Page 60 of Until You (Forgive Me)

Andrew pursed his lips.

“Oh,” he added. “Star will understand. You’re not the same man you were then.” Christian heart pounded as Andrew looked down at the ground before looking straight back up at him as if making a judgement call. “But then you never were...” Andrew stepped forward and paused. “I know you visited Lily every night in the hospital.” Andrew’s gaze held his. “The anonymous donation for the new cancer wing... that was you. Christian, the staff never got over the man who loved someone so deeply he spent every second he could with her, then got up, went to work, only to repeat it the next evening... the fact everyone was sworn to secrecy... you became something of a romantic legend among the staff.”

Christian rested his forearms on the kitchen counter and dropped his head until he felt a hand on his shoulder.

“Your secret is safe. They mentioned no names. It was only when Star mentioned the hospital and that Lily had been there. The timeline and the rumours. It wasn’t difficult to put two and two together. Am I wrong?”

Christian kept his head down and shook it, his heart thundering. “Does Star know?”

“No. It’s not my place to say anything, especially as it was speculation. Why haven’t you said anything?” Andrew asked.

“Why rake up the past? We’ve tried to put it behind us. Lily asked me to keep our visits a secret. She wanted Skylar to go to Star. She wanted her kept as far away from my family as possible, and who could blame her? Lily was worried. If Star knew I was interested in them, she may have tried to allow me access to Skylar. Lily didn’t want that for them, while my life was so unsettled. She was worried they would use our daughter as a pawn.”

“I don’t understand... I know your dad’s not a good man, but to keep a child from its father?”

“Lily knew my family was being threatened. My father had got into bed with some pretty shady characters. My ex-wife’s father, agreed to bail us out, providing I married her to protect his investment. A bastard daughter was not acceptable. The people to whom my father owed money threatened Scarlett. There were photos highlighting her vulnerability... After an unknown assailant attacked my mother. I had no choice but to walk away from Lily and my daughter and marry Lindsey. My only stipulation—my father had to stand down and appoint me his successor... I sent Scarlett to America to dance college to get her out of the way.”

Christian looked up as a gasp escaped Isabella. His heart sinking... How much had she heard?

Her eyes locked with his, and she stepped forward, wrapping her arms around him, squeezing him tight as if offering him her strength.

Christian dropped his head onto her shoulder before straightening up. He looked at the three people staring at him and continued. “When Lindsey heard about Lily and Skylar, she made it possible for me to visit Lily. Lindsey’s a good person. Her father had forced her to leave the man she loved for our marriage. It’s why, as soon as I’d made enough money to repay her father, we divorced and went our separate ways. As far as I know, she’s back with the love of her life.”

Christian took a deep breath as his voice caught on the few last words. Isabella squeezed him tighter.

“Why not tell Star now?” Andrew asked, his confusion clear.

Christian stared at both Andrew and Ana. “Star is to never know I saw Lily before she died. There were months when I didn’t, when she went through anguish and pain thinking I’d abandoned her. I can’t take that pain away. Star lived through that. My last couple of weeks with Lily were nothing in comparison. I’ve no right to any form of forgiveness from Star. She’s already been more than generous, and it shows what a beautiful spirit she has. To let me be a part of my daughter’s life, I can’t ask or expect any more from her. I really wouldn’t have blamed her if she turned her back on me.”

The room was silent as everyone absorbed what Christian had divulged.

It was Ana who spoke up. “I don’t know everything that went on. But I think you’re mistaken. The Star I know has an enormous heart. I think she’d want to know all the facts.”

Christian shook his head, “I know. But this is likely to hurt her. I beg you, forget what you’ve heard and leave the past alone. If Lily had wanted her to know, she’d have told her.”

Andrew and Ana looked at one another and then back at Christian. He knew in that moment that he could trust his friends. They wouldn’t say anything. He’d speak to Star in the morning, try to clear the air, before putting Isabella’s question to her. The fact Isabella was willing to stay quiet for the good of his daughter showed she also had an enormous heart. What had he done to warrant such amazing women in his life?

∞∞∞

Christian called Star the following morning.

“I’m sorry, Christian. I’m an emotional wreck, overly sensitive... I knew what you meant. I just...” Star said in a gush.

“You don’t need to apologise. I didn’t think before I opened my mouth.”

His heart pounded in his chest. She was one of the last people he would ever want to hurt.

“We will agree to disagree,” she said.

Christian could hear the smile in her voice.

“Okay.”

“We’re heading into the city later, and Skylar was wondering if we could stop by to say hello,” Star asked.

“Of course... Isabella is staying here,” Christian admitted.

He’d chosen to spend a few days working from home.

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