He reached for her, touching her arm, and she didn’t step back. Because even though he’d damaged something inside, she still craved his touch. But she wasn’t begging for his love. Never again would she put her heart on the line for such foolishness. And damn him for destroying that dream.
“What happened?” he asked, concern lacing his voice.
As tears threatened to clog her throat, she tamped down the pain, knowing she needed to be strong or she’d crumble at his feet and never stop crying. The inevitable emotional breakdown could and would be done in private.
“I learned the truth,” she told him. “I discovered that no matter what your heart says, not even your best friend is trustworthy.”
“Victoria, what the hell are you talking about?” he demanded. “I’ve never lied to you.”
Moisture pooled in her eyes, making his face blurry. She couldn’t lose it, not here, not when he’d try to console her and break her down.
“Bronson called.” She stared into his eyes, wanting to see the moment he realized that she knew the truth. “He’s ready to move forward with your documentary. And since you’ve used me for the title and your film, I guess that’s my cue to exit stage left.”
His eyes widened, and he took both her arms in his strong hands. “Victoria—”
“No. There’s no excuse as to why you couldn’t have told me. Not one. So don’t even try. I’m done being hurt. I’m done being lied to. My God, if you lied about this, what else have you kept from me?”
She jerked away from his grasp, tilting her chin. “I will be leaving as soon as my jet is ready. Since your brother is doing better, you don’t need me here. Actually, you shouldn’t need me at all anymore. You’re getting your crown in a few short months, but after the coronation I’ll be divorcing you.”
Sharp, piercing pain speared through her. She never imagined she’d be divorcing the one man she loved with her whole heart. Every shattered, broken piece of it.
As she moved by him, she stopped, looking into his eyes. His face was only a breath away.
“If you’d let me—”
Shaking her head, she stepped back. “I just want to hear one thing from you. Did you know you were going to ask my brothers to help you before or after we married?”
Stefan swallowed and held her gaze. “Before.”
And the last of Victoria’s hope died.
Head held high, shoulders back, Victoria walked inside, through their master suite where they’d made love countless times and out the door. She didn’t break down until she was safely locked inside the guest bath down the hall.
Her iconic actress mother would be so proud of her departing performance.
* * *
Stefan’s world was completely and utterly empty. Two days ago Victoria had gotten on her jet and left Galini Isle. Two days ago she’d stood before him, hurt swimming in her eyes, and accused him of betraying her trust, and in the next moment she was gone.
She’d known exactly how to bring him to his knees and cause the most guilt. He hadn’t been fully truthful with her and now he was being damned for it. Nothing less than he deserved.
Stefan slammed his empty glass back down on the bar in his study. Scotch wouldn’t take the pain away, and to be honest, he deserved any heartbreak he had because he’d brought every bit of it on himself. He’d known she’d been lied to before. Why the hell hadn’t he discussed his plans with her?
He hadn’t called Bronson back. Who knew what Victoria had told her brothers when she returned home. For all Stefan knew, this project was over before it got started.
But right now he didn’t give a damn about his project.
What he did care about was the fact that he’d damaged something, someone so beautiful. He didn’t know if they could get past this trauma, not just for the marriage, but the friendship.
He had to get her back. He couldn’t lose their friendship. Victoria was the single most important woman in his life, and living without her was incomprehensible.
Stefan gripped his glass, resting his other hand on the bar and hanging his head down between his shoulders. Hindsight was just as cruel as fate, in his opinion. He’d known he was using her, had known that he needed to in order to gain what he wanted. But fate had dangled all those opportunities in front of his face and he’d taken chances he never should’ve taken—the marriage, the documentary...the sex. Because all of those chances didn’t just involve his life, they affected Victoria’s.