His friends.
His country.
I always imagined love to be an action, not a word. His words in London came back to haunt me. If I loved someone, I wouldn’t say it, I’d show it. I’d take care of her, putting her needs ahead of my own. I’d put my whole soul into making her happy....
A choked sound came from the back of my throat.
What kind of man would do so much for a woman, unless he loved her?
And worse—what kind of woman would not even notice, until it was too late?
“He loves you,” Madison said quietly behind me. “And you threw it away for some stupid role in a movie.” Her lips curled as she shook her head. “When I suggested you to the movie producer, I thought I was making amends for Moxie McSocksie....”
“You’re the one who suggested me for the part?” I breathed.
“Yeah.” She looked at me accusingly. “I didn’t know you’d use the movie as an excuse to ruin your life!”
“You’re one to talk,” I said weakly.
“I know.” She held her hands wide. “Look at me, Diana. Totally alone. With the hole in my heart. If a man ever loved me like that, if he saw all my flaws and could love me anyway...” She looked away. “I’d never let him go.”
“He cheated on me,” I whispered.
She lifted an eyebrow. “Are you still so sure?”
I stared at her. Then I turned and ran up to my bedroom. I dug through my purse until I found an old ratty card. My heart pounded as I dialed a number on my phone.
“Hello?” the woman’s voice said.
“Victoria,” I said desperately. “What were you doing with Edward last night?”
“Who’s that?” She paused. “Diana?”
“Why were you at his house? Why are you even in California?”
Victoria laughed. “As if you didn’t know. But I’m glad you called. I wanted to thank you. I misjudged you, Diana. You are a wonderful, wonderful person. Rupert and I will never forget....”
I gripped the phone. “What are you talking about?”
“The shares.” She paused. “Do you really not know?”
“Shares?”
She gave a tinkly laugh. “For weeks, Edward hinted he might sell his shares of St. Cyr Global. Yesterday Rupert finally had to go back to London, but I stayed here with the children. Edward suddenly called my mobile last night, while I was at a friend’s party in Santa Monica. I rushed over to sign the contract, before he could change his mind!”
Whatever I’d expected, that hadn’t been it.
“What?”
“Oh, dear. Have I let the cat out of the bag? Edward did say he was doing it as a sort of wedding present, to both of you. New life, new career, all that. I gather you’re eloping? Let me know where you’re registered and I’ll send something. We owe you. I promise you’re leaving the company in good hands. And Diana?”
“Yes?” I repeated, my voice a gaspy wheeze.
“Welcome to the family!” she said heartily, and hung up.
My legs trembled. I slowly walked down the stairs, feeling like an old woman. Grief and heartache were building inside me, going radioactive, making my body weak, destroying me cell by cell.
“What?” Madison demanded when I stumbled into the kitchen.
“Edward sold all his shares in his family’s company,” I choked out. “That was why Victoria was there. That was Edward’s big secret. He knew how miserable I was in London. This was his surprise.” My throat caught. “It really was a wedding present.”
“That’s good—isn’t it?”
I slowly turned to face her.
“He should have told me,” I whispered.
Madison put her arm over my shoulders, as she’d done when we were kids. “He didn’t want you to feel guilty.”
Guilty? Edward had just sold his birthright for my sake. He could have manipulated me, pointed out everything he’d sacrificed for me. Instead, he’d set me free. Even though I saw now it was the last thing he’d wanted to do. What did it mean?
I wrapped my arms around my body, trying to stop my ice-cold limbs from shaking.
It meant Edward loved me.
“He loves me,” I whispered, and I burst into tears. Awful sobs racked my body, almost doubling me over. My stepsister hugged me close.
“It’ll be all right,” she murmured.
I shook my head. I’d been so determined to never feel heartbreak again, that I’d raced for the exit at the very first scare. Instead of forcing him to tell me the truth about Victoria, I’d thrown his ring back in his face. I thought pride made me do it. It wasn’t pride.