Page 221 of Modern Romance January 2025 1-4

Ramon gaped. What on earth was her ex doing here? How had he got in? He glanced across the room and even from this distance saw Jose Ramon’s moody defiance and Cristina’s glittering gaze. His guts twisted. This wastoomuch.

He hauled his wits together and faced Callum. ‘You think that entitles you to pass comment on her now?’

‘Take it from someone who knows her well. She’s never satisfied.’

Something purely animal ran through Ramon. ‘Maybe in your company. Not mine.’

Callum flushed. Good. He was a jerk. Treating Elodie as a possession. A prize. Not a whole person. And maybe Ramon’s reply had bought into it but he’d been stunned into snapping back.

Now Callum’s gaze turned nasty. ‘Yeah, well, she won’t give you the heir you want.’

Ramon almost choked. He didn’t want an heir. But of course, that side of the family thought he did. Heirs and assets. It was all that mattered to them. Yet suddenly the image of a sweet little girl with fire-engine-red hair popped into his head—disarming him completely. Goosebumps peppered his skin as his wayward imagination fed him another future child—a son. More red hair. Smiles. Playfulness. Elodie would have such fun playing games with them and he would have such fun joining in. And he just wanted to grab her and get the hell out of here because hereallyneeded to talk to her.

‘But you already know she’s probably infertile,’ Callum added venomously. ‘All that time with women’s troubles.’

‘What?’ Ramon responded before thinking.‘What?’

Callum’s features sharpened as if he’d sensed a chink in Ramon’s armour. And yeah, there was a chink. A huge one. Did Elodie have health issues she hadn’t told him about?

‘You have no right to discuss my personal business, Callum.’ Elodie’s voice came from behind him.

Ramon turned, immediately shocked by her pallor. Her sapphire eyes were sharp as blades, but she couldn’t hide the pain in their depths. Not from him. He chilled, then menace filled him. He was wild with Callum, but even more horrified thathemight have hurt her somehow and he didn’t know.

‘What are you doing here?’ Elodie asked her ex-husband bluntly.

Ramon whipped his head and watched the way Callum looked at her. He knew then. He justknew. Callum couldn’t drag his attention away from her. Couldn’t hide the wild emotion in his eyes. Ramon knew the feeling. Jealousy burned as he saw how much this man still wanted her. Hell, he probably still thought he loved her. And how had he shown that—by not wanting to let her go? By getting angry because he couldn’t control her? If his current behaviour was any indication, when Callum couldn’t get what he wanted he got ugly about it.

‘I wanted to see for myself,’ Callum said roughly. ‘I’d heard you finally landed a wealthy one. The husband of your dreams. Are you happy at last?’

Bile burned the back of Ramon’s throat. The jerk thought she was a money-hungry predator?Shewasn’t the predator. She’d spent most of her life surrounded by controlling men.

‘Yes,’ Elodie replied in a brittle, bored tone that sounded nothing like her. ‘Ramon’s able to satisfy my every need.’

There was the same inflection in her answer that he’d put in his—the stamp of their sexual cohesion. He felt that animal emotion rush on him again but quickly quelled it. Because Elodie put on a show. She masked her hurt. This was vixen Elodie up front and centre and suddenly he wasn’t sure what to believe.

She turned and walked away from them both, her head high and her fiery hair gleaming in the light. Ramon swiftly stepped to match her pace. Confused. She’d said nothing to him about her health. Nothing. And he was furious.

She turned the corner, drawing them from the line of sight.

‘Is that why you asked me about leaving him earlier?’ She whipped round to face him the second they got behind a tall column. ‘Because you knew he’d be here?’ She tossed her head. ‘Why would you—’

‘Of course I didn’t invite him,’ he interrupted. Doubly furious she’d even think it possible. ‘I think Jose Ramon brought him. Wanted to create drama.’

Wanted to create chaos. Spoilt and petulant, he’d wanted to wreck Ramon’s perceived happiness.

‘What?’Elodie gazed up at him and the anger in her eyes bloomed into something he didn’t want to see from her. Pity.

‘He’sthatangry...?’ She shook her head sadly. ‘He must be really hurt.’

‘You feel sorry for him?’ Right now Ramon was feeling sorry for himself.

‘I do.’ She sighed deeply. ‘It must be impossible to be compared to you. And won’t Cristina have put him up to it anyway? The poor kid doesn’t stand a chance.’

She reached for a glass from a passing waiter and pasted on a smile. Ramon paused, momentarily in awe of her self-control. He just wanted to smash something. What should have been a boring, slightly tense evening had rapidly descended into one of the worst nights of his life. He lasted barely ten minutes more before grabbing her hand and sweeping her from the room. He saw the looks of consternation on the guests’ faces as they left but he didn’t give a damn about what anyone thought. He wasn’t waiting a second longer before demanding the truth from Elodie.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

ELODIESATRIGIDin the corner of the car, repelled by her own cowardice. Ramon was terrifyingly silent for the entire journey but she knew there was no escaping the coming reckoning. It was her own fault for lying for so long. Now he knew things she’d hoped she’d never have to admit to anyoneever.

---