“I’m so happy to see you.” He tightens his arms around me. “You have no idea how much I missed you.”
When we finally part, I gaze up at him, my mind spinning with confusion. “What are you doing here?”
“It wasn’t planned. I wanted to have someone else waiting for you here, but I couldn’t resist. I needed to see you.”
“What about your mother? I thought you didn’t want her to know that you’re seeing me.”
“She’s actually out of the country right now. She flew to Vienna last night. There’s an important meeting she needs to attend. Trust me, she has no clue I’m here.”
“So, as soon as she turned her back you decided to sneak around?” A smile creeps up on my face. “You remind me of a boy I used to know.”
He laughs and closes the door, then he engulfs me in another hug. “It’s only for a while, I promise you that. Then there won’t be any more sneaking around.”
I already signed the divorce papers yesterday and faxed them to Alex. I also sent the original documents by post. This morning, he sent me a text to let me know he got the fax, and everything will be set in motion.
And he still came to see me. That means he’s not lying. He still loves me.
“I’m glad you’re here,” I say.
It feels strange to have my husband standing in front of me after he asked for a divorce. But it also feels so good.
“I’m glad too. And I can’t wait for all this to be over so I can marry you again, this time in style. No one will ever come between us again.”
I laugh. “I hope not.”
Secretly, I dread to think about what his mother would do if she ever found out that Alex is playing her. Hopefully, she never will.
“Come on,” he takes me to the dining room of the small but luxurious apartment.
I smell the food and burning candles before my eyes land on them. A buffet of roasted fish, potatoes, and salad is laid out on a heavy oak table surrounded by candlelight.
A grin spreads across my face. “What’s all this?”
“Not too long ago, I promised you a nice dinner. It’s been a while since we had a romantic time together. We’ve been going through so much. Tonight, we breathe.”
I rub my eyes. “You’re so right about that.” I’m exhausted. The past few days have been a roller coaster. “How long are you staying?”
“I’ll stay the weekend. After that, I might not see you for a while. That’s why we have to make the most of our time together.”
I nod and take a seat.
He takes the chair next to me. Even when we went out to eat in a restaurant, he never liked sitting on the other side of the table from me. He always wanted to be close.
“Are you okay?” he asks once he’s settled.
“I’m fine.” I didn’t tell him about Jenna or the letter Lavinia left behind. Now that there’s a slim chance of me becoming Jenna’s guardian, I don’t feel the need to bring it up. “I went to see Jeffrey the other day,” I say to him.
There’s no harm in telling him that. I don’t have to tell him what we talked about.
“Why did you do that?” His expression clouds. “He’s a murderer and a rapist.”
“He was also your friend.”
“Was he?” Alex’s jaw tightens. “He was ready to see me go to prison for his crimes.”
“I’m sorry.” I place a hand on his arm. “What he did to you was rotten.”
“What did you talk to him about?”
