Page 82 of About Love and Revenge

“Tell him about the dyslexia."

A cold sweat runs down my spine. “No, I can't do that."Just talking about it makes my heartrate soar.

"Why not?"

"I'm embarrassed."I look at my hands before continuing. "My father discovered this problem of mine when I was still very young, and he called me stupid on a daily basis. I don't want Odin to see me like this. He said he admires me as a person, and if he knows I have that, even if he doesn't despise me, he'll feel sorry for me, and I don't need anyone's pity."

“You should give him some credit, you know? Odin is a good man behind that coldfaçade, Elina."

"I don't doubt it. Despite his problem with my father, he helped me. He saved me from the sheik."

"Sheikh?"

“I didn't tell you the details about the reason why I came here. It wasn't just that my dad had abandoned me and I needed a job. He negotiated a marriage between me and this sheik, Naim. The man is scary, Zoe. Odin saved me from his attacks two days in a row. The second time he almost . . . I don't know if I would have been able to stop him if Odin hadn't arrived in time." I don't immediately mention the kidnap attempt in New York because I think I've already revealed too much of that horrible story.

"Jesus, Elina. This man is dangerous."

“I know, believe me." I return the cup of hot chocolate to its saucer. “I know Odin has a generous heart, although maybe he doesn't know that himself, but I don't want his pity. For the first time in my life, I'm managing to be a complete woman. I won't expose my shortcomings."

"One step at a time. First, I'm sorry for what I'm going to say, but I don't even know your father and I already don't like him. He and your mother should have been there to support you in overcoming your difficulties. The first thing I would do if my child had dyslexia would be to research everything about it." She looks angry. “Mysecond issue is that, although I understand what you're telling me, I really think a relationship should be based on truth. As for thissheik, he should be in jail, which is the right place for rapists."

I listen to her intently, still unsure whether to reveal everything else and coming to the conclusion that I'm not ready. "Do you really think I'm not stupid?"

“I'm sure you're not, Elina. The only idiot in this story is your father."

For the first time, I take the initiative to touch her hand. “That thing you said about us going to a doctor...I'd like to try."

"Really? When?"

“Not now, but in the near future. I need to prepare myself first.”

"That's all right. Let's do this: next month, when I'm back in New York for the benefit ball, we can see the doctor. What do you think? That way I'll have time to find a good specialist."

“You can't tell Christos."

"Relax. I already gave you my word. No one will know but the two of us, unless you want to reveal everything to Odin. I don't wish to come between you, Elina, but I still think he should know."

“He also has a lot of secrets. He never talks about his family or why he hates my father."

"Have you asked?"

“Not about his family, because I don't want to bother him. Regarding my father, he made me promise that his name would never be mentioned."

“You're his girlfriend. That's not bothering him, it's just knowing what you're getting yourself into. I also don't know anything about Odin's family, other than that he was orphaned as a child. He and Christos didn't meet until they were adults."

“Odin lived on my island when he was a teenager. I met him when I was still very young."

"Do you think that was when he started hating your father? When he was young?"

"I really don't know. My father is not someone others tend to love, but Odin has bankrupted him. Deceiving Leandros is no easy task, but he did it, so I can only think that there is a very serious story behind their enmity."

“You sometimes call your father Leandros and sometimes father. Why?"

"Force of habit. In my head, I started calling him Leandros. We didn't have a good relationship, except when he was faking it for his friends. Inside our house there were only screams and . . . insults. I don't think I can see him as my father anymore, but I made the mistake of calling him by name once and took a beating. So I learned to separate what was going on in my head from what should be said out loud."

“Like I said before, your dad isn't even close to being one of my thousand favorite people in the world."

“He'll be mad when he hears I've run away and disobeyed him about the sheik, but it will be much worse when he starts seeing me in public with Odin."

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