Page 52 of The Rancher's Second-Choice Wife

“Did he find out—”

Poppy shook her head. “I didn’t even get around to telling him about that. He just—he just came home to t-tell me it was over.”

Heather couldn’t remember feeling so helpless as she watched her sister break down in tears.

“I know he has every right to do this,” Poppy choked out. “I know I can’t force myself on him. All I want right now is to just s-stop. I just want to stop being so sad. I can’t seem to stop being sad, Heather, and I just want it to stop.”

Heather’s own eyes burned with tears as she wrapped her arms around Poppy.

How, God?

How could she tell Poppy that she had gotten it all wrong?

It was heartbreak and not sadness that was tearing Poppy into pieces.

But Valerian had hurt his wife so, so much that Poppy didn’t even know she was broken.

****

VALERIAN’S CHEST FELT impossibly tight as he waited to see if his grandfather would come down and meet him. Over a decade had passed since he had walked out of this place. But the moment he came back, memories immediately flooded his mind, and it was like he had never left at all.

The familiar thud of his grandfather’s walking stick had Valerian abruptly rising to his feet.

“Hello, Gramps.”

A part of him expected Samuel’s reaction to range from angry to awkward, but the older man did neither.

“Welcome back, son.”

And before he knew what was happening, his grandfather had already pulled Valerian into his arms, and it was like coming home after being lost for a fucking eternity.

When Samuel let go, Valerian’s eyes were stinging, and his grandfather looked as if he had something in his eye as well.

“I’m sorry,” Valerian said rawly.

“I’m the one who should say that.”

One look at Samuel’s eyes was enough. It was obvious that Heather had long told their grandfather the truth, and equally obvious was how Samuel had also known of the hurt and anger Valerian had nursed against him all these years.

“I’m so damn sorry, son,” Samuel choked out. “I didn’t know how much you were suffering. I didn’t know at all.”

It was Valerian’s turn to wrap his arms around his grandfather’s, and no other words were needed.

Samuel invited him to stay for dinner, and it was when they had moved to the library for coffee that his grandfather asked him outright if there was something he wanted to say.

“Have I always been this easy to read?” Valerian asked with a grimace.

Samuel shook his head. “On the contrary, you did not show any emotion growing up. But you’ve changed, Valerian,” his grandfather said simply. “And for the better, too.”

“I’m not sure about that, to be honest. And especially in light of what I’m about to ask you.”

Samuel’s expression turned sober. “This is about your company’s investment in Risto?”

“I’m afraid so. And I want you to know, Gramps...it won’t be like before. I’ve prepared all the paperwork. All the projections you need to see. But if you still think you can’t loan me the money—”

“It’s yours.”

Valerian could only stare at his grandfather. Was the old man pranking him?

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