Page 107 of By Fate I Conquer (Sins of the Fathers 4)

I hadn’t been intimate with anyone but Greta since our first encounter on her farm. “There’s one woman.”

She let out a shrill laugh, her face turning red. “Is she the reason why you haven’t slept with me in forever?”

I didn’t say anything. I had a feeling discussing Greta with Cressida would only make me mad.

She clutched the champagne bottle in front of her chest. “You were faithful to your affair but not your wife?”

I pressed my lips together. Anything I said now would make things worse. I’d said everything I wanted. I wouldn’t waste my breath on more. She regarded me like a scientist a bug he was trying to dissect. “It’s the girl from the wedding, isn’t it? The Falcone girl. The way you looked at her… I thought I’d imagined it. I didn’t, did I?”

I didn’t say anything.

“Do you think you love her?” She laughed. “You aren’t capable of it.”

“Cressida, there’s nothing to say anymore. We’ll get divorced and both find happiness elsewhere. I won’t add more mistakes to my life because of a single mistake from my past. This ends now.”

She let out an enraged cry and threw the Champagne bottle my way. It exploded against the edge of the marble side table, throwing an expensive Tiffany lamp to the ground, which broke apart, and breaking the edge off the marble table.

I swallowed trying to rein in my own anger. I’d sworn myself I’d deal with this calmly. “You can keep this house. It’s always been yours. Once the divorce papers are signed, you’ll get the fifty millionsmillion.”

I turned on my heel and walked into the lobby. It wouldn’t do any good to prolong this conversation. If Cressida had some time to think about my offer, she’d see it was the best solution. She was an attractive woman. She’d find a new husband.

She staggered after me and reached for a crystal vase from another expensive sideboard in the lobby. “You think you can buy me off with lousy fifty million?”

“How about seventy million, will this make your obvious heartbreak more bearable?” I gritted out.

Her eyes widened and she threw the vase in my direction. It smashed before my feet. I had enough. I stalked toward her and backed her into the wall. “That’s enough. Eighty million. That’s my last offer and you better take it.”

Her eyes burned with loathing. “I hope you’ll die.”

I gave her a harsh smile. “Many have tried.” I stepped back and walked out. I knew this wasn’t over. Cressida would call her father right away and he’d try to gather the Traditionalist around himself to force me to reconsider my decision, which wasn’t going to happen. I would divorce Cressida and marry the woman I really loved. The woman I’d be faithful to for the rest of my life.

When I left the townhouse, I felt as if a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I turned the music up as I steered my car toward my family’s home. Telling Cressida of my plans had been only the first step of many, the first of many difficult confrontations. Now I had to tell Dad, though maybe Antonaci was speaking to him right now.

The last and most difficult hurdle to overcome would be Remo Falcone.

I shook my head with a wry smile. I grabbed my phone and dialed Greta’s number. I’d never before called her but today I simply needed to hear her voice.

“Amo! Are you hurt?”

Hearing the concern in her voice and imagining the kindness in her eyes, I knew I’d made the right decision, a decision I’d never regret no matter what happened now. “No, I feel better than I have in a long time. I need to talk to you.”

“I need to talk to you too. If you hadn’t called, I would have asked you for a call. Amo, I can’t do it anymore.” My heart sank. Fuck, was she breaking things off? I would never accept that. Whatever was forcing her to make this decision—I would fucking smash it apart.

“I despise the secrecy. I know I told you I don’t mind being your dark secret but I do. I want us to be together all the time. I know we can’t but—"

“Greta, you aren’t a dark secret. You are fucking everything and I want everyone to know. I want everyone to know you’re mine. I don’t ever want there to be someone other than me.”

“There’s always only you.”

My heart swelled. “I told Cressida I want a divorce.”

Greta sucked in a sharp breath. “Really?”

“Really. I’m heading to my parents now. Once I’ve told them and handled the backlash, I’m going to book the next flight to Las Vegas and ask for your hand again. I hope this time your answer will be different.”

It would be the best Christmas present of all time.

“Amo.” Greta’s voice shook. “I’m scared I’m dreaming all of this.”

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