Page 82 of Nothing Breaks Like A Heart

"When I first envisioned this resort," Victor continued. "I saw it as a place for love to be discovered and rediscovered. For couples to fall in love, get married, and celebrate their anniversaries. This diamond is a symbol of eternal love, and it's why I wanted it to be the centerpiece of my collection here on the island. It won't be here forever, but while it's here, I wanted to share it with you—my closest friends. Down the road, my company will be working with a jeweler to create a blue diamond wedding pendant that will be available to purchase by the brides who get married here in the future. In fact, it will launch an entire wedding jewelry collection, which will be my next venture."

Bennett's sharp intake of breath caught my attention. His face had drained of color, this news clearly hitting him like a physical blow. Another decision made without his input, another reminder of his peripheral role in his father's empire.

"But today…" Victor's voice swelled with pride. "I am thrilled to say that you will be the first people in hundreds of years who will see the legendary diamond in all its glory." He cleared his throat dramatically. "Here is the Heart of Eternity."

He dramatically pulled the cloth away, revealing a diamond that seemed to capture and amplify every bit of light in the room. It sat alone on white silk, a pure expression of blue fire that made several guests audibly gasp.

The crowd surged forward instinctively, then froze as bells chimed when someone's hand brushed the glass.

"I'm sorry," Victor said, though he didn't sound sorry at all. "You won't be able to touch the glass without setting off an alarm. Those of you in the front, please take a moment, and then move away so others can see the diamond."

Andrew and I were among the last to approach the case. The diamond was even more spectacular up close, seeming to pulse with an inner light that made it appear almost alive. Victor beamed at us with proprietary pride, while Paula's smile had calcified into something brittle and sharp. She probably sensed that her husband loved this diamond far more than he loved her.

"What do you think?" Victor asked.

"It's stunning," I managed, struck by how something so beautiful could feel so dangerous. "I've never seen anything like it."

"One of a kind," Andrew murmured, his gaze sliding from the diamond to Victor with admiration. "And quite the acquisition. I'm surprised you were able to keep it quiet this long."

"It was not easy," Victor admitted. "But I wanted to have this moment with a special group of people."

I was still surprised that Andrew and I had been included in that special group of people, but maybe it was because we went with the love story.

We gazed at the diamond for another minute before moving away to let the last few guests take a look. Andrew then wandered around the gallery, as did many other guests, pausing now and then to gaze at one of Victor's pieces. I stood off to the side, not particularly interested in seeing it all again. As I did so, I glanced at Ethan. His eyes were on Andrew, but after a moment, he turned and looked at me.

There was a determined grimness to his gaze. His job had just gotten more difficult, as he would now have to keep a legendary diamond safe from thieves. And Andrew, one of his favorite suspects, was walking around the room, taking a look at everything.

But the gallery had to be as secure as any room could be. I couldn't imagine how anyone could get inside to steal anything, and the case itself seemed impenetrable.

Another ten minutes passed before Victor said that the gallery would be closing, and they would see everyone downstairs for dinner.

As we left the room and collected our cell phones, I turned to Andrew. "That was a surprise."

"Yes. Victor outdid himself. It's amazing what kind of wealth he must have to acquire something like that."

There was an undertone to his words I couldn't decipher.Was it envy that Victor was so far ahead of him? Or anger that one man could have so much?

I had never realized the extent of Andrew's ambition until this weekend. I'd known he was trying to build a business, but now I saw how much he wanted the success and wealth that Victor had. Maybe everyone wanted that. Maybe I was the one who didn't dream big enough.

ChapterTwenty-One

The party ended around ten, and we walked back to the main building in silence, my tension increasing with each step. It was easier to be with Andrew in a group than to be alone with him. I was too confused about him to want to be physical, but I was fast running out of reasons not to have sex. My hip wasn't as bad as it had been, and I'd recovered completely from my unexpected swim in the ocean. Andrew had told me he wanted to get back to our honeymoon, and I needed to want that, too, but the truth was—I didn't. But I couldn't say that tonight, not with all the events happening tomorrow. After that, we would definitely have to talk.

Maybe Andrew wasn't as set on getting back to our honeymoon, either, because he had his hands dug into his pockets, when before we'd always walked hand in hand everywhere we went.

Andrew must have read my thoughts because he suddenly took my hand and looked at me, giving me a smile that was nowhere near as dazzling as those he'd showered around the party tonight. But it was clear he was trying.

"Tired?" he asked.

"Yes," I said, not sure how he'd take that answer, but maybe I could use that excuse for at least one more night. "We did a lot of talking."

"Everyone loved our story."

"You've gotten better at telling it. You know all the right points to hit to get the perfect laugh, the perfect ah."

"Well, I've had a lot of practice the past few days," he said. "But it's almost over. After tomorrow, we can put that story away."

His fingers were warm around mine, but I didn't feel the heat that used to burn between us…only a cold dark chill. I knew now that our love story had no substance. It was just a story that I'd told myself.

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