Secret Son, Convenient Wife(51)

Gemma was still trying to take it all in.

“Nathaniel would have been so proud to receive this award for his family. I can see him sitting up in heaven, smiling down at us tonight. God bless.”

The sound of applause was almost deafening. Jonathan escorted Helen back to the table, but before she sat down she kissed Gemma on the cheek in a display of public affection. The cameras clicked like wild things. Tears pooled in Gemma’s eyes. This meant so much to her. Helen wasn’t just being nice for the sake of the media. She was just being sincere.

All at once, Gemma needed some time to herself. “Excuse me for a minute.” She got to her feet and grabbed her purse.

Tate put his hand on her arm. “Are you okay?”

She blinked back the tears and gave him a small smile. “Yes.” But in case he thought she wasn’t, she added, “Yes, I really am fine…now.”

He smiled in understanding, and with that smile in her heart she hurried off to find the ladies’ room. She didn’t stop to talk to anyone as she weaved her way through the maze of tables, her eyes still watery from emotion.

It was a relief to get outside the ballroom. She tottered after a couple of women ahead of her down one of the corridors, figuring they were probably going to powder their noses. She couldn’t help but marvel how things had turned around. It was a miracle come true. Tate’s family had forgiven her. Now all she needed was for Tate to do the same.

Someone stepped in front of her and put his hands on her arms, forcing her to stop. “Hello, Gemma.”

For a moment, Gemma didn’t recognize the man in the dark dinner suit. Then her mind screeched to a stop. “Drake!”

“You sound surprised to see me.”

She flinched and tried to draw back, but his hands tightened on her upper arms. “Let me go,” she said anxiously. She wanted to sound firm, but her emotions were high and the words came out like a plea.

Satisfaction entered his eyes. “Is that any way to treat an old friend?”

A flashback rolled over her. Dear God, if Tate saw them like this… “Drake, look—”

“I’m looking, sweetheart.”#p#分页标题#e#

She found the strength to lift her hands to his chest, intending to push him away. “Please leave me alo—”

“Gemma?”

Oh, God.

The sound came from behind her and she twisted around to see Tate standing a few feet from them. The look in his eyes said it all. She could see his trust in her shriveling up, like a flash fire of betrayal had swept over him. He was disbelieving, angry, hurt… It was written on his face.

Gemma couldn’t take any more. She’d lost Tate. Lost the man she loved. Again. All that was between them was no more.

And this time she would lose her son, too.

She felt herself slipping down to the carpet.



Tate stood for a moment in a no-man’s-land, unable to move as his wife fainted in front of him. He felt sick to the stomach. He’d caught them again. They must have arranged to meet here, however briefly. They probably thought it was safer to meet in public.

Then something strange happened. He caught a glimpse of satisfaction on Drake’s face. Suddenly, Tate wasn’t sure about anything. He hadn’t heard from Drake since before the wedding, and he hadn’t contacted him about tonight either. He’d even felt guilty about it.

And Gemma needed him.

He started forward as an odd emotion rose up inside him like bile. She was his wife. No other man should be touching her. If Drake truly cared for Gemma, he’d already be on his knees beside her.

Hell, someone who truly cared wouldn’t have let her hit the ground. Tate jumped the distance between them, pleased to see her eyes open as she tried to sit up. It was as well that Drake moved out of the way or Tate might have knocked the other man’s head off for letting her fall.

“Gemma?” He half sat her against his body, allowing her to lean against him.

“I’m okay.”

Looking down at her face, he saw the color coming back into her cheeks, though not in a good way. “You need a doctor.”

She tried to get to her feet, but she looked agitated. “I’m fine.”

Tate’s arm tightened around her shoulders. “No, stay here for a moment.”

“I’m sorry, man,” Drake said quickly. “I didn’t mean to run into Gemma like this.”

Gemma’s whole body tensed, and, for the first time, Drake’s words didn’t ring true to Tate. They matched the satisfaction he’d glimpsed on his best friend’s face just moments before.

Yet he didn’t want Drake to know even a hint of what he was thinking. He struggled to get his emotions under control. By the time he looked up, he knew no one would guess what was going through his mind. “I can handle it from here.”