The door opened a while later and Leo entered the suite. “Damien? What are you doing in here? Where is Evelyn?”
“In the bedroom,” Damien replied.
Evelyn tracked Leo’s footsteps as he came in and sat on the edge of the bed beside her. She was facing away from him and didn’t have the energy to move.
He put a hand on her arm. “Evelyn? What happened? What’s wrong?”
“Leo—” Damien started.
“What did you do?” Leo snarled.
“I didn’t do anything! You think I would be sitting on the couch without any burns if this were my fault?”
“Then what’s going on?”
Damien hesitated. It wasn’t his secret to share.
“Please tell him,” Evelyn said. “I can’t.”
“Tell me what?” Leo demanded.
Damien sighed before launching into the whole story. The war, the affair, the deal with Haydn, and revealing the secret today. Leo didn’t say anything as Damien spoke. Evelyn listened like it was a story about someone else.
But it’s not. My father is a sentimental fool and a liar.
There was only silence when Damien finished. Evelyn became increasingly anxious at her husband’s lack of reaction. She sat up and saw the mix of surprise and concern in Leo’s expression.
“Please say something,” Evelyn whispered.
Leo opened his mouth, but nothing came out.
Maybe this does matter to him. Does he regret choosing me?
Evelyn shifted her gaze to Damien, silently pleading for help.
“For fuck’s sake, Leo!” Damien’s outburst snapped Leo back to the present. “Tell Evelyn this doesn’t change how you feel about her!”
“Of course it doesn’t change anything!” Leo said in a rush. “It doesn’t matter who your parents are. I love you!”
Evelyn stared at their wedding rings. “If we had known all of this a week ago, would you have married me?”
The delay in Leo’s answer may have only been the length of a heartbeat, but it was there. “Yes! Evelyn, you are everything to me.”
Damien left, slamming the door behind him.
He doesn’t believe Leo, either.
65
Intentional
Leo stayed with Evelyn until lunchtime. She didn’t want to go downstairs, so he promised to bring food up to her.
He’s being nice, but what is he thinking? Does Leo believe marrying me was a mistake?
Evelyn moved off the bed and onto the couch, truly significant progress, but struggled to quiet her thoughts long enough to read a book.
My father was in love with Katrina. But what about his wife? Did he love her? What was his marriage to Gwyneth like? Did they fall out of love? Why didn’t my father go back for Katrina after Gwyneth died? Do Rowan or Hannah know the truth?
