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“It’s doable, Bella,” Ryan says. “We’ll survive.”
Mom scoffs. “At least then that devil won’t have a sword to hold over our heads any longer.” She comes closer and pulls me into one of her rare hugs. “We talked about it a lot after you ended up in hospital. We all thought this way was the only solution if the push came to shove.”
I chew my lip. “Including Mattie?”
My mom holds me at arm’s length. “Mattie agrees.”
“What about the shame?” I ask. “Your wealthy friends are going to look down on you. They won’t invite you to their parties if you’re not adding value to their guest list.”
Mom lets me go. “I’ll make new friends.”
“I appreciate that you’re all willing to make such huge sacrifices,” I say. “Let me think about it, okay?”
Ryan gives me a dark look. “When will Angelo be back?”
My throat constricts. “Tomorrow.”
“Then we know what to do.” He kisses the top of Celeste’s head. “You women stay here. Tomorrow at first light, I’ll go to Cape Town to talk to Angelo.”
“Do you think he’ll just accept it?” Celeste asks in a small voice.
Ryan rubs her arm. “We won’t give him a choice. What’s he going to do? Dad is dead. If he decides to leak the truth about the bribes, we’ll just have to keep our heads high.”
“You’re an accomplice in the bribes,” I point out.
“It’s my word against his. I can always claim I didn’t know what Dad was doing. There’s no evidence proving that I was involved.”
I search my brother’s face. “It will be a hell of a scandal.”
“We already dealt with the scandal of Dad’s affair and his so-called suicide.” Ryan chuckles. “What’s another one?”
“That’s very brave of you,” I say.
“I was willing to swallow my pride and not disillusion you about where the money came from as long as he didn’t bother you again.” Ryan frowns. “When Celeste and I moved back here, he rented the villa with a very clear instruction that he wanted you to live there. I had no idea he’d come back with a fucking ring.”
My gaze shifts to the diamond that sparkles insistently on the rug, its light refusing to be extinguished, no matter how sinister the reasons that bling is meant for. It’s at least four or five carats, worth a small fortune. I’ll have to return it to the villa and leave it there for Angelo to find.
Bending to pick up the ring, I say, “It’s not your fault. You couldn’t know.”
“Ryan is right,” Mom says. “You better stay the night, Bella. It’s too late to drive back.”
She doesn’t say it’s probably safer for me here, but that’s what we’re all thinking.
I nod, trying to gather myself as I walk through the door. “Excuse me. I need some air.”
None of this would’ve happened if Dad had honored his promise. But Dad never had any intention of keeping that promise. Of that, I’m sure. It’s ironic that there was a time I would’ve gladly put Angelo’s ring on my finger. I did, didn’t I? I wore his signet ring with pride before I knew what he’d done. All that is in the past now, and things will never be the same.
Escaping outside, I take in the familiar view of the sea. Even this favorite sight has been tainted. A single, careless, forbidden moment spoiled everything.
The breeze has picked up. Grabbing a throw from the sofa on the veranda, I wrap it around my shoulders and climb down the dune.
Despite the memories, the deserted beach provides a measure of peace. I sit down at the edge of the water and dig my toes into the sand. I try to think, to come to a decision, but Ryan is right. There’s only one thing I can do, and it scares me. It terrifies me, because I know what Angelo is capable of.
The only thought that soothes me is knowing he doesn’t need me for anything other than my so-called good name. There are hundreds of women with good family names in the world. He can easily find someone else to make a good match. It doesn’t have to be me.
A shadow falls over me.
Alarmed, I jerk.
