He wanted me to work for him. That was why the red
carpet came out. My half-brother was a drunk, useless
in business. Lukas wanted me back to take his place. I
refused. I knew it wouldn't work. He was furious and
Bella was furious too. She loved the lifestyle he was of-
fering... the constant parties, the bottomless well of
money. I wasn't one quarter as wealthy then as I
am now ‘
xtu
'But still ' Jessica found herself still arguing her
own disbelief, she was so shattered by the very idea of what he was telling her.
‘Lukas made a play for Bella. She was flattered and
he took her to bed '
Jessica was appalled. Dear God, he had been twenty-three years old! How could any father have done that to his own son and how could any woman sink that low?
'1 found them together,' Carlo volunteered in the
dragging silence. 'And I was devastated. I knew he
couldn't be trusted with any beautiful woman but I had
assumed that I could trust her '
'How could they do that to you?' Jessica felt physically sick.
'Lukas can't help competing and he doesn't always think ahead. He was settling old scores, showing the young dog that the old dog still had a trick or two up his sleeve. Bella?' Carlo's mouth compressed. 'One of the wealthiest men in the world told her he wanted her and she was knocked sideways by the idea. She was dumb enough to think he would marry her but he dumped her a couple of weeks later. He knew he'd gone too
far '
'But how could you ever forgive him?' 'Because he doesn't know any better. like a bull in a china shop, he creates havoc and lets other people pay the price, but ultimately, he's still my father.' Carlo surveyed her pale, troubled face. 'Now you know why my father and my sister are so damned glad I'm getting married,' he derided harshly. 'It buries that tacky little episode with Bella,’
Jessica was still in shock, stricken by an awareness of the pain that must have been inflicted by a cheap little gold-digger who had her eye on a richer quarry. Carlo was so proud and at that age he must have been far more vulnerable.
'You were so quick to accept the word of a most unreliable character witness... incredibly quick,' Carlo condemned her now with contempt. 'Sunny is jealous and will do just about anything to cause trouble between us. Didn't that occur to you?'
She hadn't taken time to think. She had acted on impulse. Now her loss of faith in him seemed heinous. Her cheeks flamed. 'I'm sorry...'
‘I really believed I was getting somewhere with you,' Carlo breathed harshly. 'And I was wrong. I open my heart to you and you still kick me in t
he teeth. You have no faith, no trust to give. As far as you're concerned, I'm still the bastard you decided I was six years ago and as far as I'm concerned I might as well be from now on!'
Her throat was convulsing. There was a pain in his
dark, clenched features that she had never seen before.
It cut her up inside. 'I said I was sorry! It's this