s, pleading for her help.
“Courtney, I will tell you one last time to step from this room. ” His voice lowered, his tone that of command. One she had never refused to obey in her life.
She was breathing harshly now, seeing everything she had fought these weeks for crumbling at her feet.
“No. ”
He moved toward her.
“Dane, stay the hell back from her. ” Before Courtney could protest, Ian had pushed her behind him, his arm holding her in place as Khalid cursed violently.
Dane stopped, glaring at the three of them.
“Do you think I would hurt my only fucking daughter?” he snarled, as Marguerita placed a delicate hand on his arm. “After the hell I survived thinking I had lost her and Marguerite both, you think I would ever raise my fucking hand against her?”
“Dane, don’t let the past repeat itself with Courtney,” she begged him then. “Please, let us leave the room for now. This can wait. Please do not do this thing. ”
“Dammit, Marguerita, she’s our daughter. Do you think he didn’t know what he was doing…?”
“Do you think she didn’t,” Marguerita argued furiously then. “You are making the same decisions my family made for us, Dane. Denying her a choice. Only your methods are different. ”
Courtney laid her head against Ian’s back, a sob shaking her body as she fought to hold back the sound.
Ian would never, ever forgive her now.
“I will remind you, wife,” he snapped. “It was not your best friend, nor mine, who betrayed us. But I’ll be damned if I’ll let Ian break her heart. ”
“Stop,” Courtney cried out raggedly, jerking away from Ian, her fists tightening in the comforter she held around her until she faced both men, blinking back the liquid pain threatening to fall from her eyes. “Do you think he tricked me into his bed?” she yelled furiously. “Don’t you think he did everything to keep me from it? I seduced him—”
A sharp, mocking laugh met her words.
“You’re a baby, Courtney. Ian’s a hell of a lot older and more experienced. He knew how to say no. ”
“No. ” She shook her head desperately. “I love him…” She ignored Ian’s flinch, knowing the damage caused by her father’s arrival would be difficult to repair. She prayed it wouldn’t be impossible. “Please, Father, I’m begging you…”
“And does he love you?” her father snarled, turning to Ian. “Answer me, Ian,” he sneered. “Do you love her?”
Everything inside her began to crumble. The second stretched out to eternity as Ian stared back at her, regret darkening his eyes. All sound muted within the room, all but the sound of her heart as she stared back at him, her gaz
e locked with his, her heart breaking as she watched the denial coming.
There was such regret in his eyes. Affection, yet, it was there, the same affection that had always been in his eyes for her. But there was no love, no realization.
“I’m sorry, Courtney…” His voice was soft, filled with apology. “Your father’s right. I should have denied you. ”
She felt something crash inside her, fragmenting. A whimper passed her lips, though she had promised herself if this day ever came, she wouldn’t cry. She wouldn’t regret.
Surely he just didn’t realize he loved her. That was all it was, she assured herself.
“That’s okay…” Her eyes were burning as she fought her tears, her sight cloudy as she fought to find a way, any way… “It can come…”
He was shaking his head, his expression closed, cold.
