Suddenly, she understood everything.
“Not just that,” she whispered. “You wanted to punish me. It’s what you’ve wanted since the day you found me in London. You wanted revenge—”
“Justice,” he corrected coldly.
“But when you found out I was pregnant, that changed everything, didn’t it?” She gave a choked laugh, then covered her mouth with an intake of breath. “You felt you had to marry me because I was pregnant with your baby. You never loved me. All you wanted—was to hurt me.”
“I spent months trying to find you before you resurfaced at your stepfather’s funeral. You’re a wealthy woman, Eve, so you couldn’t have betrayed me for money. So you must have done it for love. You’re in love with Jake Skinner. It’s the only explanation.”
She thought of the playboy with his bleached-white smile and shook her head. “I could never love him.”
“Then why? Why would you do it? What did I ever do to you?”
She took a deep breath as tears filled her eyes.
“I don’t know,” she whispered.
“Was it out of spite? Did I offend one of your friends? Did I ignore you or hurt someone you cared about? Why? Why would you give me your virginity—then betray me?”
“I don’t know.” She took a deep breath. “But…I’m sorry.”
He stared at her, his handsome face the picture of shock.
“Just like that?” he whispered. “You admit your guilt?”
“I don’t remember this restaurant. I don’t remember betraying you. I can’t even imagine doing something so horrible.” Her eyes filled with tears and she blinked rapidly. “But I knew you had some reason to hate me. If you say I betrayed you, then I believe you. I must have done it.” She shook her head. “I don’t know why and can’t offer any excuse. Except to tell you that I’m sorry, desperately sorry.”
Talos just stared at her, wide-eyed, not moving.
No wonder he’d been so cold and distant after their marriage. No wonder he’d wanted to punish her. He’d hated her, but he’d felt he had no choice but to marry her because of the baby.
How would she feel in his place, forced to marry the lover who’d once betrayed her? Her heart ached just to think of it.
“You must hate me,” she said softly.
His jaw tightened.
“No,” he said in a low voice. “You’re not the one I hate.”
“Then—who?”
He turned away. “I thought you would remember Skinner if you saw him. I was sure you’d remember loving him.”
“Him? No!” She shook her head fiercely. “If you say I betrayed you, then I believe you. But not for that man, no. Never!”
She saw the surprise in his face, the dawn of insecurity. “How can you be so sure?”
“He’s dreadful!”
“Perhaps you didn’t always think so. You’ve changed since the accident, Eve.”
She bit her lip, looking down at her pink cotton tank top and simple beige skirt. She suggested in a small voice, “I was more attractive to you before?”
Unexpectedly, he reached his hand over the
table, placing it over hers.
“No,” he said in a low voice. “You were selfish and cold then, only focused on yourself. Now…” He took a deep breath. “You’re different. You care about other people. You’re loving and kind and sexy as hell. I’ve tried not to want you, Eve. Tried not to care. I’ve tried. And failed.”