“Everything was confused. What does it mean if I let Melody go? If she marries Luca and goes on without me, where does that leave me? In reality, you and I’ve only known each other for a handful of months. What if it’s a fling? What if I throw away what I always wanted because of how I feel right now?”
“There are no guarantees of a happily-ever-after, not outside of fantasies. Things change. I never believed it was possible to know you would love someone forever.” Cara paused, her heart rising in her throat. She knew she had to take the risk. If she didn’t, she would always wonder what would have happened. “Until I met you.”
She felt him startle next to her. “I can’t guarantee that it will work out between us. Between my father and my mother, I’ve seen just how wrong it can go—but I’ve also seen Anne and Bruce and how it can be beautiful. I’ve never felt the way I feel when I’m with you. You make me believe in myself. Not the name that comes attached to me. What I can build on my own. I think it’s worth the risk. Iwantto take the risk.”
Her heart beat in a slow, painful rhythm as she waited for him to answer. Finally, she heard him take a ragged breath. “I can’t just give up without trying. I don’t know how to explain it so that it will make sense to you.”
Cara was grateful that the dark hid the tears that sprang to her eyes. “At some point, Wes, you are going to have to let go of your fear. You created a dream when you were a frightened child. I understand where your need for safety and security comes from, but at some point, you are going to have to take a chance, or else you will only exist in the world, not live in it.”
“I don’t want to hurt you, but I don’t know if I can—”
She cut him off, her throat aching in defeat. “I know you don’t, Wes. Your care of those you love is one of the things I love most about you.” She heard his breath hitch, but she forced herself to continue. “I know you’re confused. In a way, I even feel bad for you.” She let out a quiet laugh. “But I’m also furious that you are too stubborn to see that what you think is your dream never had a chance anywhere but in your imagination.”
Cara rolled to her side, giving him her back. Wes let out a long slow breath, and for a brief hopeful second, she thought he would say something. Something to acknowledge that she had just told him she loved him, but he remained silent. Tears silently slid down her cheeks.
If he didn’t love her, what else was there to say?
CHAPTERFORTY-FOUR
Cara filledher plate with fruit and slices of cheese from the breakfast buffet her mother and Alessandro had put out for those staying in the villa and for any early attendees. She hadn’t slept well, and this morning she felt like she had an emotional hangover.
“You shouldn’t frown like that. You’ll get wrinkles.”
Cara stifled a nasty comment. She wasn’t in the mood for her stepmother. Despite the early hour, Courtney already had a full face of makeup, and wore a white suit and heels. In comparison, Cara had thrown her long hair into a ponytail and slipped into pants and a sweatshirt. She planned on dressing for the ceremony later in her mother’s room.
She picked up a napkin from the end of the table and moved to walk away, intending to ignore the woman. But as she walked past, Courtney grabbed her forearm, almost causing Cara to spill her plate. Cara looked down at the scarlet nails holding her arm like a claw.
“Let go of me.” Cara met her stepmother’s blue eyes with resolve. “I have nothing to say to you. You are no longer relevant to my life.”
The fingers on her arm spasmed, the nails digging in. Cara refused to let her see how it stung.
“You always were a brat. A selfish, spoiled brat,” Courtney spit out.
“And you never belonged.” The nails bit painfully deeper, “That was always what bothered you, wasn’t it?”
Courtney released her arm, but pressed her face close to Cara, her thick floral perfume turning Cara’s stomach.
“If we are talking about belonging, look in a mirror. You and your drug-whore mother meant nothing to David. I was the one he loved.Mysons the ones he valued.”
Cara’s heart pounded with the urge to slap Courtney, but this was her chance to see how Courtney would react to being accused.
“We both know that’s not true. I don’t know how you did it, but I know you forced my father to change the will.”
Cara saw Dr. Keller approaching. “The only question is how did you do it? We know you trapped our father into marrying you somehow and forced him to find your son a place at Bloom Communications. The way the will stood, you would have gotten very little after his death, and yet now you have everything.”
Courtney leaned away with a smile. “You and your brothers only have yourselves to blame for that.”
“Is everything all right?” the doctor asked, reaching their side.
Courtney’s smile was insincere. “Cara is complaining about her inheritance; $200,000 is a lot of money for most people. Your father wanted you to know what it was like to earn your own way. In the end, he knew he had spoiled you too much, and you had become a useless, young woman. At least your mother had her looks to get by.”
“Crystal!” Courtney whipped her eyes to Dr. Keller and shoved his arm.
“Don’t call me that!” she hissed.
“You two have nicknames. How adorable.” Cara sneered.
Dr. Keller looked at the ground.
