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Mimi blew her nose. She’d expected her mum to be crying, or at least panicking, but she was calm—relaxed, even.
‘I don’t think Basa will ever really let go of it. Not if he wants to protect his family.’
‘Did he say that?’
‘No, not in so many words,’ Mimi said slowly. ‘But he didn’t try to stop me leaving.’
‘Maybe letting you go was his way of trying to protect you?’
She stared at her mother helplessly. ‘I can’t think like that, Mum. I just want it to be over. I don’t want to feel like this any more. I don’t want to feel anything. That’s why I walked away.’
Her mother leaned over and wiped a tear from Mimi’s cheek. ‘But you can’t walk away from love, Mimi. And you do love him, don’t you?’
Hearing her mum say it out loud broke her open.
‘But I messed it up—like I always mess everything up.’ Tears were streaming down her face now, too many to wipe away.
Her mum frowned. ‘Such as what?’
‘Like you and Dad. You were so much in love, and then I came along and ruined it. And then I pushed you into marrying Charlie so you wouldn’t be on your own.’
More tears escaped and she brushed them away with her sleeve.
‘Is that what I made you think?’
Glancing up into her mother’s face, Mimi saw that she looked shocked and horrified.
‘Mimi, that’s not what happened. I know I used to talk a lot about how much me and your dad were in love, but that was only because I wanted to give you something positive about our relationship. I wanted you to know that you came out of real passion. It wasn’t your fault your dad left me. We just weren’t right together.’
She frowned.
‘And as for Charlie—you didn’t push me into anything. I was a grown woman and I liked Charlie. I didn’t love him, but I wanted you to have a dad, and nice things, so I ignored all his little lies. If anyone messed up, it was me.’
Mimi shook her head, her hands balling into fists. ‘But I’ve made a mess of my film too, and it was my fault that the photo was taken in Buenos Aires. Everything I touch, I ruin.’
‘That’s not true. You put yourself out there and sometimes things go wrong. But I am so proud of you. You are brave and talented and loyal, and any man—including Bautista Caine—would be lucky to have you.’
Her mother was crying now too.
‘And, frankly, I will tell him so myself.’
She reached for Mimi’s phone.
‘No, Mum.’ Mimi tried to grab it. ‘It’s too late.’
Shaking her head, her mum smiled weakly. ‘Love doesn’t come with a deadline, or hide away in the shadows.’ She handed Mimi the phone. ‘And neither should you, darling.’
CHAPTER TEN
PICKING UP THE top newspaper from the pile beside him, Basa scanned the front page before expertly flipping through the rest of the paper. His PA had been sending the papers over each morning since the story broke, ringing any relevant sections with a marker pen, but his dark gaze found nothing to interest him today.
The tabloids had a couple of stories each—nothing new, just the Buenos Aires photo padded out with some additional paragraphs about the trial.
He let out a breath and scooped the papers onto the floor. Overall, was not too bad. Probably tomorrow, the day after at the latest, the genie would be back in the lamp and by the time Alicia exchanged her vows with Philip the whole episode would be nothing but a footnote.
The worst was over. He had moved fast and effectively and, having been through it once before—twice if you included his mother’s accident—he had known what needed to be done to kill the story. He’d done it, and now his sister’s wedding would no longer have the spectre of scandal hanging over it.
Everything was under control. He should be happy. He was, of course. And yet his happiness felt staged, as if he was an actor playing himself. None of it felt real. And he wa
