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“Stabbed?” I glanced between them. “You were stabbed?”
He nodded.
“This brother is mad,” I said.
“Back then, it was too much for me. I gave in to the easiest road, marrying the girl in hopes of getting her to write the letter of confession.”
“Did she?”
He nodded. “When she became ill, she sought to make peace, though I will not use it.”
“Why in the hell not?”
“Because the daughter she bore is innocent,” he said without hesitation. “And she has no knowledge of any other family. I swore to her mother I would protect Emeline.”
“Then what was the point of asking for the letter?” I questioned.
“Protection against the woman’s mother, who knows the truth but said nothing and pushed her daughter to do the same.” He stared into my eyes. “There was nothing I wished more than to marry you. I could not allow you to join that chaos.”
“How is it any less chaotic now?” Damon grumbled, coming to sit with us, rubbing his temples as Mama often did. “Your wife is dead, but your brother is still out there and violent—”
“I have enough evidence against him now, and he has no means to protect himself. It is only a matter of catching him. I should not have gone out alone that day to stop him. I—I was simply so eager for this all to be done for good that I let down my guard. I make a mistake only once, which is why I cannot let you go again.” The last part he said directly to me.
And something stirred in me.
“I wish to rest,” I muttered, rising from the chair.
“Of course, you may use the same room you used earlier to change. Should I call the maid?” He was already moving to the door.
“Thank you,” I said as I walked out to find the maid already waiting.
“Aphrodite?”
“Yes?” I paused at the bottom of the stairs to look at him.
“Please do not speak of this to my sister. She does not know the full truth.”
I nodded and said nothing more to him.
“Do you need assistance with anything, my lady?” the maid asked once we reached my room.
“No. Thank you.”
“Good night, my lady.”
When the door closed, I collapsed onto the bed, putting my hand over my face as I bit back the tears.
This feeling in my heart—it was a relief.
Relief in finally knowing…it was not me.
It was not that he did not want or love me.
I was not the fool.
13
Evander
