“Thank you,” I say, placing my hand on her forearm, stroking it with my thumb. Sylvie watches, her throat working on a swallow. “For the money.”
She shifts, and I let my hand fall. “I want you to be free,” she says. “If you ever decide you don’t want to stay with Rafe. And this way, you have more than enough to buy your own place somewhere. You wouldn’t even have to rent.”
“Thank you.” I pull her into that hug anyway, not wanting to tell her that I’m never leaving Rafe, ever. She might not realise there’s anything better for her out there than Dickhead Dave, but I’ve found it. I know that a love exists that soothes your soul and heals your heart and makes you seeeverythingdifferently.
Sylvie stiffens for a few seconds, but then she melts, clinging onto me harder than she normally would before stepping back. “I’ll see you soon. I’m happy for you. Really.”
She leaves, and my own happiness is dampened, knowing she’s unhappy. But Sylvie’s always been so desperate to do the right thing, be thegood girl, that she’d have to break into a thousand pieces before she let Dave go. I can’t begin to understand it.
I take my phone from my pocket and check my bank account, and sure enough, it has over two million in it.
I’m still staring at the screen when Rafe kisses my neck, sliding his arm around my waist from behind. I didn’t hear him approach, but I love the proprietary way he touches me now, knowing he can, knowing I want him to. “You okay?” he whispers.
I lean back, letting him hold me. “Yeah. Sylvie gave me half the proceeds from the St James’ flat. So I’m a millionaire, I guess?”
He chuckles against my neck. “Lucky you. I’m a billionaire. Did you know that?”
I spin around and kiss him, then push my palm against his chest to keep him at arm’s length. “Careful, mister. I have a nest egg now. I can run away any time.”
He pulls me closer. “Please don’t.”
I sink into his embrace, staring up into his dark eyes, brimming with love. “Never.”
He kisses me gently, but when he pulls back, his eyes are wary.
“What?” I ask.
“I had a call from Nico Hawkston,” he says, mentioning Seb’s older brother. “He wants to do the hotel deal with your dad. The one that fell through because you and Seb—”
“Didn’t get married?”
“Yes.” He frowns. “He wanted to know if you minded. Said he wouldn’t do it if you did.”
“What did you say?”
“I said I’d ask you. If you say yes, your father would get what he’d been fighting for. The deal. The money. All of it.”
“No, he wouldn’t,” I say, and Rafe cocks his head, waiting for my explanation. “He wanted control over me. My future. My finances. My partner. He has none of those things. I don’t care if he gets his deal or not. Let him have it, but on the condition that he never comes near me again. Never touches me. Never approaches me. I don’t want anything to do with him.”
Rafe rolls his lips, and I can tell he doesn't approve of my answer. Probably wanted me to deny my father everything. “Fine. I’ll tell Nico.”
“I’ll tell him myself.”
Rafe nods and kisses my forehead. “Okay. Whatever you want to do, I’ll stand with you. But if your father so much as breathes out of line, I will ruin him.”
EPILOGUE
The London premiere ofTaming the Beastis a huge affair. It’s by far the biggest red carpet I’ve ever been to. The crowds are crazy, and the frequent flash of cameras is almost blinding. I couldn’t be more delighted that the man on my arm is Rafe Bastion.
It doesn’t rain, and I’m probably the only person who isn’t happy about that.
I still love the rain.
“Diana, over here!” call the photographers, and I give them a wave and a smile. Admittedly, not many of them call my name; they’re here for the actors. For theErica Lefroysof this world. But when they do call my name, I pose, and Rafe steps out of shot unless I drag him in with me.
Now, I have my arm linked through his. He’s dashing in his designer suit, with a face to rival any man in Hollywood.
“I always wanted to bring you to one of these,” I whisper.
