For a few seconds, he was quiet, as though contemplating how to best break it to me. Or perhaps gathering courage.
“Antoine had a half-sister. Violette. She grew up with us since the Toussaints were close family friends. Unfortunately, she died over a year ago.” Zeno’s gaze flew ceilingward where cherubs danced on clouds and played flutes. “The night before she died, we’d been in a four-month long arrangement and…I broke it off with her.”
I stiffened and pulled back from his embrace, shocked. “You were fucking her?”
“Yes, but I swear it was casual.” He dragged his knuckles down my upper arm and kissed my shoulder. “She wasn’t my girlfriend, Darla.”
“Please go on. I need to hear this.”
Zeno searched my eyes to make sure I was okay before proceeding.
He explained how Violette and him formed an exclusive friends with benefits relationship over a year ago. However, things changed when she became jealous, almost ruined an important business deal, invaded his privacy, and accused him of sleeping with other women. Violette said she was in love with him and demanded Zeno marry her, but he refused. My husband regretted ending things with her on such a horrible note. Not because he loved her, but because of their family ties.
“You said she died the next day…How?”
“Drunk and high as a kite, she partied too hard and fell down a rooftop,” he whispered. “It was a closed casket funeral. She was completely disfigured.”
“Zeno, I’m so sorry to hear all of this.”
“For a really long time, I’ve felt responsible for her death,” he admitted gruffly. “If I hadn’t broken up with her, she might not have drowned her woes in alcohol and drugs. Violette wasn’t a party girl, Darla. I drove her to that extent and it haunts me.”
“Hey, hey, look at me.” I grabbed his face. “Zeno, her death was not your fault. You are not responsible for her actions. She chose to drink. She chose to take drugs. What happened to her is very sad, but it’s not your fault.”
“I always made my intentions clear with her. She knew she would never be my girlfriend or my wife.” He curled his fingers with mine, kissing the back of my hand. “I never wanted to marry but then…then I met you.”
My breath hitched. “That’s why Antoine came after you, right? You married me when you wouldn’t marry his sister.”
He nodded slowly as I connected the puzzle pieces.
“The Toussaints were a prolific family in Montardor, just like yours, and many people knew about their close ties with the De la Croixes. Gabriel Toussaint, Antoine’s father, was Yves’s personal lawyer and his good friend. The fact that I would not marry their daughter—who I’d known for two decades—while I married you—who I’d known for a few short weeks—left a bitter taste in their mouths, I’m certain. Not to mention, Mayor Hill and I have never seen eye-to-eye, so our union left room for a lot of speculation.”
I shifted in his lap and wrapped my arms around his neck.
“Even if you weren’t in the picture, Darla, Antoine would have still come for me.” He exhaled sharply. “I recently learned that Antoine and Violette were lovers.”
I reeled back. “Are you kidding me?”
“Unfortunately, no.” Zeno filled more whiskey in his glass. I grabbed it from him, taking the first sip to chase down this horrid plot twist. “Not only was he mad that I fucked his sister and didn’t put a ring on it, but he was jealous. Apparently, he was in love with her. To add more fuel to the fire, Antoine and I never liked each other growing up.”
“God, Zeno. This is crazy. I can’t wrap my head around this.” I wanted to drain the entire bottle of whiskey at this point. “I don’t know howyouwrapped your head around it.”
And Zeno handled all of this while getting married, taking over the seigneur seat, and ensuring everyone in his family was cared for and safe.
I admired this man’s strength.
On top of that, Zeno never let me get wind of his demons. He made sure to keep me happy and provide everything I needed and wanted. Dates. Gifts. Laughter. Sex. A companionship that I craved my whole life and found in the most enigmatic man I’d ever known.
“Violette promised to keep our arrangement a secret, but she obviously told her brother everything before dying. Including the part where I said no to marrying her. I knew this grudge was personal and no one has ever hated me like Antoine Toussaint. He wanted to avenge Violette’s death and make me pay.”
“Now you made him pay.” I kissed his chin. “It’s over and done, Zed.”
“Yes.” He sighed and closed his eyes. “It’s over and done.”
“Sounds like you had an eventful night. How do you feel?”
“I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I feel like I can breathe again knowing he’s dead and being buried six feet beneath the ground as we speak.”
I touched his unshaven jaw. “Thank you for confiding in me. I trust you, Zeno, and I want you to trust me completely. I don’t want secrets between us. Ever.”