Stefan was not Alex. Alex had used her to gain an upper hand in Hollywood. To be part of the Danes, to be on camera whenever possible and to gain access to her famous brothers.
Alex had never loved her the way she had him-or thought she had-he'd only been with her to see how far he could get with his goal of becoming famous.
A ball of dread filled her stomach.
Was Stefan using her? He'd technically used her to gain his title, but she knew about that and was happy to help. But was he using her as a way to get to her brothers? To make sure that he was in the family and make it that much harder for Bronson and Anthony to turn him down?
And what was this documentary about his mother's death? She had no idea he was even thinking such a thing. Oh, she'd known about the scandalous way the media had portrayed the accident, but Victoria had never believed the late King Alexander had anything to do with his wife's death. The media just wanted to make it a Princess Grace type of story and glamorize something that was so tragic.
So why hadn't he told her? And what else had he been hiding?
Had he lied about other things-like all those calls from other women? Had he not answered them because she'd been sitting right there?
Oh, God, she was going to be sick.
Before her humiliation with Alex she never would've entertained such terrible thoughts about Stefan and wouldn't be analyzing this situation so hard, but she'd been burned so badly, she was still scarred.
On a groan, she dropped her arms, headed to the desk and tried to come up with some plausible explanation for all of this. But she couldn't defend him. He'd taken her already battered heart and pressed harder on the bruise.
Victoria had to confront him, and she knew if he told her he had indeed used her, lied to her, she would not be able to stay married to a man who had humiliated her like that.
She'd thought Stefan was different. How could she have made the same mistake twice?
Fifteen
When stress overcame Victoria, she did what she knew best. She designed.
She grabbed a notepad and pencil from the drawer of Stefan's desk in the master suite and took it to the balcony overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. The tranquility, the peacefulness of the crystal-blue water ebbing and flowing to the shore should've calmed her nerves.
Unfortunately when you were lied to, even by omission, nothing could relieve the hurt and betrayal. Not even the beauty of the country she was legally the next queen over.
But the deception wouldn't have been so bad, so crippling if it hadn't come from her best friend...the one person outside her family she depended on, cared for. Loved.
Victoria dropped to a cushy white chaise and began sweeping her pencil across the paper. Soon a dress formed, but not just any dress. Her wedding dress. The dress she'd taken vows in, promising to love, honor and cherish her husband. The dress she'd designed for a princess.
Letting the pad fall to her lap, Victoria closed her eyes and leaned back against the chair. Why did life have to be so complicated, so...corrupt? Didn't anyone tell the full truth anymore? Was she naive in taking people at their word?
But she hadn't just taken anyone at their word; she'd taken Stefan at his. The rock of stability who had always been there for her. How dare he do that to her emotions, her heart? He of all people knew how she'd been battered and bruised. Why hadn't he come to her with the idea of the documentary? Why go to her brothers behind her back?
Another crippling ache spread through her, and she had no idea where to put these emotions. Did she cry, throw something, pack her bags and leave?
"There you are."
At the sound of Stefan's voice, Victoria turned her head. With a smile on his handsome face, he strode through the open patio doors. And she knew how to handle this situation. Right now she couldn't look at him as her best friend, couldn't see him as the man whom she'd confided in for years. No, she had to see him as was-a man who'd lied to her.
"Sketching another gown?" he asked, leaning down to her notepad. "That's the dress you wore for our wedding. Why are you drawing it again?"
Laying the pad aside, she came to her feet, ready to take the blow of the truth...if he revealed it.
"Just remembering the day I married my best friend," she told him, watching his eyes. "The day we promised to be faithful and honor each other. And even though I had my doubts and worries, I knew you'd never hurt me because we have something special."
He tipped his head to the side. "Everything all right, Tori?"
A sad smile spread across her face. "Not really. You see, I married you because you needed me and I wanted to get over the pain and humiliation of my last relationship. You promised to provide me with that support and stability. You promised to never hurt me, and I assumed that meant honesty, as well. Obviously I was wrong."
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.