Page 57 of The Billionaire's Seduction Revenge

Vasilios cleared his throat, his emotions obvious, then turned back to the jewellery. “There is one item in here I would particularly like you to wear.” He found a small, velvet box and moved it from one hand to the other. “If you don’t like it, you should be completely honest. I want you to have what you desire most, but this is—,” he shook his head and without saying anything else, opened the box and passed it for Emma to see. “It was my grandmother’s engagement ring,” he explained unnecessarily, because the teardrop solitaire diamond was so obviously that type of jewel. Emma’s eyes flew to his.

“It’s beautiful.”

“Are you sure?” He sounded genuinely uncertain.

“Of course I’m sure,” she half-laughed. “But Vasilios, it’s—I mean—,”

He frowned, waiting for her to continue, when she couldn’t believe he didn’t understand what she was saying.

“An engagement ring,” he prompted after a moment.

She stared at him, wondering at the strange tripping of her heart. She’d sworn she’d never get married again, she hadn’t even wanted to think about it, so why was the possibility of that doing something so strange to her chest now, making it feel as though fireworks were popping in all directions.

“Your grandmother’s engagement ring.”

His eyes widened as though he understood her question and then, he bent down on his knees, his hand curling over hers. “Emma, I thought I was clear yesterday. I want to spend my life with you, starting as soon as possible. I want to marry you, my love. I want for the whole world to know that I have found you, and you have found me. It would make me happier than anything else I can say.” And then, as if remembering her own past, he grimaced. “I know how complicated that is…”

“It’s not complicated though,” she said, hurriedly. “I thought it would be, but with you, it’s not. It’s right. Everything about this is just…right.”

His smile was like the sun bursting from behind clouds. “That is exactly how I feel,” he said with a kiss.

They were married six weeks later, from the place where they’d fallen in love, and almost lost each other, the place where they both felt Costa had had a hand in their relationship. It was a small ceremony, with a selection of their closest friends and Jack’s family to share in the day. Happiness was evident in all those who came together to celebrate. Jack’s family had seen Emma’s grief, and also Jack’s faults, and though they carried their own sadnesses and regrets, they couldn’t possibly resent any happiness of Emma’s. No one, in fact, could resent the couple anything. It was a perfect wedding, but more importantly, it was the coming together of two people divinely suited and already tested by life and loss. They said their vows as all couples did: with no guarantee for their futures but all the hope in their hearts, and as it turned out, their hope was not misguided, for Emma and Vasilios Valenti did live happily ever after, their lives long, and blessed—with marital harmony and bliss, and four babies who grew into delightful children and then wonderful, interesting adults all of their own.

Emma had a theory about their family, one that held true: they were like an elastic band. They could stretch far at times, with their adult children living abroad and taking part in the running of the Valenti business interests, but they would always snap back together—often just because they enjoyed being together, but sometimes because they needed family support or advice. It was the best testament to their love, and for the rest of her life, Emma was grateful: to Costa, to fate, and to Vasilios for putting aside his fears and reaching out for her with both hands.

THE END

I hope you loved Vasilios and Emma’s story! Following is an excerpt from another sizzling Clare Connelly. Lose yourself in the heat of CRAVING THE OFF-LIMITS BILLIONAIRE.

CRAVING THE OFF-LIMITS BILLIONAIRE

EXCERPT

1

IT WAS PRETTY NATURAL that she wasn’t sleeping well. Not only had Mila fractured her ankle, meaning she struggled to get comfortable at any time, day or night, the fact some crazed fan had been stalking her for over a year meant she basically hadn’t relaxed in forever.

As soon as she heard the noise, she was wide awake, eyes staring into the darkness. She listened intently, ears straining, heart rushing so all she could hear was the sound of washing blood. Was she being paranoid? It wouldn’t have been the first time. The creep following her meant she was constantly looking over her shoulder for shadows. The rhythmic brush of waves against the shore—at night, so close to this little house they practically kissed the footings—had her relaxing a little. These were the same noises she’d heard every night, lulling her to sleep like the lullabies some mothers would sing to their children.

She exhaled slowly, pressing a hand to her heart and laying back against the pillows, right as she heard it again. A man’s voice, low and soft. And close. A curse, in Greek.

She sat up again, hair standing on edge as she pushed out of bed then froze, struck still by fear. She looked around for any kind of weapon, tempted to turn on a light but not wanting to draw any attention to her location. At this point, she had the upper hand. She’d been staying in her cousin’s house for weeks, coalescing until her ankle healed. It was getting close; every day she felt more strength returning, but God only knew if she’d be fit enough to train for the Internationals.

Electronic buttons were being pressed—a noise she knew well. The front door. It had one of those fancy locks with the keypads, and someone was pressing numbers.

She held her breath, staying exactly where she was. The door was secure. If they couldn’t get in, they’d move onto the next house.

Thenexthouse? Her cousin’s Croatian hideaway was on the very edge of the island of Hvar. She’d had to be driven through densely wooded forest, which surrounded the house on three sides. Other than by way of the dune buggy, the ocean was the only means to escape.

Benji loved the isolation of this place, and Mila had never understood that until recently. But now?

What she wouldn’t do for her densely populated Knightsbridge apartment complex, where she could scream and alert around twelve neighbours in the process.

There was no sense bemoaning her circumstances. She was here in the middle of nowhere, with no one around to help. She had to be prepared.

Heart in throat, she took a step towards the door then let out a sharp cry as her ankle immediately registered a protest. Pressing a hand to her mouth, she reached back, grabbing her crutches, and moving as softly and quietly as she could towards her bedroom door. Heart in throat, she turned the knob, wincing as it creaked a little.

The beeping had stopped. She paused outside her bedroom, looking down the hall to the kitchen, where she’d left her phone charging. Not that it would offer much help—there was no cell phone service here, by choice. Benji had paid to put in a tower to block the signal. There was very slow wifi. Perhaps she could email emergency services?

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