“Who is he, Arra?”
“What?”
“His name—the man you’re fucking behind my back? The man you dragged on this trip to make a fool of me. So that you could screw him under my nose while you make me grovel formyinheritance? The one with the pink jacket and the orchid in his lapel—the one you were texting. Who in the fuck is he?”
Arrabella’s heart stalls in shock.
“Patrick, that’s not—you’ve got it all wrong. He’s not—”
“Oh, don’t think I didn’t know, Arra. And about your ex, too. The nightclubs. The late nights in London. The so-called ‘business trips’ to Málaga, to the French Riviera, Barcelona, Lisbon.”
Her heart kicks into overdrive. She can barely breathe. She thought Patrick was oblivious to the fact she was still seeing Hugh. She thought they’d been careful enough. Panic circles as she scrambles mentally for an explanation, a way out.
“I ignored the rumors you were still seeing him, Arra. I ignored the receipts I found. But you know what’s worse? I loved you enough to pretend. I loved you so bloody much I compartmentalized it—all of it. I fooled my own fucking self that it wasn’t happening. But an illusion only goes so far, right? Magic only works for those who come willing to believe in it. When that will fades, the magic crumbles to dust.”
“Stop. Please. You need to listen.” She reaches for his hand.
He flings her off.
“I’m done. This stunt—luring me onto the ship, parading me in front of my stepmother—it’s too low, even for you.” Anguish distorts his face. “And you bring your piece of meat on the side—I saw the texts,We need to meet. Got something big and juicy ... I’m on the ship.You lied to my face about it beingMary from work. I saw him waiting for you at the bar. I know he’s the reason you never returned to the dinner table last night. Poppy also saw you—together at the elevators.”
A chill trickles down her spine. “It’s not what you think. I can exp—”
“Stop!” He holds up both hands. “I’m done, Arrabella. Stay the fuck away from me.”
“That man you saw at the bar is not my lover. He—he’s just someone I asked for help.” It’s her last card. She wanted to keep it from him, but now shehasto play it. This is her Hail Mary gamble to salvage it all.
“He’s a private investigator. I hired him to dig into Poppy’s background because I didn’t trust her. That’s how I learned she’s a murderer. He got us proof.”
“Youhiredsomeone?”
“Poppy is a con artist, Patrick. She’s targeting Lillith with a long game. I believe she’s done this before with her other clients. I think she recognized Lillith in Brighton, and she took the gap. She maneuvered herself intomyposition. She tookmyjob. She’s been cutting us all out of Lillith’s life, Patrick,” she says softly. “And I swear, it’s not just about the money.”
“Isn’t it?”
At least he’s asking questions.
“I swear. This is about Lillith being in grave danger. Because what if Poppydidhave something to do with Angus’s death? He died almost the same way her husband did. For all we know it was Poppy who persuaded Angus to cut you from his will before she killed him.”
He barks a laugh. “Right. Sure. I don’t think you’ve grasped, Arrabella, that I do not want a penny of that inheritance. And I won’t fight it in court, either.”
“Do you want to tell me why—so I can understand? Because it is rightfully yours. You’re his only true son, his only biological child.”
He watches her intently, like a thin, pale snake looking for the best place to strike.
“That’s just it, Arrabella,” he says quietly. “I’m not his son.”
She blinks. Her world tilts.
“I—I don’t understand. You’re—”
“I’m not his biological son. Remember his second wife? The one with the twins, the contessa who Angus was seeing while still married to my mother? That woman had suspicions about me. She was invested in securing Angus’s fortune for her own offspring. She found one of my baby teeth that Angus had kept. Sent it in for DNA.” Emotion fills his face. “Results came back—Angus was not my father. She told him, used it like a weapon. He sat on it, never said a word to me or anyone. Not even my mom. Butheknew. For years. And when that deal fell through, it was the last straw.”
“The fight over Christmas?”
Not worthy of my blood. Or my legacy ...
“Yeah. He was livid about the deal. I followed him into his office. That’s when he dropped the bombshell. I was not his blood.”
