Page 56 of A Diamond for My Forbidden Bride

But I didn’t back down. ‘Don’t you dare tell me about my feelings, Valentin Silvera.’

‘So if I’d come to you cap in hand in Madrid? Asked you out for coffee? What would you have done? You’d have turned around and walked away. The only reason you think you love me now is because I forced you to come here with me.’

I came closer, standing right in front of him, looking up into his eyes, trying to see where he was coming from him, trying to read him, and...he was afraid, wasn’t he? He was afraid to take what I was giving him, because he didn’t trust me.

I trusted him, but he didn’t trust me.

And maybe he never would.

Maybe he’d never be able to give me that, never lower his defences enough to let me in. Maybe he was too scarred, too broken.

Maybe I’d end up just like my mother, staying with a man who didn’t love her. Convincing herself that one day she’d change his mind and yet knowing it was never going to happen. Because she wasn’t enough for him, just as I’d never been enough for him.

I could feel pain setting in, my heart fracturing along the same lines as it had years before, because the only option I had was doing the same thing she had: spending my life with a man who would never give me what I truly wanted.

His heart.

Except, that’s not quite true, is it?

I blinked. Wasn’t it, though? Love, as he’d said, wasn’t something he knew anything about.

But I did. And so...why was I afraid? Wasn’t my heart big enough for both of us? Wasn’t I strong enough to deal with him? And why did I think I’d end up like my mother? Because I wouldn’t. I would always challenge him, stand up to him. I’d never let him walk all over me. And that wasn’t even what I’d been afraid of all this time—I knew that now.

It was love that had scared me. Love had broken me at fifteen and I hadn’t wanted ever to go near it again. But I was different now, stronger. And, strangely, I wasn’t afraid. There was only that white-hot heart of the star burning inside my chest. A fire that would never go out, that would burn hot and powerful.

Love was that fire, and it wasn’t a weakness or a flaw. It was a strength. A power.

I stared at Val, let my love for him blaze in my eyes so he would know what it looked like, so he would recognise it.

‘You’re wrong,’ I said. ‘You haven’t forced me to love you. You only uncovered what was already there. I loved you then, Valentin Silvera, and I love you now. And, if you think I’m walking away from you, you can think again.’ I paused, giving him a fierce look. ‘I don’t care how long it takes. You will be mine eventually. Count on it.’

Then I turned and went over to the couch and picked up the ripped shreds of my dress, draping them casually over my shoulder. ‘Well,’ I went on calmly. ‘It’s a lovely day and this is a lovely island. And I’ve just realised it’s been a long time since I’ve taken a holiday. So...I think I’ll stay here for a week or two. If you don’t mind, that is.’

His face darkened and he took a step forward. ‘Olivia, don’t—’

‘Don’t what? You wanted me to choose, Val, so I’m choosing. And I choose to stay.’ I strolled over to the door that led to the hallway and tossed him a smile over my shoulder. ‘After all, I could do with a holiday.’

And, before he could reply, I walked out.

CHAPTER TWENTY

Valentin

IDIDN’TUNDERSTANDwhy she wanted to stay. After I’d taken everything from her. After I’d kidnapped her. Manipulated her into sex. Used her the way I’d used my brother, all to satisfy my own wants and needs.

To satisfy my anger towards a man who was dead.

A man I’d never called Father and yet for some reason a man I’d wanted attention from all the same.

I’d hated him. I’d thought it was Constantine who was like him, not me.

But I’d been wrong. All this time, I’d been wrong.

I let her walk out and I didn’t follow, because what could I say? I couldn’t love her the way she deserved to be loved. How could I? I’d thought I knew what love was, but I didn’t. Another thing I’d been wrong about.

The rest of the day I tried to lose myself in work, but I couldn’t concentrate, so I lost myself in exercise instead, trying to outrun the realisation that had frozen me down to my soul.

For once, I felt nothing. My anger was gone; the intense feelings of desire and hunger had vanished.

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