“Then let’s stick to the facts.” Willem’s tone was uncompromising. “And the most pertinent here is that you’ve been needlessly throwing money away on your court battle, one which we both know is going nowhere.”
“It’s not.” But she couldn’t quite meet her brother’s gaze. “Our lawyers just need more...time.” Anneke dug her nails into her palms. “That’s all.” And it was. It was all she could allow herself to believe in.
For so many months now, her family’s group of lawyers had met one roadblock after another, and Anneke had been torn between dismay and hysterics when she realized Marcus was flagrantly resorting to dirty-handed tactics to keep the divorce from being finalized.
One lawyer had been proven susceptible to bribery, another had quit after being warned “nicely” about a scandal in his past, while the third one had been pressured to resign by his girlfriend, who incidentally worked for one of Marcus’ companies.
“The man isn’t acting like someone desperate to get rid of his wife,” Willem spelled out, “and if you truly want to win this case—-”
“Of course I do.” Anneke was aghast that her brother could even think otherwise.
“Thenwhydoes Ravelli seem hell bent against your petition for divorce?”
She gave Willem a helpless shrug. “I don’t know.”
“At least try making a guess—-”
Anneke was already shaking her head before he even finished speaking. “No.”Never.“I can’t.” Because once, she had foolishly allowed herself to think she understood Marcus Ravelli better than most people, and look where that had gotten her.
“Then...” Willem gazed at her under hooded lids. “Would you like to know what I think?”
Ah.And too late she realizedthiswas what he had really come here for.
It wasn’t to ask her about why the divorce still hadn’t pushed through – because her brother already knew why.
It wasn’t even to ask how she was holding on – because he also already knew she wasn’t doing well...at all.
It was none of the easy things.
It rarely was with Willem, since he tended to see too much, even when they were kids.
Sucking her breath, she asked stiltedly, “Can weplease...not talk about it?” Looking away, she whispered, “Whatever his reason is—-”
“Don’t say that,” Willem said, “when we both know you understand why he’s doing this.” He saw Anneke jerk at his words, but he didn’t let it stop him. “This entire court battle is a pointless waste of both your time and money, and youknowthat, too, Anneke.”
Shifting restlessly, she muttered, “It doesn’t matter. I don’t care why he’s doing the things he’s doing—-”
“Then you’re more an idiot than I’ve given you credit for,” Willem snapped.
Anneke stiffened.
“I didn’t raise you to be a coward, so don’t start acting like one now.”
She only her lip hard at her brother’s taunting words, not letting Willem provoke her into speaking.
“Face the goddamn facts—-”
“No!”The cry spilled past her lips, and as her body started shaking, she found herself quietly appalled at how easily Willem had gotten to her – and how much she ended up revealing to him, and to herself.
Looking at him, she said in a stricken voice, “I can’t. I just can’t.I just can’t.”
“Then let me spell it out for you—-”
“Willem, please—-”
“He’s doing all these things so you’ll come to him,” he forged on.
Anneke started shaking her head wildly.