Page 52 of The Devil’s Lair

“Badly.”

“You raised a wonderful daughter, who clearly adores you. That’s not nothing. You’re resourceful, organized, good under pressure, a multitasker. Those are valuable skills.”

I want to believe him, but years of Marcus’s voice in my head makes it hard. You’re useless. You can’t do anything right. You’d be nothing without me.

“Can you use a computer?”

“Basic stuff: email, internet. Marcus didn’t allow me to have social media.”

“Right.” His jaw tightens briefly, then smooths. “What about typing? Numbers?”

I shake my head. “Marcus handled all the finances. He gave me housekeeping, although it was never enough for what we needed.” I lower my voice for Isla’s benefit. “I think he used it as a way of punishing me when I couldn’t manage.”

Something dark flashes across Tobias’s face. If Marcus was alive, I think Tobias might murder him. Instead of his obvious anger scaring me, it makes me feel protected.

“I got good at making it stretch. I’m an expert at meal planning on a budget. I can tell you which supermarket has the best deal on tinned spaghetti and what time of day they mark down the fresh stuff.”

“That’s financial management,” Tobias says. “Maybe not in the traditional sense, but it’s a skillset. Budgeting, prioritizing expenses, making tough choices with limited resources.” A muscle flickers in his cheek. I think he might be grinding his teeth. “I can promise you’ll never have to live like that again.”

His phone rings. He pulls it out of his pocket, swipes at the screen, then flicks the little button on the side to silence it. For me. He silenced his phone to concentrate on me. It’s a heady feeling.

“What interests you?”

“I-I honestly don’t know.” I nibble my lip. “I’m not being very helpful, am I?”

“When you have free time, what do you gravitate toward? Reading, cooking, art?”

“Other than these last few weeks, I haven’t had free time since I met Marcus. Even before then, I can’t remember gravitating toward anything.”

The admission hangs between us, stark and sad. Our lives are eons apart, yet for some reason this man still wants to help me. To marry me and save me from a life of struggle. Whatever he says about this deal benefitting both of us, I’m getting the better part of it by a mile.

Isla knocks over her tower and giggles, oblivious to the weight of the adult conversation going on above her. Thank goodness.

Tobias is quiet for a long moment. When he eventually speaks again, his voice is gentle. “You’re allowed not to know, Rebecca. You’re allowed the time and space to figure this out.”

I’ve never had a single human being show me as much understanding and kindness as this man here, and I’m not sure what to do with it. Surely his patience will run out at some point, and his kindness will turn into harsh words and back handers.

No. Not every man is like Marcus, just enough of them to make me wary. Will I ever truly recover from the years of abuse, even with the expensive therapy Tobias is paying for? The problem is, I don’t trust myself to make good decisions. Marcus duped me, and for all I know, Tobias could be doing the same. Vicky said he was the best when I asked her if he was a good man, and she has no reason to lie, but I don’t trust my gut. I haven’t exactly got a great history with following my instincts.

I really should talk to Jane about these thoughts. Maybe next session.

“I feel so useless,” I whisper. “Everyone here has a purpose whereas I… I just exist. It’s not enough.”

He leans forward, elbows propped on his knees, fingers threaded together. “Here’s what I propose. We explore options. No pressure, no timeline, just possibilities. Further education, where you can study around Isla’s needs, entry level apprenticeships at one of our companies, so you can try out a multitude of things and see what grabs you. Estate management, event planning, or some kind of creative work. Writing, art, music, crafts. You could set up an online shop and work at your own pace. Perhaps volunteer.”

I press my hands to my face. My mind is spinning. “That’s too many options. I don’t know how to choose.”

“You don’t have to choose; you just have to try. Maybe none of these suggestions will be the right one for you. All I’m saying is it’s okay to take the time to figure out the right path. One that will fulfill you, make you happy. Between now and the wedding, try to take note of things that interest you. Jot them down, then we can revisit them once you’re ready.”

The wedding. When I agreed to marry Tobias the wedding itself seemed abstract. Him actually mentioning it has brought it front and center.

“Talking of the wedding, I came here to show you this.” He takes out his phone, taps on the screen a couple of times, then passes it to me. “Our wedding announcement. It’ll go out in a couple of days.”

I look down at the screen and begin to read.

At the start of last month, my son Tobias was shot during an altercation at his private members’ club. In a night of terrible tragedy, the eldest son of MP Preston La Salle was also shot and sadly died at the scene. As you can imagine, this has been an extremely difficult time for us and for the La Salles. But what could have remained a story of violence and loss has instead become one of hope, healing, and resilience.

While recovering from the terrible events of January 4th, my son and Marcus's widow Rebecca have grown close, and I am thrilled to announce that, on March 10th, they will marry in a private ceremony at Oakleigh Chapel. Their bond was forged under the most difficult of circumstances, but together, they are determined to provide Rebecca's young daughter Isla with a safe, stable, and loving home.