Page 74 of Until You (Forgive Me)

“I’ll do it,” Christian said. “On the proviso that I take over the company. You’re going to retire and hand the reins to me. I’ll marry Lindsey, but it will be in name only. I’m not selling myself for you or anyone else.”

The doorbell rang, and their butler had entered. “There is a Ms Roberts here to see you, Sir,” he said, looking at Christian.

Christian’s father had beaten him to it. Lily had looked at Christian, her eyes pleading with him as she announced they had created a child together. That was why she’d been so tired and under the weather. She was pregnant. Christian had simply stared at her... He loved her so much. How had his life gone so wrong? He needed to talk to her, explain. Instead, while his head and thoughts had been firing in all directions, his father had slammed the door in her face. Christian had moved to go after her, but his father had blocked him.

“You need to let her go,” he said. “You have to be cruel to be kind. She isn’t that far along. She can terminate.”

Christian blanched at his father’s words. Before he knew it, his father was flat on the floor, his lip bust open.

“For this, I will never forgive you. I’ll do what you ask, save our company, and rebuild. But you’re dead to me... For The company and our workforce, I will marry Lindsey Preston. But this is the last thing you will ever ask of me. I’m sending Scarlett away. I want her as far away from your toxic reach as I can get her. I know she’s been looking at dance schools in America. She’ll go there. I expect your resignation with the board at the end of the week, and my position as CEO of The Dupree Group finalised.”

Christian had turned and walked away, leaving his father where he’d fallen.

That night he’d gone to Lily’s flat, but her flatmate told him she’d left and would not be coming back. Something died inside him that evening. He had stood by and watched as his father wiped the floor with the love of his life, and now she was gone. He could not even explain to her why.

It had taken him months to track her down, and when he had, his world had imploded. Cancer wracked her body. Her heavily pregnant stomach looked obscene against the rest of her frail frame. They had admitted her to the hospital so they could monitor her. The cancer was progressing too fast, and they feared for her and the baby. Lindsey had found him at home, lost in a bottle of brandy. He’d told her the whole story. She’d convinced Christian to see Lily and explain what had happened.

Initially, Lily had sent him away. He’d not wanted to upset her further in her weakened state, but eventually, she had called him. From that moment on, Christian had worked all day and spent every evening in the hospital, making large donations to ensure they kept his visits quiet. At thirty weeks, Lily gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. Christian had cried when he saw their daughter, her tiny frame hooked up to so many machines. He could not have loved Lily more. But time was not on their side. Lily was terminal. The pregnancy had taken every ounce of strength and energy she had left.

After Skylar had been born, Lily told him of her plans. He was to let their daughter go. Forget she existed. She wanted Star, her younger sister, to raise her in a house filled with love, not obligation and duty. Christian had explained what had happened with his father and the company, and she’d said she understood, but she also knew he was still fighting to keep the family business afloat and would be for many years to come.

“I do not want our daughter raised by a fleet of nannies or a stepmother who might resent her. I want to know she’s loved. Star is my little sister. She already loves Skylar with all her heart. I beg you, Christian, if you ever loved me, you won’t fight me on this. I want you to walk away. Leave our little girl to be happy and loved.”

Christian had known what Lily was saying was true. Seb was taking up the flack while he was there. The company was draining his energy, but he could not turn his back on Lily, not now he’d found her again. So he’d agreed to sign away his rights to his daughter and allow Star to adopt her legally. That day would forever be ingrained in his heart. He’d gone to the solicitor’s office in the morning. He couldn’t look at Star, who was so young herself. But Lily trusted her with their daughter, so he would too. When he’d gone to the hospital later that night, Lily’s bed had been empty. One of the nurses, who often saw him on the night shift, had taken him into a room. Lily had passed away peacefully that afternoon. Christian had staggered out of the hospital, his body cold and numb. She was gone, the one person who understood him. He’d sealed his heart away that night. They had paid the company debts. The threat diminished, but the person he lived for was gone, as was their child. Christian had stood by The Thames and looked out over the water. His goal, to take back control. Rebuild the company for his daughter, so no one could ever force him or her to do anything ever again.

Chapter Thirty-three

Isabella

For the first time in years, Isabella felt free. She had not realised how much the past had overshadowed her life. She thought she’d left it all behind when she’d gone travelling and moved to Thailand, but what she realised, was she’d been hiding. Hiding from the truth. She could see now how controlling Edward had been. Too devastated over the loss of her father to care, she’d wanted to feel something other than the numbness of her loss, and Edward had done that. He’d made her get up in the morning, go to university, and socialise with his friends. It was only now she realised he’d isolated her from her own friends and ensured she was only surrounded by his. Scarlett had already left, accepted into a prestigious dance school in the US. There had been no one.

Isabella moved across the apartment as her phone rang.

“Hello?” she answered, not recognising the number.

“Isabella?”

Isabella’s heart stuttered.

“Danielle,” she said.

She’d not spoken to her stepmother since their eventful car trip after she landed.

“Isabella. I wanted to say... I’m so sorry.”

The shock of those words could have knocked Isabella down with a feather. It had been hard the year after her father had died. She and Danielle had always been friends. Danielle being like an older sister to her rather than a mother figure. After her father had died, their relationship had become strained and fraught.

“Are you there?” Danielle’s voice came again.

“I’m here,” Isabella said, not knowing what else to say.

“Good,” Danielle said, her voice quiet. “Could we meet up for lunch? There seems to be so much to say. I want to apologise for not believing you.”

“It’s unnecessary,” Isabella said, not wanting to dredge up the past.

“Please,” Danielle pleaded. “It will be the last time you hear from me. If not for me, for your father’s memory.”

Isabella sighed. “That’s low even for you.”

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