“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“I’m a bad judge of character. It’s one of those things that’s hard to learn about yourself. So yes, I worry about the fact that you married my ex. And no, I don’t want him back. I just don’t want to see you living a life you’ll regret.” Catherine grew sober. “And I feel bad that I let petty jealousy ruin the friendship we could’ve had.”
“Jealousy? Over what?”
“You, Amandine. You. You’re just so beautiful and talented.”
“Me?”
“The sad thing is, you have no idea how lovely you are.”
Amandine found herself speechless. Catherine reached over and patted the hand that held Gavin’s ring.
“Just remember: if you don’t value yourself, if you don’t consider yourself precious, nobody else will either.”
* * *
Gavin put his tablet away and sat back into the Bentley’s leather upholstery, thinking about the instructions he’d just sent to Hilary to start drafting a letter to let clients know he would be cutting back. He’d still manage the funds for the family to replace the income lost from The Lloyds Development, but almost everything else would be delegated to others at the firm. If the clients didn’t feel comfortable, they were welcome to cash out. This way Gavin could pull back and spend more time with his wife. If the family’s funds still proved to take up too much of his time, he’d have Pete co-manage them.
Gavin should have been heading to the office—there were a few things he needed to do before calling it a day—but he wouldn’t be able to focus unless he saw Amandine first. Was his mother right about what Amandine needed? He’d thought she was happy with their home and the new studio and other amenities, but what did he really know? When things settled down at work, they should talk about downsizing. Getting rid of a few staff even.
Thomas stopped at the main entrance. There was an unfamiliar car in the drive—not unusual, but this was a Miata, and had rental tags. Gavin climbed out of the Bentley and was halfway to the front door when it opened and Catherine stepped out.
What the hell? “Catherine.”
She gave him a cool smile. “Gavin.” The moneyed diction was back. Apparently she’d pulled herself together since his visit.
“What are you doing here? You didn’t say you were coming.”
“Do I need to make an appointment to see my cousin? I wanted to return your ring.” Her gaze dropped to his hand. “I see you’ve replaced it.”
“You could’ve mailed it.”
“But then I wouldn’t have been able to see Amandine. Looks as if she’s divorcing you. Or is it the other way around? Well, whichever… I thought she might need some moral support.”
The muscles around his neck tightened. “Moral support?”
“Oh, nothing important. Just girl talk.”
Catherine started to walk past, and he gripped her arm. “Like what?”
“Ask your wife.”
“I’m asking you.”
Catherine yanked her arm, but he merely tightened his hold. Amandine’s no flashed in his mind. What did Catherine know? Had she come to poison his marriage?
“All right.” Her face twisted. “If you must know, she was curious as to whether I wanted you back, since Jacob seems never to have been my husband.”
The bigamy must have unhinged her. “I don’t want you back.”
An unpleasant chuckle trickled from her throat. “Assuming I would take you. You’re good enough in bed, but I never wanted you as a spouse. And I wouldn’t wa
nt you now, even though you seem to have been amazingly lucky with your financial roulette. You don’t know how to make anybody happy but yourself.” She pulled away again; this time he let go. She crossed her arms. “I’ve had some time to think things through, look back on my life. And I see how many bad choices I’ve made. Jacob is a total jackass, but at least he wasn’t as horrible as you. You wanted me for a trophy, some kind of proof that you’d ‘made it.’ That you were someone special, better than everyone else. I didn’t matter to you as a human being. Well, that was one mistake I didn’t make, but then I chose Jacob. I should’ve known better. Same blood, after all.”
Shock and fury burned through him. “Are you finished?” he asked between clenched teeth.
“As it happens, I’m not. Your entire family has been awful to me. I realized your mother hated me the moment she uprooted all the yellow roses in her garden after learning that they were my favorite. Ethan’s always treated me with a cold politeness that’s practically disdain. And sweet little Meredith can barely be bothered to return a phone call.