Charlotte closed her eyes. ‘He is a truly evil man. I think even Costas saw it. It was the reason he wanted to join your father in the business. He wanted a fresh start. I tried to persuade him not to. I was always afraid of what Dimitrios would do. It seems I was right.’
‘You paid a high price,’ Sebastien agreed quietly and Charlotte’s eyes flew open.
‘And you paid a high price too. You were forced to marry Alesia in order to return the company to your father.’
Sebastien gave a lopsided smile. ‘It was no hardship, I can assure you,’ he drawled softly. ‘Your daughter is stunning in every way. Beautiful and brave.’
Charlotte looked at him for a long moment and then turned to Alesia. ‘This was the job you mentioned to me? You married for money?’
‘There was no other way of getting you the operation,’ Alesia said desperately and Sebastien covered her hand with his own.
‘She did totally the right thing,’ he said smoothly, ‘and I would urge that you don’t trouble yourself over our relationship. I love your daughter very much and I’m eternally grateful that she chose to marry me.’
Alesia shot him a grateful look. Even though she knew he was just protecting her mother from the truth, even though she knew he didn’t really love her—
‘And now you must rest.’ Sebastien straightened in a lithe movement and glanced towards the door, where a doctor was hovering. ‘I understand that you have made improvements today. I want you to know that as soon as you are well enough I intend to fly you to my home in Athens. Sunshine can be very restorative and you don’t see enough of it in London.’
‘Greece?’ Charlotte gave a tremulous smile. ‘I never thought to see Greece again, even though it was once my home—’
In a gesture that surprised Alesia, Sebastien stooped to kiss her forehead. ‘And, rest assured, it will be your home again.’
Back in the hotel, Alesia collapsed on the white sofa feeling utterly drained. Her head swam and she felt totally washed out. ‘Thank you,’ she said hoarsely. ‘For all the things you said to her, thank you. And for standing up to my grandfather. I suspect you’re the only person to ever do that.’
‘We are well rid of him,’ Sebastien said, dark eyes surveying her with visible concern. ‘You look on the point of collapse. I should not have taken you with me. It was too much for you.’
‘I’m fine,’ Alesia muttered, rubbing fingers across her forehead. ‘Just tired, I suppose.’
Sebastien gave a brief nod. ‘Eat something,’ he ordered roughly, ‘and then you can sleep.’
He reached for the phone to order room service just as Alesia stood up to use the bathroom.
Immediately she felt blackness descend on her and slid to the floor in a heap.
She awoke to find Sebastien on his knees beside her, his powerful frame simmering with pulsing tension, his jaw clenched hard as he held her hand and tried to revive her.
As her eyes flickered open he released a juddering breath. ‘When are you going to stop doing this to me? I never knew the meaning of the word fear until I met you.’
She closed her eyes again, wishing that the feeling of sickness would pass. ‘Sorry,’ she mumbled weakly. ‘I don’t know what’s wrong with me—’
‘I do,’ Sebastien contradicted her in a grim tone. ‘You have been under severe strain. Starting with the wedding, then worry about your mother, followed by a traumatic experience in my pool and then the stress of having the truth discovered. Then meeting your grandfather again.’
Alesia squeezed her eyes tightly shut, unable to look at him. ‘Don’t remind me. My grandfather tried to kill your family. You saved my life and my mother’s life and I repay you by forcing you to marry me, even though I can’t give you the children I know you want. I feel so guilty.’ She covered her face with her hands and gave a soft groan, just tortured by the enormity of everything that had happened. ‘Do other people have lives as complex as mine?’
‘Possibly not,’ he drawled, a hint of humour in his dark tone. ‘But I’m sure their lives would be very boring by comparison.’
She shook her head, utterly swamped by guilt and unable to raise a laugh. Her hands dropped to her sides and she forced herself to look at him. ‘I never intended to marry anyone, you know. I decided that it wouldn’t be fair.’
Sebastien inhaled sharply. ‘Presumably that’s why you were still a virgin on our wedding night?’
Alesia nodded. ‘I never let men get close. I didn’t want to risk becoming attached to any of them.’