Page 189 of Modern Romance September 2026 Books 1-4

The way he looked at her as he said the word liars was meant to hurt. But she had weightier things on her mind than name-calling.

There was no point trying to stop the test. He’d seen Theeny and knew the truth. It was one thing, Dido discovered, to conceal her daughter’s identity but quite another to tell an outright lie. She couldn’t do it.

If he’d been violent it might be different. But Panos had dumbfounded her with his excitement, his awe, his genuine delight over his child.

She’d known he wasn’t a man who stood on ceremony. Even so, the sight of him hunkered, barefoot in the sandpit, jacket and tie discarded and sleeves rolled up as he played with their daughter, had melted something inside her.

He’d been utterly genuine, it seemed, about his desire for children. He’d glowed with excitement and even when Theeny became overtired and fretful, though still demanding his presence, he’d been patient. Patient in the way many people weren’t.

How often had she grappled with impatience nearing the end of a long day, when her daughter wouldn’t settle?

Panos probably got a solid eight hours sleep when he wanted it and wasn’t stressed about providing for a child and paying rent.

‘Why did you do it, Dido? Was it part of the original plan or did you improvise?’

She frowned up at him. ‘What are you talking about?’

He was so close she saw those golden specks in his eyes. Sometimes, tumbling into ecstasy, she’d imagined that bright glitter a sign that she’d reached the edge of heaven.

Not now. Not with that mighty frown.

‘Why keep my child from me?’

Something shrank inside her as she registered, not only his anger, but what sounded like hurt.

She shivered. Since she’d seen him interact with Theeny guilt had welled until she felt queasy with it. She told herself she’d done the right thing, protecting her daughter. But today she saw that, despite his unforgivable flaws, he was also a parent moved by his child.

‘You threatened me with court action if I tried to contact you, remember?’

He was already shaking his head. ‘That’s no excuse. If you’d mentioned you were pregnant my legal team would have investigated.’

As they did whenever anyone falsely claimed he was their child’s father. Dido imagined herself being interviewed by some supercilious lawyer.

‘Why, Dido?’

‘You want the truth?’ Her hands found her hips as she planted her feet wider. ‘Because I didn’t believe you’re fit to be around my baby.’

His head jerked back as if from a blow. It would have been easier if Dido could exalt over that, but she couldn’t. Because, despite his serious faults it was clear he cared about their daughter.

‘Not fit? Not fit! Who are you to make that accusation?’

For the first time she stepped back from him, wary of the incendiary blaze in those dark eyes. Instantly he closed the gap so they stood toe-to-toe.

It was too much. He was too much.

All she’d been through had taken a toll. Swept off her feet and into marriage, then abandoned. The shock of her pregnancy. The fear and stress of being a single mother, even with Flavia’s help. The nerves and lack of sleep over her big chance to make her name at work and build a secure future for her daughter, only for it to end in catastrophe. The revelation he was Chiara’s bridegroom. Losing her job and now facing the man who’d caused it all.

Dido’s voice was husky but strong. ‘I’ll tell you who I am. I’m the woman you promised to share your life with. To honour and trust. I’m the woman you accused of betrayal, with no basis. I’m the woman you judged without a hearing, because you believed what other people told you rather than hearing me out. I’m the woman you dumped by text!’

She dragged a breath into cramped lungs, barely noticing that his face had frozen into an unreadable mask.

‘You broke your word, Panos, when you refused to stand by me. You’re untrustworthy and incapable of giving trust. You listen to rumours rather than discuss problems like an adult. You’re callous, unfeeling and rude. I didn’t want my child spending time with someone like that.’

Only the rhythmic flare of his nostrils with each breath indicated he was anything other than a statue. His visage was all grim lines and proud angles.

‘Whereas you’re a liar through and through.’ His voice was a low whisper that raked along her skin. ‘You lied about your family. You lied when you said you weren’t interested in my money when that’s exactly what you wanted.’ His eyebrows crammed together. ‘That and a child. You married me for what you could get, for yourself and your precious siblings. Then when I discovered the truth you took the worst revenge possible. You stole my child.’

Dido forced herself to stand her ground, though his warlike expression made her heart leap into her throat and her stomach churn.