Page 14 of The Devil of Hollywood

“It’s not aversion,” she rushed out. “When I accepted your proposal, we agreed that we’d live separate lives. I said I’d give you heirs. That we’d spend holidays together, and you’d… you’d just keep the mistresses.”

“And I told you that you deserve better than that. Marian, I don’t want mistresses. I’ve thought about it, trust me. What I want is real happiness. I want a wife as devoted and strong and loving,” he said, turning her to face him, “as you. You took in Penny when she had no one. I’ve seen how much you can love. I want that from you, but you’re hesitant. I deserve to know why. Are you not attracted to me?”

“Bastian.” Her head lowered towards his chest, only to come back up as he sat the glass on the edge of the balcony and pulled her in closer. “I’m very attracted to you.”

“Then, what is it? You’re not in love with anyone else. I know that to be a fact. You haven’t dated anyone since you got to London, before college. There haven’t been any lovers. Did Drayton Pennington hurt you so badly that you’re too afraid to try?”

“No one? For that long? But I thought—Surely, they must have—” Quinn’s voice was aghast.

“Shut up, Quinton.”

My heart was in my throat. Their relationship was a lie. The entire narrative was for show. And maybe Quinton was seeing that too. His breaths had all but stopped as we waited. But the truth changed nothing.

“Bastian, what you’ve heard⁠—”

“You’re not comfortable speaking about it, and I’m not forcing you to relive the trauma he put you through.”

“Stop. Just.” Marian wiggled in his arms, but he appeared to only hold her tighter. “What happened between me and Drayton… it’s not like what my mother probably told you.” Her tone shifted, sounding lower with the anger that surfaced. “Because of who my mother is, she sometimes thinks that the only story that is plausible or right is the one she invents in her mind. She psychoanalyzes everything. It’s her job. It’s expected. But if I tell her something happened, she twists it into what she believes.”

“I’m not sure I understand.”

Marian made an aggravated sound. “Drayton wasn’t a bad guy. Not back then. I… I loved him. I⁠—”

“And he raped you. He dishonorably took your virginity. I wasn’t there, but I know the story.”

Again, Marian seemed to push back against him. I was gripping so tightly to the binoculars. I was sure they’d break at any moment under my grasp. Couldn’t he see she wanted him to let her go? Or did he not care?

“No one listens to me. You know my mother’s story. I’m trying to tell you mine, and I’m saying things didn’t happen like my mother told everyone.”

“Your mother said you may try to take this route and deny it.”

Marian’s fingers drew down on Bastian’s chest, gripping to his suit as she held on. With how her hair was blowing, it was impossible to see her face.

“I had some alcohol. I was not drunk, nor was I incapable of making a decision. My mother disagrees. She believes that because I was under the influence that it was impossible for me to give consent. Do you hear what I’m telling you? I did not say no.”

The slap against my bicep had me swallowing hard.

“I knew you didn’t fucking rape her. Even she knows that.”

“Little good that does me now. She said I did. She said the words to my parents. Everyone believed her lies. And she let them think that. She ruined me.”

Quinton got silent, and my anger only grew. Anger, yet I couldn’t deny that I was surprised by her admission. Why change her story now? Why tell the truth to him when she’d spent years keeping it quiet? She’d done nothing to set the record straight.

“I’m sorry, Marian, but—” Bastian cleared his throat. “You were young. Very young, and your mother has told me about the intoxication. Your blood alcohol level that night was far beyond inebriated. She showed me the hospital lab report. What he did was no different than someone drugging your drink and taking advantage of you. That was exactly his plan from the beginning. Drayton Pennington raped you, whether you want to view it as assault or not. Had your parents not stepped in, I’m sure you would have never heard from him again after that night. He used you, Marian. He took your virginity because that’s all he ever wanted.”

I stiffened, glaring through the lenses.

“That’s not true.”

“It is. Drayton thrives from winning. And that’s all you were, Marian. A conquest. A number. He got what he wanted, and he moved on.”

“No. You don’t understand⁠—”

“I do. You loved him. You just said so. It’s hard for you, if not impossible, to see the truth. He’s a man. He’s a Pennington. They’re all the same. Cowards. Lowlifes. I know, I’ve studied his family extensively. I had to know what I was up against. You were only good for one thing in his eyes, and he got it. You meant nothing to him after that.”

“Bastian, you’re wrong about all of it. Drayton didn’t rape me. He loved me. We were going to get married. He was destroyed by what happened.”

“No. He was upset he got caught and his reputation was tarnished. What happened to him, he brought on himself.” He nuzzled his forehead to hers. “Let’s not talk about this anymore. You’re upset. I’m sorry. I’ll make this better. You can trust me, Mon amour. We’ll take this slow. Love will come once I can heal you. Then you’ll see what we all do. You’ll understand how wrong his actions truly were.”