Scandals and Secrets

'And what of my family?' he pointed out scornfully. 'You're not exactly well liked around Belleview. Nathan, for one, detests you. He ... Oh, my God, Nathan! I forgot all about him and Gemma. Hell, I forgot everything!' He jumped to his feet and glared at her. 'I usually do whenever I go anywhere near you, don't I? What is it? Have you cast a spell on me? Sold your soul to the devil in exchange for mine? Damn you, cover yourself up! How can I have a sensible discussion with you when you stand there, flaunting yourself at me?'

Celeste shrugged, but wrapped the robe more modestly around herself. 'You can't live your life by what others think, Byron.'

His laughter was rueful. 'You certainly don't.'

'No, I don't. People will believe whatever they want to anyway.'

'Are you referring to me?'

'Among others. You're no better than all those narrow-minded little people who gobble up everything they read in the tabloids without stopping to question a thing. They love reading dirt and believing dirt. It's so very easy to make the general public think very badly of you. So very, very easy.'

Byron was frowning at her. 'You make it sound like you deliberately set out to make that happen.'

'Maybe I have .. .'

'Why would you do that?' he jeered.

'Why not? Maybe it amused me. Good God, Byron, if I'd had as many lovers as the papers and magazines suggested I had, I wouldn't have had time to do any work. I'd have been flat on my back all the time.'

'Or on your knees,' he sneered.

Her hand flashed out to crack him a beauty around the face. 'Don't you ever say that to me again? I have never done that for any other man, do you hear me? Not a one!'

Immediate skepticism flittered across his eyes, quickly followed by a definite doubt, then finally a troubled acceptance of the truth. 'I see no reason for you to lie to me about that, so I apologize.'

'Apology accepted,' she choked out, blinking madly as her eyes filled with unexpected tears.

This only made his frown deepen. 'I've really upset you, haven't I? he said with surprise in his voice.

'It doesn't matter.'

'Of course it does. I. . .I guess I forgot ... '

'Forgot what?'

'That you are still a human being,' he said gently. 'With feelings.'

That almost did it. Celeste's only salvation was to walk away so that he couldn't see the blurring in her eyes and the torment in her face. Gathering herself quickly as she walked, she was able to turn when she reached the open doorway, a cool mask in place. 'I think you'd better go.'

He sighed. 'Yes. I think I'd better.'

'You can tell Nathan with a clear conscience that Gemma is not here.'

'And you honestly don't know where she is?'

'No, I do not. To be honest I regret becoming involved at all. Gemma and Nathan are nothing to me.'

'Damian is your brother. If he's involved, then so will you be.'

'I don't see it that way. Damian's an adult. I'm not responsible for what he does. I think you would be wise to adopt a similar attitude with Nathan. His marriage is his marriage. He won't appreciate your interference.'

'You could be right. But since Gemma hasn't seen fit to tell him what she thinks she saw, I have no option but to do so.'

'Maybe. But after that, it's up to Nathan to fight his own battles. But let me give you a bit of female advice. If he's been unfaithful to her, then I don't like his chances.'

'Not all wives throw out their husbands for one lapse,' he said pointedly.

Celeste smiled. It was not a nice smile. 'If you're referring to darling Irene, then not all women are as forgiving and Christian as my sweet half-sister, are they?'

'Are you being sarcastic, Celeste?'

'Of course I'm being bloody sarcastic, Byron!' she stormed. 'God, you were as blind about her as you were about everything else. Didn't you ever find out what a bitch she was? What an evil, manipulative, cruel bitch?'

Byron stared at her.

'Just ask Ava! Or Jade! Or anyone else other than your own stupid self. You married a monster, Byron. Oh, yes, she loved you, much more than she hated everyone else!'

Celeste laughed as he continued to stare at her. 'I suppose I shouldn't be too hard on you. You're just a man, after all. What man can resist having a woman who is willing to play any role to fit the occasion and flatter his ego? Blushing virgin fiancée, then adoring bride, and finally the understanding and ever-sacrificing wife. I wouldn't have believed any of it if I hadn't seen it for myself. But she couldn't keep it up, could she? In the end her dark side came to the fore, didn't it?'