Page 1 of Until You (Forgive Me)

Chapter One

Christian

The early morning sun glistened off the water, its gentle swell lapping against the shoreline. The sound merged with the flute-like notes of birdsong and rustling leaves from the surrounding trees. It offered a tranquil, almost ethereal setting. It fitted Lily perfectly... he could not have chosen better himself.

“I did it, Lily.”

Christian’s heart hammered in his chest as he uttered those words aloud. The past six years had been a minefield. He’d learned to play the game and had succeeded beyond expectations. There had been no option to fail. He, Christian Dupree, was stronger now. Never again would he be subject to someone else’s control.

Christian placed the pink and white dahlias down. His finger lingered on one bud. The florist promised the flowers would bloom in a few days, just in time for Lily’s birthday. Her dream had been to own a garden full of dahlias and peonies—her picket-fence dream, he had called it. Their intricate beauty and cascade of fragrant petals made them her favourite.

His mind went back to the day Lily had called him at work. She’d just received her first review.

“Lily Roberts - The West-Ends New Up-and-Coming Star.”

Her excitement had been palpable. Christian had filled her dressing room with dahlias. Lily called him crazy, with more money than sense, but for Christian, he’d never wanted her excitement to fade. From the moment he’d seen Lily Roberts, he could not resist her. She was like a light in the darkness. He, a wealthy playboy, and she, a West End actress. A Hollywood style love story... a Cinderella retelling. But neither of them had foreseen the Shakespearean tragedy heading their way.

Christian’s smile slipped, and his chest tightened. The dahlias were a sharp contrast to the cold, black granite headstone. It had been six years, but the suffocating pain remained.

Lily Rose Roberts

25 Aug 1990 - 12 Oct 2014

Daughter, Sister, Mother of Skylar

Taken too soon - Fly with the angels.

Christian ran a finger over her name.

“I’m free.”

His eyes looked heavenward, a lump forming in his throat.

“It’s time.”

He drew in a shuddering breath before dropping his chin to his chest.

Silence surrounded him. He hesitated. What was he expecting? A sign? Lily was gone... taking with her the love, laughter, and teasing they’d shared.

For six years, he’d dedicated himself to rebuilding his family business from the ground up, working to regain control of his life. Despite finally finding the right path, he felt like an empty shell of his former self, with no way to make up for the past that haunted him.

He touched his fingertips to his lips, before laying them on the cold, hard stone.

“Until we meet again, my love.”

Christian turned and walked away. The sound of the outside world came back into focus as each step took on a new meaning. His resolve hardened as he navigated his way through the mix of ancient and modern headstones. By the time he reached his car, he knew what he had to do.

It was time to meet his daughter. He just had to hope it wasn’t too late.

Chapter Two

Christian

Twenty-six months later

They left the meeting room in silence, no one daring to look at him.

He stood at the front of the room, waves of agitation rolling off him. Was it too much to ask? These were supposed to be competent businessmen and women, yet he had spent the last hour trying to understand what he was paying them for.

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