Over and over.No, his mind objected.Not possible.
He pivoted sharply on his heel and strode to the bank of windows. After Faith, he hadn’t believed himself capable of having deep feelings for another woman. Just the idea of opening himself and risking that kind of pain once more... He’d vowed never to make himself vulnerable—weak—again. And Isobel...
She had the power to hurt him like Faith never did.
If he gave her the chance, and she betrayed him, she could wreck him.
The knowledge had fear and anger cascading through him. Could he take a chance? Could he crack himself open and lose not just his family—because the Wellses would view him as choosing her as the biggest betrayal—but also risk losing himself?
No.
Coward that he was, no, he couldn’t risk it.
“Darius.”
He jerked his head up, spinning around.
Isobel stood in the doorway.How long had she been standing there? How much had she overheard?He moved towards her, but she shifted backward.
And that one movement supplied the answers.
“Isobel, please let me explain.”
She stared at him, numb. The blessed nothingness had assailed her from the moment she’d returned to the living room and overheard his conversation with Helena and Gabriella.
Did you tell Isobel about the DNA test?
We intend to go forth with the suit for sole custody.
No judge on this earth wouldn’t see that we’re much more fit parents than her.
Do you think you’re in love with her?
That awful, damning silence.
The two women had left soon after she’d appeared in the room, but she hadn’t moved. Hadn’t been able to. And now, as pain invaded her body, she prayed for the return of the numbness.
“Yes,” she agreed, voice hoarse. “You’re right. Which should we talk about first? The violation of running a DNA test on my son behind my back? Or howyour familyintends to take my son away from me?”
He closed his eyes, and a spasm of emotion passed over his face. But it disappeared in the next instant.
“I’m sorry for not telling you about the DNA test, Isobel,” he murmured.
“You’re sorry for not telling me, but not for doing it,” she clarified. A sarcastic chuckle escaped her. “You promised me we would make decisions regarding Aidentogether. Without interference from the Wellses. You betrayed my trust.”
“I didn’t...” He broke off his sentence, briefly glancing away. “Yes, I did break that promise. And I’m sorry,” he said, returning his gaze to her. “I am, Isobel. But my motives weren’t to hurt or betray you. I thought if Baron, Helena and Gabriella knew for certain that Aiden was their grandson and nephew, he could bring healing to them. To this family. I wanted to give them that. But also, knowing you told the truth about him being Gage’s would start to change their view of you, as well. Not only do they need to know their grandson and nephew—they need to begin to know you.”
“No, Darius. Now they just think it was luck that Gage fathered him, out of all the other men I supposedly screwed.” She shook her head. “But this isn’t about them. It’s about how you lied to me. It’s about how you put them—their feelings, their welfare—above Aiden.”Above me. “And you handed them cause to take him away from me.”
“I won’t allow that to happen,” he growled, moving toward her, his arms outstretched. As if to touch her.
No. No way could she allow that. Not when she was so close to crumbling. She shifted backward, steeling herself against the glint of pain in his eyes.
“Agreeing to marry you, to move in here, to put my son under your protection was supposed to stop it from occurring. But it didn’t. I still find myself at their mercy. A place I vowed two years ago I would never be again. And all because I trusted you.”
“Do you really believe I would throw you to the wolves? That I would abandon you to face this alone? Do you think I’m capable of that?” he demanded, stalking forward, but he drew up several feet shy of her.
“Would you want to? No,” she whispered. “But would you do it all the same? Yes. If Baron, Helena and Gabriella made you choose between them and me, I have no illusions about whose side you would come down on. And I’m so tired of waging a losing battle between the past, your mistrust and Gage’s family.Your family. Because I’ll never be considered a member of that perfect unit.”
