Page 215 of Modern Romance September 2026 Books 1-4

It was possible. Marriage, Athens and Panos Diamandis. Those were the key facts on which Fitzallan-Jones could build his story when he’d rung Panos.

As for knowing about their island wedding, it would have been easy for him to find out where Dido had been working. Flavia might have mentioned it in conversation, or perhaps he’d tracked down where she worked and discovered the location of her last assignment. It would be simple if he said he was her brother and needed to contact her.

Panos surveyed the woman before him. She was agitated. Because she’d concocted the story or because it was the truth?

He thought about Charles Fitzallan-Jones. A man who’d tried to convince him to pour money into his unsustainable business. Panos’ enquiries had unearthed a failing company, once successful but gutted by mismanagement and, he suspected, profit skimming by the CEO.

He remembered Dido in those early days, everything about her open and uncomplicated. Instinct had told him she was exactly what she seemed. What he’d sought all those years.

Had instinct been right after all? Had she been set up by her half-brother? Then denied the chance to explain because Panos had convinced himself the only way to survive was to cut off contact?

That was what he’d always done to the users who clamoured after the Diamandis name and fortune. He was ruthless in adhering to that rule. It was what had kept him sane in a world where money meant too much.

Panos gripped the table, knuckles bone-white as suspicion turned to certainty. He could have people check and confirm what Dido said. But his hollowing chest and churning gut signalled he already knew the truth.

Dido’s words explained the disconnect between the woman he’d fallen for three years before—yes, fallen for, despite trying to pretend he hadn’t—and the gold-digger Fitzallan-Jones described. Now he thought about it, the man’s more damning revelations about her had come when Panos declined his proposition. Until then he’d just used her name to try to convince Panos to support him.

The woman with whom he’d spent the last few days was the same woman who’d charmed him from the first, if you discounted her anger, which was completely understandable.

Of course she’d keep the baby from you. You ended the marriage by text then blocked her calls. You had her escorted from the apartment while you weren’t there.

Why would she let you near her child? Besides, you’d threatened her with legal action if she contacted you.

Pain stabbed so hard he couldn’t breathe, could barely think. What he’d done…

Panos catapulted to his feet, his chair falling backwards.

His eyes found hers, wide and misty green, and again he felt the connection between them. How had it survived what he’d done?

‘I’m sorry.’ His voice was unrecognisable, the words ground from a throat lined with the shards of his shattered ego.

He wasn’t an easy man but he’d thought he was at least doing some good in the world. He was scrupulously honest and tried to support those without the advantages he had. He’d never deliberately harmed anyone.

Until Dido. The one woman who’d deserved his care, his loyalty.

‘You deserved better from me.’

It wasn’t enough but it was all he could manage now. Panos spun away from the table and strode out into the darkness.

CHAPTER TWELVE

DIDO SAT, SURVEYING her daughter’s face in the glow of the night light. The splay of dark lashes on warm olive skin. The curve of cheek and lips that she always found indescribably moving. The small fingers curled around the yellow fur of Bear’s leg.

Maternal warmth filled her. But she didn’t experience the peace that usually came from seeing Theeny sleep. Dido was too shaken by what had happened downstairs.

She’d never seen Panos, or anyone, look that way. The colour had drained from his features and he seemed hollowed out. No, that wasn’t right. He hadn’t looked empty, but as if he struggled to contain all he felt.

His expression had been tortured.

Dido had resented recounting the story of what happened three years previously. She should have been able to explain at the time. It was his unreasonable refusal to hear her out that destroyed their relationship. That and his mistrust.

She’d told herself there was nothing he could do to win back her good opinion.

Yet as she’d watched her words take their toll, she’d felt no satisfaction. Her focus hadn’t been on her feelings but his. For Panos’ reaction had been gut-wrenching. She’d felt his horror.

Did she still care about him so much?

Scarily, it seemed so.