Page 49 of Bitter Confessions

Jasmine glanced at Roth to see if he’d heard what Ariana said, but his attention was on Lyle, who was questioning him about Reed & Sons, the company he’d bought from Guy.

“I’m more interested in the land the vineyards are on than anything else,” Roth said, giving Lyle the same ambiguous answer he’d given her weeks ago.

If she weren’t holding the baby, Jasmine would have dragged her finger across her throat. Instead, she gave Lyle a quelling look he either didn’t catch or was intentionally ignoring.

“What about the land?” Lyle pressed.

Bailey gave Polara a kiss on the head that made the baby fuss. As Bailey gravitated to the spot between her and Roth again and started to climb onto the couch, Ariana’s sharp tone stopped all conversation.

“Bailey!”

Bailey turned to look at her mother, who beckoned with a severe expression. She shot an uncertain look at her dad before hesitantly approaching Ariana, who leaned down and whispered in her ear. The little girl shot a sad look at Jasmine before taking her mother’s hand. Ariana led her offspring down the hallway, out of sight.

“Let me take Polara. She needs to be fed,” Colette said into the awkward silence.

Jasmine surrendered the baby and watched Colette follow in Ariana’s wake.

“Have you spoken to Johnny since you left Lisbon?” Lyle asked her.

“Yes, today. They’re doing well,” she said distractedly. “Roth offered to let him and Aleixo use the jet so they can visit.”

Lyle gave Roth a considering look. “Generous of you.”

“He’s a friend of Jasmine’s.”

“And yours,” she interjected before climbing to her feet. “Excuse me for a second.”

She headed down the hallway and paused a foot from the open doorway of Polara’s nursery.

“I’m trying for her sake, Colette, but he gives me the creeps. Dad’s turning in his grave knowing we’re having dinner with him. There’s no doubt he’s an invaluable ally, and now that he’s a majority shareholder, we have to be cordial. But I draw the line at risking my kids’ lives to keep Hennessy & Co.”

“Ari,” Colette said in a repressive tone.

“Do you see the way he looks at us? It’s chilling. There’s no emotion there. I don’t know how she stands him. I don’t want my kids anywhere near him. If he ever hurt my kids the way he did Thea, I swear to God, I wouldn’t hesitate to...”

CHAPTER 11

Ariana stopped abruptly when Jasmine propped herself against the doorframe. Her sister’s angry expression instantly blanked before she looked away.

“You wouldn’t hesitate to do what, Ari?” Jasmine’s soft tone belied her simmering temper.

Thankfully, Kye and Bailey were oblivious to the brewing storm, sitting at the other end of the nursery watching a program.

Ariana cleared her throat as she ran a hand over her skirt. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for you to hear that.”

“I know you didn’t.”

“Minnie,” Colette began in a consoling tone as Jasmine advanced into the room, her gaze fixed on Ariana.

“You really think Roth could harm a child?” she demanded.

Ariana jutted out her chin. “Why wouldn’t he? He attacked an old woman.”

“Ari!” Colette’s raised voice scared Polara, who began to cry. She swiftly adjusted the baby and shot a severe look at her middle sister. “It’s Thanksgiving. This isn’t the time to?—”

“I don’t condone his actions,” Jasmine cut in, voice shaking with the effort it took not to shout. “But he didn’t lash out because Thea sneezed while he was on the phone. She was handing over blackmail Dad used to control him for four years. He was blindsided by it and overreacted. That was an isolated incident and has nothing to do with you thinking he would attack the kids.”

“He could have killed her. It’s a miracle he didn’t do permanent damage. I can’t take the chance that he’ll get triggered by something Kye or Bailey does. They’re children. They’re going to be loud and messy and unpredictable.”

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