“Charles explains in the letter.” Her gaze was steady, totally the opposite of his. She had a look of compassion in her eyes. “He says your copy is locked in the desk. I’m guessing you haven’t used the desk.”
He shook his head. “No, I…” Whatever he was going to say escaped him as he caught the odd word in the familiar large scrawl, full of confidence, as if that was all that you needed in the world to succeed. And, he guessed, by his father’s estimation, he had succeeded.
He handed it back to her. “I don’t want to read it.”
“I think you should. I’d like you to, Sebastian.”
Their gazes locked and there was no way he could deny her. Maybe that was love, too. He looked down at the letter and read it.
Dear Sebastian and Indra,
I sincerely hope that by addressing this letter to the both of you that you will both be reading it. Because that is my intention. I want you both to hear what I have to say to each of you, and to you both together.
First Sebastian. I’m sorry. I’m truly sorry for what I did to you and I understand you can never forgive me. I would, no doubt, have been the same. It took loving someone again to make me understand. After your mother died, so did I, until Indra’s mother, Alia, arrived on my doorstep and brought me to life again. Loving Alia changed me and changed my life. But it was too late for you. I love you, Sebastian, and I want the best for you. And the best is Indra.
My darling Indra. When you and your beloved mother came into my life, I was an empty shell—lost ever since Sebastian’s mother died—but you both made me come alive. And for that, I’ll be eternally grateful. I’m sorry if you feel manipulated by the requirements in my will, but I did it for you. I wanted someone to care for you, to bring you out into the world. Because I regret indulging your mother by keeping you tied to the estate as she wished. Alia was afraid, and I indulged that fear. I wanted someone to love you who I could trust, and I knew that once Sebastian had met you, he couldn’t fail to love you, and protect you. And I knew he’d give you the kind of life which I, and your mother, deprived you of. I know that because I loved you and wanted to protect you too and, whether he admits it or not, we are very alike.
And I apologize to you, Sebastian, for manipulating you beyond the grave. But I knew you were living a life devoid of love, just as I’d done for so long. And love is something Indra lives and breathes. I knew she would be able to breathe life back into your soul and your heart. I knew that Indra’s loving heart would make up for all the pain I’ve inflicted on you.
I will never have any way of knowing whether my plans have worked out or not. But the fact that one or both of you are reading this letter makes me hopeful that they have.
I pray that you find love together and, if not, then you help each other to move forward.
Your loving father,
Charles Richmond
Stunned, Sebastian looked up at Indra.
“I know,” she said, taking it from him and glancing at it, “I hardly believed it myself. But I should have known. I never could reconcile the fact that he’d insisted on this marriage with the man I knew.”
“I guess he turned his life around and I never knew.”
“No, but he understood why you chose not to visit him.”
“It seems he understood a lot more than I gave him credit for.”
“He was a complicated man. And you’re just like him.”
He huffed a laugh in agreement. “I guess. And I’ve come to my own epiphany, with a bit of help from my father and a bit of help from you.”
She looked at him questioningly.
“I’ve been an idiot. I love you, Indra. My father was right. Loving you has opened me up to the world in a way I hadn’t ever thought possible. There’s only one thing I want, and that’s for you to be in my life. Will you marry me?”
Her eyes were glassy with tears as she gulped and laughed. He didn’t know whether she was sad, happy or simply amused. “We’re already married.”
He brushed away the remnants of tears. “Not properly. Not with love in our hearts. Will you marry me again? This time a proper wedding with everyone present and everyone knowing that you are my world.”
She nodded, and he could see that the amusement had disappeared as the tears flowed again. He kissed her, but wanted to hear her say the words.
“You haven’t answered me.”
“Of course I’ll marry you. I love you and, you’re right, this time we’ll have the perfect marriage.”
“But we can still make love before the second one, right?”
She grinned. “Right.”