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‘Because it’s special! And it’s mine! And you know how I feel about things that belong to me.’
‘Do I? Yes, you like winning. But then what comes after doesn’t matter to you. You’re fighting too hard for this piece of land and yet I bet, once you have it, you’ll never set foot on it again.’ Her voice wavered and broke and she hated herself for it. ‘Maybe that’s why Costas wanted you to prove yourself. Maybe he wanted to see if you cared enough.’
‘He knows I care. He knows this is the only place—’ He caught himself, veered away from her as if doing so would block the emotions bristling from him.
‘Say it. There’s no one to hear it but me, Christos. And I won’t betray you. You know I won’t.’
He gave a harsh laugh. ‘Does it even occur to you, up there on that little pedestal you’ve placed yourself on, that I don’t wish to make this confession to you?’
‘You can be cruel all you want. It doesn’t change the fact that, after what your parents did to you, the possibility that you might become a father yourself terrifies you.’
His pallor grew more ashen. ‘Enough. Stop.’
‘We can make it work together, Christos,’ she pressed. ‘What have you got to lose?’
‘Myself! Because you see too much! Because you make me—’
‘I make you what?’ She knew she was pushing him hard. But the need to do so was a live wire inside her, twisting with hunger.
‘It’s immaterial.’
‘If it was, you wouldn’t be leaving. And you certainly wouldn’t be leaving me behind.’
He stalked towards her, cupped her jaw between his hands. Fingers shoved into her hair, his gaze ferociously turbulent as he stared down at her. ‘Because you’re relentless, even when you don’t speak. Your eyes speak for you. And I don’t like that, at every turn, they threaten to turn me inside out.’
Her breath caught. ‘Christos.’
‘You want to know why I can’t forgive my parents? Because neither of them chose me, their son. I was merely the weapon they used to hurt each other. My mother made the error of taunting my father with wanting a divorce one too many times because she wanted his attention. Instead of taking it back—because she didn’t really want to divorce him—she stood her ground. He in turn was too proud to relent once he started down that road. He decided to teach her a lesson by ripping our family apart. Everything she asked for, he refused just to see her suffer.’
‘And she asked to keep you?’
‘At first. But even that became too much for her. And when they tired of using me, they dumped me here. The only reprieve from being in their firing line was when I came here.’
‘I’m...so sorry. But—’
‘But nothing, Alexis. There is no excusing treating any child like that. And I can’t risk...’ He stopped, shook his head.
‘He’s still your father, Christos. Do you know what a treasure it is to have one at all? And one who regrets the mistakes he’s made?’
His eyes shadowed, then his hands dropped. ‘I don’t presume to know your suffering. Don’t presume to know mine.’
She was beating her head against a wall. And she was breaking her own heart smashing it against an immovable object. ‘So, what, you expect me to remain here, the obedient, possibly pregnant wife, while you go and save the world?’
He shook his head and her foolish heart leapt. Then he flayed her with, ‘You haven’t had a proper vacation since you’ve been with me. You have access to my pilot and all my properties. Go wherever you want and take whatever time you need. I only ask one t
hing,’ he said, his face clenching with raw emotion.
She knew what was coming. ‘You want to know if I’m pregnant? So you can do what, exactly? You don’t want to risk your heart, so what do you have to give?’ she demanded hoarsely.
His hands slid into his pockets, his shoulders rigid. ‘I’ll take care of you, just like I have so far.’
She frowned, unsure why the words left a hollow ache inside her. He didn’t mean emotionally. No, of course he didn’t. Which meant...financially. She reared back. ‘You think I want your money?’
He looked alarmed for a moment. Then his lips turned down in the bitter way she was beginning to realise signified a return to old memories. ‘You wanted something in exchange for marrying me. If my offer offends you, you can make whatever demands you want. Another charity patronage, perhaps?’
Her dart of hurt turned into a throbbing bruise. ‘Why do I have to want something? Why can’t this be a gift we both treasure? A child we can both love, together. To raise, together. If I am indeed pregnant?’
Again he looked...stunned. As if such an idea hadn’t even occurred to him.
