“Dad, I’m not in love with Roman.” The lie spilled easily from her lips.
“I don’t believe you.”
“Does it matter? He lied, and I want a divorce. I can’t trust him. Why are you even questioning this?”
“Because I want what is best for you.”
“And you think Roman Greco, liar and manipulator, is the best thing for me?” she asked.
“I think Roman Greco, the man who has fallen in love with my daughter, who arranged the adoption of fifteen children, and who refuses to sign divorce papers, has a right to be given a second chance. We all fuck up in this life, Alex.”
“I can’t believe I’m hearing this, from you of all people. You’re the one who says there is no chance for making mistakes or fucking up. You always say that.”
“And I could be wrong half the time, Alex.”
She shook her head. “I don’t want to hear this.” Staring in the kitchen, she needed to get out and have some fresh air.
“He does love you, you know,” Liam said.
This made her turn around to look at him. “No, he doesn’t.”
“Roman Greco is a selfish little bastard. He did every single thing his father ordered him to, but he always made sure he was the one who came out on top. Always. He played hard, Alex, but the moment he got engaged to you, those women he was with before, they didn’t get a chance with him. They were gone.”
“Dad, we, he was, we were not good together. He needs a wife who is this sweet innocent virgin who won’t cause him trouble and certainly doesn’t stand out at all these events. I never fit in.”
“I know you didn’t, and that is on me. Your mother, she was exactly like you, but she didn’t care to fit in. At some of the parties we were at, she’d be surrounded by people in designer gowns. Talking about how expensive their clothing was. Your mother always made her own gown, her own clothes, and when asked where she got hers, she’d give a fabric store, the yardage, and how long it took her to make. Sometimes she’d give a pattern, but she didn’t give a fuck.”
“Don’t bring Mom into this.”
“I loved her, Alex. Even when she said she wouldn’t marry me because she didn’t believe in it, and also, it would make me work harder, because at any moment, she could still leave.”
“You know, there are times I thought that was a little cruel,” Alex said.
“I didn’t because your mother was right. I worked my ass off to keep her. She never allowed me to take her for granted. She was all fire. Roman, in the early days, he might have wanted this doormat you talk about, but I’ve seen the way he looks at you, and believe me, that is a man in love.”
“Dad, stop it.”
“You need to think about why that makes you upset.”
“I’m not upset.” Tears sprang to her eyes, and she felt like her heart was breaking. The truth was, she had missed Roman, so much. More than she cared to admit. They’d lived together in this house for such a short time, but it had been long enough to leave a lasting impression.
She missed him so much, all the fucking time, and it was … unfair.
“Sweetheart,” he said, moving toward her.
Alex covered her face, trying to control her feelings, but it was too much. She couldn’t handle this. “Dad, please, it hurts.”
Liam wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against him. “I’ve got you, sweetheart.”
“I … I think I was falling in love with him, but it was all a lie. What do I have to believe? How can I believe anything he has ever said to me?” She began to sob, and Liam held her, but she didn’t want her father. No, she wanted her husband, the man who refused to divorce her. The man who’d finally made a dream of hers come true and wasn’t here to share it with her. “Don’t … kill him for this.”
“Honey, please, you know I won’t kill him. You love him.”
“Don’t, maim him, or hurt him, or injure him,” Alex said.
“Now, unfortunately, you do know me, and I’m a little disappointed I’m not going to get the chance to have a whole lot of fun.” He started to pout, and Alex couldn’t help but laugh at how … silly he looked.
“I love you, Dad.”
“I love you too.”