Page 53 of The Rancher's Second-Choice Wife

“I wanted to help you from the start, but I didn’t think you’d accept it.”

“I was a stubborn and proud fool for a very long time,” Valerian admitted roughly.

“You and me both, son. But at least we now know better...”

Valerian frowned at the way his grandfather’s voice awkwardly trailed off. “What is it?”

“I don’t want there to be any lies between us.”

“I don’t want that either,” Valerian assured the older man.

Samuel shook his head. “This is about me, not you. I want to be completely honest with you.”

The way his grandfather’s voice turned taut bemused him. “Whatever it is, I’m sure it’s not that bad—”

“I didn’t think it was at first, to be honest. But with what’s happened lately...” Samuel heaved a sigh. “I met your wife a few weeks ago. She agreed to help me, and we decided that I could act as some anonymous benefactor who was more than willing to loan you ten billion dollars.”

Valerian could feel himself growing white as he listened to his grandfather’s words. “That was you?” he asked hoarsely.

“You didn’t know then?”

Valerian felt sick. “I...”

Samuel’s expression looked at him in alarm. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

“I’m sorry, Gramps...I just...I have to go, I’m sorry.”

The flight back to New York was a complete blur. All he knew was that he had to talk to his sister as soon as possible, and when he finally burst inside her office like a madman—

“Do you know where Poppy is?”

Heather looked at her unsmilingly. “Why do you ask? You’ve already asked for a divorce—”

“I fucked up, Heather.”

He told her everything in an expressionless voice, and his sister looked just as sick as he felt when he was done.

“Valerian, you idiot. You should never have doubted her in the first place,” she cried out.

“You think I still don’t know that?” he gritted out. “I owe her, Heather. I owe her everything, so the sooner you can tell me where she is—”

“I can’t.”

“What do you mean you fucking can’t?” Valerian snarled. “She’s my wife—”

“And you broke her,” Heather cried out. “You broke her, Valerian. Do you hear me?” And despite her best efforts, Heather couldn’t stop herself from breaking down as well. “You b-broke her.”

Valerian stared blindly at his sister.

Poppy.

He could picture her so damn easily in his mind.

I’m so fucking sorry, Poppy.

He remembered how she had stared at him like she could no longer understand anything. Remembered how she had started to cry as he turned and walked away.

And he wanted to kill himself.

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