Page 175 of Modern Romance March 2025 (5-8)

“You don’t have to model yourself on him, you know. What about your grandfather? It sounds like you were fond of him.”

“He was a good man,” he recollected, heart squeezing with grief and affection. “If you couldn’t afford coffee or a meal, he made sure you had one anyway. He encouraged my swimming.”

“He must have been very proud of you.”

“I guess.” He hesitated, then admitted, “Growing up, I felt like a burden on him as much as my mother. If I hadn’t held her back, my grandfather could have retired. Instead, they were chained to the taverna. That’s why I sold it when I could. It felt like something I had trapped them into keeping.”

“Did they really feel that way, though? Or are you projecting?”

“I don’t know. We didn’t talk about it much. The few times my mother brought up contacting Oliver to help out, my grandfather shut her down. It was a matter of pride, I think. My mother told me that when my grandfather told him she was pregnant, Oliver threatened him with a lawsuit that would have ruined him if they pursued a paternity claim. The taverna was all he had. I hate myself for taking all that Oliver has given me and turning on him with it, but I never want to be helpless against the Olivers in the world as my grandfather was.” He rubbed his jaw with agitation, then dropped his hand.

He could feel her studying his profile and tried to distract her.

“It’s too bad the road is so busy here.” He nodded at the abandoned building below. It had been scorched by wildfire, leaving the walls blackened and the surrounding olive grove charred but recovering. “Otherwise, this would be a good location for a villa.”

“Do you know what it was? It looks like it had a pool.”

“It was an inn. Most tourists want to be on the beach, but cyclists and backpackers liked it.” It had a stellar view and access to these ruins and other good hiking trails.

“Do you think it’s for sale? You promised me a hotel,” she reminded him, shading her eyes. “I was so angry at being fired, I was going to ask for something in Zermatt and compete against my old employer, but why be spiteful? The best revenge is to be happy, right?”

“Is that how you think I’m behaving with Oliver? Spiteful?”

“No.” She lowered her hand, brow crinkled. “Do you?”

“That’s what Kendall called me yesterday.” He was one of Oliver’s cronies on the board. “I told him I can strike a deal with Zamos if they put me in charge. He told me to quit being vindictive.”

“What did you say?”

“Nothing that’s fit to repeat.” But there was a ruthlessness in him. He knew what he wanted and had come too far to give up. “Do you really want this place?” He jerked his chin at the eyesore that was the damaged building. “It’s a lot of work.”

“I know.” She wrinkled her nose, grinning. “But I think I do.”

“I’ll see what I can do.”

* * *

They left for Australia a few days later, stopping by her stepmother’s home on the way. Grettina insisted on putting out a huge wedding lunch to welcome Atlas to the family, but everyone was on pins and needles with Pappa there.

At one point, Atlas encouraged Beate to visit them in Athens after she finished school.

“Stay the summer with us,” he coaxed. “Stella would enjoy that, wouldn’t you?” He looked at her. “We could take you on a cruise around the islands.”

“Beate is needed here,” Pappa insisted. “To help Grettina with the twins.”

“I understood Stella was organizing a housekeeper for you?” Atlas said to Grettina.

“Oh, I can manage,” Grettina demurred. “The children are older now—”

“Who the hell do you think you are?” Pappa snarled at Atlas. “This is my family. I know what’s best for them. Keep your nose out of it.”

The ice that descended over the room froze everyone in place.

“Pappa,” Stella began, dying of embarrassment.

Atlas squeezed her hand. “I’m Stella’s husband. Her family is now my family. And let me make my position crystal clear, Herr Sutter. I will never prevent Stella from seeing any of the people she loves. In fact, I’ll create as many opportunities for that as possible. I will take every measure to ensure her loved ones are safe and well, up to and including calling the police if one of them is threatened in any way. Do you understand me?”

Pappa’s eyes widened with outrage before he turned on Stella. “Are you going to let him speak to me that way?”

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