She kept her back to him, offering no response. He sighed and scrubbed his hand across his face. He didn’t know why he was letting her hatred for him get to him so badly today. It had always been this way, and he’d thought he’d learned to live with it. Perhaps he’d just hoped that on this day, of all days, the woman who’d given birth to him would show him just an inkling of love or pride. He’d been wrong, and he hated himself for allowing himself to hope such a foolish thing. If his mother couldn’t love him, how could he ever expect Vanessa to?
“Why?” he asked softly, hating himself for his weakness but needing to hear her say it. “Why do you hate me so, Mother?”
She whirled around and the fury in her eyes startled him into taking a step back. “Because you killed him! You killed the love of my life. If your father hadn’t gone back for you, he’d still be here with me!”
That was what he’d thought, but it still stung to hear her say it. With a shake of his head, he turned and left the room.
Chapter Eighteen
Later that afternoon, Vanessa, Adrian, and Gabriel arrived back at Adrian’s townhouse.
Gabriel had chatted nonstop during the trip from Lucien’s, full of commentary about the wedding and his new cousins. Vanessa had been grateful for the distraction because Adrian hadn’t said a word.
She had no idea what lay in store for her this evening. When he’d accepted her proposal, he’d promised to make use of her body. She’d been so certain the physical side of their relationship would help to bring them close in other ways. However, something in the tense set of his shoulders made her doubt that he had any intention of coming to her bed tonight.
In fact, she had no idea what his intentions toward her were. They were as masked as he’d once been.
“Come see my new room, Mama,” Gabriel begged, as soon as they entered the house. “It’s bigger than your whole flat.”
Tears welled up in her eyes upon hearing that word from the little boy’s lips, and she dropped to her knees beside him, hugging him tightly. “I love hearing you call me that,” she told him, tickling him a bit.
“I like saying it,” Gabriel replied, looking happier than she’d ever seen him.
“Do you mind?” she asked Adrian softly, growing more and more disturbed by his silence.
“Of course not,” he said with a shrug. “Get the boy settled in. I’ll have dinner sent up for the two of you. I’m sure he’d love it if you read to him and tucked him in.”
“Yes,” Gabriel said in glee, clapping his hands in excitement.
Vanessa frowned. “Don’t you want to have dinner with us? It will be our first night as a... family.” She didn’t want to push him, but she couldn’t bear to let him walk away from her tonight. She feared it would set a pattern that would be almost impossible to break. She didn’t want to be his wife in name only. She wanted it all, the bad and the good.
“Not tonight, Vanessa.” He gave her an apologetic look, but his blue eyes were resolute. “I need a little time. To sort things out in my head. And Roger and I have unresolved issues. Prometheus is going to pay him a visit.”
Her heart clenched in dismay. “Run up to your room,” she told Gabriel softly. “I’ll be right there.”
Gabriel looked between them, obviously sensing the tension. His face fell a bit. “All right.”
