Page 34 of His Collateral Wife

"I'm not his daughter," I confess haltingly.

"And?"

"W-What do you mean 'and'?" Did he not understand what I'm saying here? "I'm not his real daughter, Calixte. So marrying me hasn't given you any leverage---"

"I didn't marry you for leverage."

All I'm able to do once again is stare.

"Then why?"

Why would he still marry me?

"Why do you think?"

Impossible, I think for the nth time.

It can't possibly be what I think is.

I just can't.

My husband's lips tighten. "I know I'm no saint. But if you give me a chance---"

A choked cry escapes me when I realize he's actually trying to convince me to love him back.

"I don't understand," I sob out. "Why would you love someone like me? I'm no one---"

"You saved me. Changed me. And if that's not enough, you even made me believe in your God. How can I not love you?"

All I can do is weep.

"Talk to me, mon ange," he urges raggedly. "I can't help you if you won't tell me what's wrong."

(God, why? Why are you so good to me? Why?)

"Is it your father you are still worried about? Because if it is, I want you to understand that everything is going to change," Calixte stresses. "Now that I know he truly has no hold over you, I'll have him moved overseas and in solitary confinement. There will be no way for him to harm anyone or any creature for the rest of his life."

I wait for dread to come over me at his words, but all I feel is hope.

Calixte tightens his grip on my hands. "I'm not saying these things to make you feel better, Eden. I'm saying it because it's the truth...and I can prove it."

Oh no.

I didn't even realize that my silence had made him think I was questioning his words. But just as I'm about to tell him there's no need for any such evidence, he's already beat me to speaking.

"Are you aware of the name Ombre?"

I know the word means 'shadow' in French, but I also know there's this secret government agent that goes by this code name. He's like a real-life mix of Jason Bourne and James Bond, and...oh...my...gosh.

"You're him, too?"

"Oui."

My head starts hurting in a familiar way. Does this mean people who know him as either Calixte or Dauphin...has no idea that he's also Ombre, whom everyone in both law enforcement and the criminal underworld knows of...but have never seen?

"Do you trust me now?"

"I've always trusted you---"

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