Total pages in book: 247
Estimated words: 234281 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1171(@200wpm)___ 937(@250wpm)___ 781(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 234281 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1171(@200wpm)___ 937(@250wpm)___ 781(@300wpm)
He stopped when he reached the foot of the stairs, and their eyes met. Mairi slowly and carefully climbed down the stairs, her sprained wrist not allowing her to go down with Nala in her arms.
She paused when she was at the second to the last step, but even then her husband was tall enough to put him at eye level with her.
Before she could speak, he was already reaching for her, his hand curling around her nape as he brought her head down for a possessive kiss. When he released her, she said dazedly, “Hi.”
He chuckled, but his voice was husky as he said, “Hi.” They smiled at each other for a moment. This was exactly what they said to each other the morning after they first made love.
Taking her hand, Damen helped Mairi down and after, he reached for their daughter, thanking Jane with a brief smile as he did.
As they started to walk together, Mairi asked worriedly, “Your mother?”
“She should probably be here any minute.”
“Here?” Mairi was stunned.
He nodded briefly. “Yes. It’s best to get it over with right away, and then we’d at least have the rest of the week to enjoy our stay here.”
Mairi considered their surroundings with a frown. “It’s so public.”
“Exactly why I chose this place, matakia mou.”
“If you really think it’s right,” she said reluctantly. She tugged his sleeve. “I just don’t want you hurt by her in any way.”
“She lost the power to hurt me the moment I had you and Nala, Mairi. Even though I had never admitted it to myself, I had always been hoping she would learn to love Diana and me. I never allowed myself to realize the truth – that some people will never be capable of it.” He took hold her hand, squeezing it. “While some people – people like you – can’t help feeling it, even when they’re better off not doing so.”
Mairi stole a suspicious look at him. “If that’s some kind of dig about what I said to Alina...”
“No, but if – what is it you say? If the shoe fits...” As always, his Greek accent thickened whenever Damen was doing his best not to laugh.
“I hate you,” she mumbled.
“What you are,” he countered, “is proud of me. As I am with you.”
“Ha-ha.” She made it clear she didn’t believe him.
“I am,” he insisted. “Especially when you made the Kokinos heiress, who is supposedly one of the world’s most fashionable women, sound like she had batteries for breasts.”
“Oh God.” Mairi wanted to kill herself, recalling exactly how she had described the other woman’s chest.
“Only an English teacher would have such a way with words.”
“I think I’m going to be out of a job by next week if this keeps up,” she said glumly.
He reached out to stroke her cheek. “Everything will be fine. Stop worrying.” His phone vibrated in his pocket, and switching Nala to his other arm, he pulled it out. It was a little hard to read the message, with his daughter currently busy playing with his hair and obscuring his view, but he managed.
The look on her husband’s face made her ask quietly, “Is she outside?”
“Yes. It’s time now.”
LIFE WAS A ROUTINE for Esther Leventis. She would get up in the morning, expecting her gourmet breakfast prepared for her and a selection of clothes for her to choose from. By the time she was done with her meal, one of her personal maids would have her tub ready, and the entire bathroom had to smell of roses – literally – once she entered it. If it wasn’t, that person was fired.
But today, nothing was happening the way she expected them to. For starters, it was already nine in the morning, leaving Esther aghast. The maids were supposed to wake her up at six and she had even wanted them to be up at four.
Sitting up, she started to scream for Nadine when she saw her maid standing at the foot of her bed. “Why aren’t you in your uniform?” she screeched. “And why haven’t you woken me up in—-”
“Shut up, bitch.”
Esther whitened.
“I’m just here to tell you I’m quitting.”
The sight of Nadine walking away had Esther recovering. “Don’t you dare turn your back on me!” Hurrying out of her bed, Esther cursed when she tripped over the hem of her nightgown and almost fell flat on her face. “Stop, you ungrateful woman,” she howled in anger as she scrambled back to her feet.
Nadine raised her hand – and middle finger – in response before slamming the door shut behind her.
The woman had gone insane. That could be the only reason why she would dare act that way with her. Shivering in anger, Esther promised herself to exact vengeance later. For now, she would just go take a bath and cool herself down—-