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It was ironic that at that precise moment Byron was called to the witness stand. He stood up, and, without a backward glance, strode proudly from the room.
Celeste stared after him, her heart pounding madly in her chest. Outrage at his insults warred with the astonishing realization that Byron might really have loved her once. Why else would he still be so bitter towards her? Why else hate her so virulently?
Celeste had always suspected Irene had fed him a whole lot of lies about her after she'd gone back to school, lies that had made her look very bad. Even so, Byron had been very ready to believe those lies, had been very quick to write her a letter, dismissing their affair as a temporary infatuation which he deeply regretted. He'd stated quite coldly that he wanted nothing to do with her ever again.
Celeste had been crushed by this brutal and rather confusing rejection, then shattered when a few short months later he'd married Irene.
Recalling the distress she had felt at that time hardened Celeste's heart again. No, she decided staunchly, and clenched her teeth down hard in her jaw. Byron's fierce antagonism towards her just now was no proof of a past love. He was simply being the same hypocritical bastard he'd always been, pretending to be holier-than-thou, judging her on standards that he himself didn't live up to. He'd lied when he'd told her he loved her back then. Lied for the sole purpose of possessing her body. And when he'd had his fill and she'd gone back to school, he'd callously dumped her and moved on to Irene, who he'd obviously thought would bring him Campbell Jewels as well as her beautiful and undoubtedly willing body.
Men like Byron didn't love women, Celeste accepted with a bitter cynicism. They loved sex and money and success. They loved power and position in the community. Nothing was more important to Byron than his social standing, his so-called good name. Why else would he spend so much time and money working for charity? Why else would he have taken that degenerate boy off the streets and adopted him, for heaven's sake?
Because he wanted everyone to look up to him and say what a great man he was. How generous and good. How bloody wonderful!
But that shining reputation of his had been won at a cost. She'd been the one to pay. Yet he had the hide to tear strips off her character, as well as the gall to claim he could have her as easily as he could snap his fingers.
Like hell, she thought. Like bloody hell! There was no way she would ever let him touch her again. Never in a million years!
CHAPTER FOUR
GEMMA'S hand trembled as she dialed. It was the hardest thing she had ever had to do but she had to do it. Nathan would be leaving soon to go to the airport to pick her up, and even she didn't have the heart callously to let him worry when she didn't get off that plane.
The telephone in their apartment rang and rang and rang, but he didn't answer. It had not occurred to her that Nathan might not be home, that he might go straight from rehearsals at the theatre to Mascot Airport. But now it did, and she groaned her dismay. God, she just wasn't thinking straight.
With her heart thudding madly in her chest, she hung up hurriedly and looked up the theatre number in the telephone book. This time, someone answered immediately, and luckily Nathan was soon located. He came on the line, sounding worried.
'Gemma? What's wrong, darling? Did you miss the flight?'
'No, Nathan,' she replied, fighting to keep her voice steady. 'I didn't miss the flight.'
'Then where are you ringing from? You're supposed to be in the air. Oh, I see. The flight's been delayed. Never mind, darling. These things happen. So when will you be arriving?'
The two 'darling's had really hurt, bringing the sense of outrage she needed. 'I won't be arriving, Nathan. I'm not coming home.'
'Not coming home?' he repeated in a stunned, almost blank tone.
'That's right. You told me once that if I ever wanted out of our marriage I was to say so up-front.' She paused long enough to drag in a much needed breath. 'I want out of our marriage, Nathan. My solicitor will be in touch.'
'Wait!' he cried, seemingly aware that she was about to hang up. 'You ... you can't just leave me like this, Gemma. You must give me a reason. God- dammit, I have a right to know the reason!' he demanded, clearly shaken.
'The reason? The reason is you're a cheat and a liar. I'm sure it won't take too much intelligence to work out what I'm talking about. You took me for a fool, Nathan. And I'm not. I'm not ... ' Her voice broke and she struggled for control. 'Oh, God, how could you? I didn't deserve that. I. .. I. . .' She broke off and forcibly pulled herself together.
