Page 187 of Modern Romance September 2026 Books 1-4

‘No.’ Dido rose, her movements stiff as if she’d sat too long or aged suddenly. ‘She wants to play in the sandpit. Come on, Theeny.’

Athena turned her head as Dido held out her arms, but instead of moving towards her, the child stuck out her bottom lip. ‘Wan dadda.’

That Panos understood. He needed no second urging. He scooped his daughter up as he rose, revelling in another of her throaty little laughs.

Her delight might be just the novelty of having a stranger pay her attention, but he’d take that. It was a start.

He looked at Dido, reading the stress around her eyes and mouth and in the way she held her hands clasped tight. She was worried what he’d do now he’d learned he had a daughter.

Serve her right.

‘Shall we?’ He led the way, carrying his daughter out of the room and towards the back door, knowing Dido would follow.

Let her stew. His priority right now was Athena, not dealing with her deceitful mother.

CHAPTER SIX

‘YOU’RE SURE ABOUT THIS, Dido?’

She shrugged, feeling the muscles across her shoulders and up her neck pull tight. Keeping her voice low, she replied. ‘I don’t think I’ve got any choice, do you?’

Flavia inclined her head. ‘No. He’s a very determined man.’ Her aunt paused, her expression unreadable. ‘He’s not as I’d imagined.’

Dido lifted her eyebrows, but she had to agree with Flavia. The man who’d accosted her in the street, then taken over her home and her daughter, was every bit as arrogant as she remembered. Yet he’d surprised her too. Enormously. The sight of him with their daughter… The wonder in his eyes…

‘I think he’s not quite the man you think he is,’ Flavia said at last.

Dido shook her head. The trouble was that Panos Diamandis was exactly that man, despite his reaction to Athena.

She breathed out through her nose as if dispelling the scent of citrus, spice and overbearing Greek from her nostrils.

He’d only been here a short time and already she was thinking of Theeny as Athena. The way he said the name in that deep, mellifluous voice reminded her of all the reasons she’d wanted to give her daughter a strong, memorable name. By comparison, Theeny sounded weak, negligible even, whereas her daughter had personality in spades.

When she didn’t say anything, Flavia reached out and squeezed her hand. ‘Remember, I’m just upstairs if you need me.’

Dido nodded and embraced her aunt, the backs of her eyes unexpectedly prickling.

Flavia had been so good to her, not just when her parents died, but since she’d had her baby. Dido had missed her parents more than ever. She’d wished they could have known their grandchild. It had been so hard, not having them there.

Things had been financially tough too without the cushion of what should have been her inheritance. Earlier she’d been hurt and infuriated by her half-brother’s theft. But having a baby dependent on her had reinforced her vulnerable financial situation.

Flavia’s availability as a part-time babysitter and full-time cheerleader had allowed Dido to earn a decent wage to support herself and her little girl.

‘How could I forget, Flavia?’ She forced a smile that felt like a grimace. ‘And don’t worry. I’ll sort something out.’

As if you believe that for a second!

You know he’s going to play tough. How do you think you can stand up to him when his resources are almost limitless?

Suddenly the terror she’d striven to stifle was like a living beast inside her, churning and gnawing at her vitals. She gave Flavia a last reassuring smile and closed the door.

Shutting herself in with the one man who’d ever managed to get under her skin and make her think all those things she’d ever craved could be hers for the taking.

How naïve she’d been.

For she was sure, after today’s revelation, Panos would be only too happy to destroy her. He’d thought badly enough of her in Tahiti, but after learning she’d hidden his child…

Dido wrapped her arms around herself as a shudder racked her body.