Page 102 of Nothing Breaks Like A Heart

He smiled at my blunt statement. "Partly, yes, but also because I want you to be involved. You're my daughter. And this is the family business. I want you in it."

I had a lot of mixed emotions about his offer. "You already gave me a very valuable diamond. I don't need to work at all."

"I was wondering what you were going to do with that, but I didn't want to ask. It's yours to do whatever you want with it."

"Well, I'm not going to put it in a glass case for people to look at or try to steal. I'm going to sell it, and I want to use the money for good."

He nodded, his expression neutral. "Okay."

"That doesn't bother you?" I challenged. "You don't want it back after searching for it for so many years?"

"Like I said, it's yours. You don't have to work for me at the foundation, but I'd like you to consider it. I want us to have a relationship, however that might look."

I hesitated for a long minute, but in truth, I'd already made my decision. "I'd like to get to know you better. That's as far as I can go right now."

Relief ran through his eyes. "Good."

"There is another question I have for you."

"You can ask me anything."

"How did you have so many good fakes of that diamond?"

He smiled. "David's girlfriend Kirstie is an artist and a gemologist; she's very good at making fakes."

"Kirstie?" I asked with surprise. "Seriously? I would not have guessed that about her."

"People rarely look past her beauty. I was worried that someone might try to steal the diamond, so I asked David to have her make me several fakes. He gave them to me when we were on the yacht."

"It was you and David in the stateroom," I said as the last piece of the puzzle fell into place. "I heard parts of your conversation. You said something about taking care of Ethan. What did you mean by that?"

"I wasn't aware anyone had overheard our conversation," he said. "I did tell David that I didn't want Ethan to know about the fakes. I couldn't trust anyone, not even Ethan. It was too risky."

"It was risky to bring the second fake to Andrew. He almost killed you and then he would have come after me."

"I didn't think he would react so quickly and so violently. Have you spoken to Andrew?"

"No, and I won't. I've already filed for an annulment. I can't wait to be completely free of him. I was a fool to fall for his con. I won't be that trusting ever again."

"Andrew fooled me, too. I did look into Andrew's background because of Ethan's concerns, but I didn't find anything that set off alarm bells. And I knew you weren't a thief, so I dismissed the idea that you and Andrew might be working together." He paused. "I should have done a more thorough investigation, and I should have trusted Ethan's instincts. I'm sorry Andrew hurt you the way he did."

"He hurt me, but he didn't break me." I repeated the words I'd said to Andrew that last day. "I'm going to be fine."

"I'm glad. I'll go now so you can have time alone with your mom. But I hope I'll hear from you soon." He paused, giving me a smile. "You know, there are very few people who don't say yes to me immediately."

"Maybe that's not such a good thing."

"Maybe not. But I think I'll enjoy getting to know someone who isn't afraid to speak her mind and tell me when I'm wrong."

"Be careful what you wish for."

He laughed, then headed down the small hillside to his waiting car.

After he left, I turned back to my mother's grave. I wished he could give me time with my mom, but she was gone. And he was here. It wasn't fair. She should have been here, too.

But her spirit would always be with me, and I would have the life she wanted for me. I just couldn't follow completely in her footsteps with regard to Victor.

"I'm going to get to know my father, Mom," I said aloud. "I'll enjoy spreading his wealth to those less fortunate, and I'll see what kind of relationship we can have. I'll be more careful about who I trust in the future. But I know I won't be fooled again, because now I know who I really am. It's ironic that it took a con man to make me see that." I leaned down once more and traced her name with my fingers, then I put my fingers to my lips and blew her a kiss. "I'll be back soon. I love you."

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