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‘I won’t beg you to believe me. You either do or you don’t. But I won’t stay here to be vilified for something I haven’t done. Feel free to sue me if you wish.’
He laughed, harsh and wicked enough to draw blood. ‘And be named a monster just like your father? Or is that what you were counting on? That I would slip up somehow and you could slither your way to the true freedom you want?’
It was her turn to laugh, but she snapped off the sound in under a second before the strong hysteria behind it took hold.
‘Look at me, Ares. Do I look like I’m slithering anywhere any time soon?’
When he didn’t answer she turned away, viciously swallowing a sob before it could tumble free.
‘Where are you going?’
She shrugged. ‘I may not have your millions, but I have enough to check in to a hotel for a week or two. Or I’ll sleep under a bridge. Who knows? All I know is anywhere you’re not is good enough for me right now.’
It hurt to say the words. Badly. But her heart hurt worse. And she needed a moment or three to lick her wounds.
‘Odessa—’
‘We have nothing more to say to each other, Ares. Whatever you want to accuse me of next, feel free to tell my lawyer.’
Lies. She would be firing that particular lawyer the first chance she got. He was just a sweet old man, and he’d proved that the great Ares Zanelis could easily scare him off. She needed someone fearless in her corner for the battle ahead.
‘This isn’t done,’ he said, from far too close behind her.
Her fingers tightened on the door handle. The urge to look back, gorge herself on his image one more time, was overwhelming. By the skin of her teeth, she managed to suppress the temptation.
‘Put a hand on me and I’ll scream the place down. I called a lawyer before. I’m not above calling the police too.’
She heard his sharp intake of breath and an extremely remote part of her almost smiled. She was willing to bet he’d never had a woman say that to him before.
Well, she was also willing to bet he’d never shattered a woman’s heart quite as unassailably as he’d demolished hers.
The sense of reprieve she’d wanted withered away when she stepped out of the study, and she only made it halfway down the corridor before true reality struck her. She was walking away from Ares. From her marriage, such as it was. Her heart was ripping itself to pieces and she couldn’t breathe.
Her hand shot out, clung to the wall as her legs threatened to give way.
She started when firm hands gripped her arms, but they weren’t the hands she craved. Looking up into her father-in-law’s eyes was difficult, but she faced him, the knowledge that she’d done nothing wrong burning within her.
‘I never... I didn’t...’ Her voice faltered, tears prickling her eyes.
His lips thinned, but the warmth had returned to his eyes. ‘I know.’ He looked over his shoulder towards the study. ‘I heard some of what happened in there.’ He exhaled deeply. ‘Putting my son in his place is one thing...opening his eyes to his faults is another. You’ll have to try harder, mikros,’ he urged.
Her shattered heart twisted. ‘I don’t think I can get through to him.’
His smile was edged in sadness, but the hands holding hers remained strong. Purposeful. He led her to a chair in one of the alcoves dotting the corridor, his gaze unwavering as he said, ‘You were brought together once more for a reason. I believe in you.’
Odessa watched him walk away, wishing she could resent him for the burden he’d placed on her.
The burning in her chest remained, unwilling to die. She turned her face up to the sun beating down through the windows across the hallway. She hated it shining so fiercely when her whole world had collapsed into darkness.
Nevertheless, she’d closed her eyes and was praying for strength when the study door opened and slammed, footsteps rushing into the hallway.
Evidently Ares wasn’t done with saying his piece either. For better or worse, they needed to settle this once and for all.
When the footsteps skidded to a halt, she opened her eyes. To find a haggard-looking Ares staring at her.
He looked almost...desolate. Frightened. Pleading.
‘Odessa—’
