Page 199 of Modern Romance September 2026 Books 1-4

Imagine being solely responsible for a baby while working. How had Dido managed?

Simple. She’d had her family. He’d seen her aunt support her. Then there were her siblings.

His mouth tightened at the memory of Charles Fitzallan-Jones. The man had insisted Panos could want nothing more than to invest in his company, simply because Panos had married his half-sister. The guy’s entitled attitude, smarmy manner and effrontery had at first surprised him. He was so unlike his half-sister.

Until Charles revealed it was Dido who’d encouraged him to put his ‘deal of a lifetime’ to her new husband as soon as possible. He’d incidentally painted a picture of Panos’ new wife that was diametrically opposed to the woman he’d thought he’d married. Charles had made it clear Dido assumed Panos would casually drop multiple millions of pounds to fund any worthless enterprise her family presented.

The stupid Englishman had thought he was providing the winning argument that would persuade Panos. In fact it was the nail in the coffin of Panos’ trust in his new wife.

They’d only been married weeks and their marriage hadn’t yet been public knowledge. Panos had successfully suppressed the news, wanting to give her time to acclimatise to her new life. Her wide eyes as she’d taken in his Athens penthouse and her shock at his revelation of his wealth had engendered strong protective feelings. He knew how intrusive the press could be. Even having a discreet security detail was new to her.

Panos gritted his teeth at the memory. As if she’d needed protecting! Her shock hadn’t been real. She’d targeted him for his money and remarkably—after a lifetime in which he’d learned to identify sycophants and money-hungry women—he’d fallen for her lies.

Just before Fitzallan-Jones contacted his office, Dido had said she’d rather wait before announcing their marriage, adding that she hadn’t even told her family. That was patently a lie. Her half-brother had been so cocky he’d given the game away, admitting he’d contacted Panos as soon as he learned about their marriage from Dido. No one else knew about the marriage but a handful of Panos’ most trusted staff. The news had definitely come from her.

Had she told Charles that Panos was so besotted he’d do anything to make her happy? Like invest in a badly run business that was going down the drain?

Even after three years that rankled. Not just that she’d tricked him, but that he’d believed in her. How could that be after a lifetime learning the hard way that people who got close weren’t to be trusted?

Reaching the ground floor, he followed his nose into the kitchen. There was no sign of Evadne but she’d been busy preparing lunch. A large tyropita, a filo and feta cheese pie, sat on the bench beside the makings of a fresh salad.

It was a long time since his early morning swim and he’d been so busy with Athena he hadn’t taken time for coffee and the sweet biscuits Evadne had baked. Panos cut a slice, still warm from the oven, and headed outside via the backdoor.

‘I really don’t know, Flavia.’

Mouth full of delicious cheese and pastry, Panos stopped, one step out onto the terrace. A few metres away, Dido stood with her back to the house, holding her phone as she looked out over the pistachio grove.

As ever, heat licked from his groin to his belly as he took her in. Those tantalising curves, the dip of her waist, the glossy curls that invited his touch.

Infuriated by his instinctive reaction, he was about to turn around and leave when another voice said, ‘You’ll need a good lawyer to fight him for custody.’

Panos stilled, the food turning sour on his tongue.

The phone was on speaker and Flavia’s voice was clear despite the background hum of cicadas. His first instinct had been to leave Dido to her conversation. But the mention of a lawyer stopped him.

Naturally, she’d fight for custody. Yet it froze him in his tracks, belly clenching.

He had the resources to win any legal battle, plus proof that Dido had deliberately kept Athena from him. Yet he’d prefer not to take this to court.

He abhorred the idea of Athena as the focus of media attention in a custody battle. As he’d been the focus of fierce speculation from childhood, orphaned in his cradle, sole survivor of the famous Diamandis family and fortune.

But a fortune hadn’t given him what he most wanted—someone who truly cared about him, whom he cared about too. That had been elusive his whole life, because of his fame and fortune.

‘Lawyers cost money.’

There was silence for a moment, then Flavia sighed. ‘You’re right. I’m sorry I can’t offer to help but—’

‘Don’t you dare apologise, Flavia. You’ve done so much. I couldn’t ask for more. Anyway, it will be all right. I’ll sort it out.’

Panos was intrigued by the difference between Dido’s voice and her posture. She sounded confident but her shoulders hunched as she sank onto the edge of the terrace. If he hadn’t heard her words he’d guess she felt fragile, even overwhelmed. Either she was lying to her aunt or her attitude whenever she faced him was sheer bravado.

He didn’t like that she confounded him, making him feel he was on the back foot. He turned away.

‘I worry about you, Dido, alone out there—’

‘Hardly alone, Flavia.’

‘You know what I mean. You’ve been working so hard, running yourself into the ground, and now this. I don’t want you ending up in hospital again.’