Unable to speak for misery, she nodded.
Reaching out in the shadowy nursery, beneath the hazy colors of the goose girl fresco, Darius put his hand gently on Letty’s shoulder, and she shuddered beneath his touch.
“Letty...there’s something you should know.”
Their eyes locked, and she saw something in his black eyes that made the world tremble beneath her feet.
Panic rushed through her heart. Seeing Darius make peace with her father, seeing him look so lovingly at their baby, had cracked open her soul and everything she hadn’t wanted to feel had rushed in.
She’d painted him so badly in her mind. She’d called him a monster. And yes, he never should have lied about her father.
But when she’d said horrible things and threatened to take his child permanently away, he hadn’t hired some awful lawyer to fight her. He’d done what she asked, and stayed away. Obviously at great emotional cost.
Now, she saw his sensual lips part, heard his hoarse intake of breath and knew whatever he was about to say would change her life forever. He was going to tell her he was done with her. She’d won. He’d given up. Now he wanted to talk like reasonable adults about sharing custody of their son.
She’d destroyed their marriage with her anger and pride. She’d told herself she’d rather be alone than married to a man who didn’t love her. Now she suddenly couldn’t bear to hear him speak the words that would end it...
“No,” she choked out.
Turning, she fled the nursery. She ran down the hall, down the stairs, her heart pounding, gasping for breath.
She heard him coming down after her. “Letty!”
She didn’t stop. Pushing off the stairs, she ran outside, into the snow.
Her mother’s rose garden was barren in winter, nothing but thorny vines and dead leaves covered in a blanket of white. Letty’s soft black boots stumbled forward, her long red dress dragging behind, scarlet against the snow.
But he swiftly caught her, roughly pushing her wrists against the outside wall of the greenhouse with its flash of exotic greenery behind the steamy glass. She struggled, but he wouldn’t let go.
She felt his heat. His power. She felt the strength of her own longing for this man, whom she continued to love in the face of despair.
“Let me go,” she cried.
“Forgive me,” Darius choked out. He lowered his head against hers. She heard the heavy gasp of his breath. “You were right, Letty. About everything. I’m so sorry.”
Her lips parted. She looked up at him in shock.
“You’re sorry?” she whispered. “I kept you from our baby.”
“You were right to kick me out of your life.” He cupped her face in both his hands. “I blamed you and your father for so much. I blamed everyone but the person really at fault. Myself.”
“Darius—”
“No.” He held up his hand. “Let me say this. I don’t know if I’ll get another chance.”
All around them in the silent white garden, soft snow began to fall from the lowe
ring gray clouds. Letty’s heart was suddenly in her throat. Now he was going to tell her that they were better off apart...
“You’re right, Letty,” he said in a low voice. “I did try to buy you. I thought money was all I had to offer anyone. I thought I could selfishly claim your love, while being cowardly enough to protect my own heart. But I failed.” He gave a low laugh. “The truth is, I failed long ago.”
His dark eyes had a suspicious gleam. Surely Darius Kyrillos, the ruthless Greek billionaire, couldn’t have tears in his eyes? No. It must be the cold winter wind, whipping against his skin.
“I loved you, Letty. It terrified me. My whole life, all I’ve ever known of love is loss. Losing you all those years ago almost destroyed me. I never wanted to feel like that again. So I buried my soul in ice. Then when I saw you again, when I first took you to my bed, everything changed. Against my will, the ice cracked. But even then I was afraid.” Taking a deep breath, he lifted his eyes to hers. “I’m not afraid anymore.”
“You’re not?” she whispered, her heart falling.
With a little smile, he shook his head. He took her hand in his larger one. “Now I know the truth is that love never ends. Not real love. The love your father has for you and my father had for me. The love your parents had for each other.” His hand tightened over hers as he said softly, “And even if you divorce me, Letty, even if you never want to see me again after tonight, I can still love you. And it won’t bring me pain, but joy, because of everything you’ve brought to my life. You saved me. Made me feel again. Taught me to love again. Gave me a son.” Stroking her cheek, he whispered, “No matter what happens, I will always be grateful. And love you.”