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awful secret keeper. But don t worry; she was surprisingly tight-lipped about you. I ll admit I was
curious enough to try to pry information out of her, but all she talked about was what great scones you
make.
So, no one besides Maddy believes I may be pregnant with another man s baby.
Thank God.
I ll have to address that misunderstanding the next time I see her.
Especially since I m staying with Luke s family.
Cassie s breath caught in her throat and her mouth went nervously dry.
I m staying with Luke s family.
***
That evening, Luke made himself a Dewar s and water in the living room of the home Max had
given him on Slater Island. The fire he d made to warm the room reminded him of Cassie and his first
night at her bed and breakfast.
Not that he needed reminding. She was entwined within every thought he d had since he walked
away from her. After ensuring he d left his mother s medical records in order, falsehoods and all,
Luke had started back to the waiting room to meet her then stopped.
He wasn t the same man who d brought her with him to the hospital. Something inside him had
died while listening to his mother attack his uncle. She d always had a vicious side to her, but what
he d seen in her eyes when she d looked at Victor had been real hatred, hatred so dark it had ruled
her.
He d always told himself he d imagined how she d looked at her children. He d made excuses
for her cutting remarks. Most recently, he d told himself she might have early signs of dementia.
That wasn t what she presented in her final moments. Viewing his mother as a case study gave
Luke the emotional distance to sort through what he d learned about her during her final moments.
Patrice Stanfield had married a man she didn t love to get back at the man she claimed to. She d
borne four sons to him, sons she couldn t love because they were a constant reminder of the man who
didn t return her feelings. In her need to make Victor pay for not loving her, she used her sons as
pawns to hurt him, used her connections to ruin his company, and in the end, wasted her final breaths
exposing him. No remorse. No regret.
Some would diagnose her a classic sociopath.
Nothing his mother had said to Victor had been designed to hurt her sons. It was quite clear they
were not important enough to warrant her vengeance.
Something had snapped inside Luke when he realized how utterly unimportant he and his
brothers were to the woman who had raised them. He no longer cared why her doctor had poisoned
her. He guessed it had been money related.
So, Luke had ensured no one would ever know about the ricin. Her murder was as unimportant to
him as his life had been to her.
If it had even been a murder. His mother s heart attack had occurred during her fit of fury. It was
somewhat ironic she might have died that way regardless of the poisoning.
Either way, he felt nothing about her death.
Nothing for his brothers.
Nothing at all.
Which was why he couldn t see Cassie like this. He d told her he loved her. He d implied they
would spend the rest of their lives together. So, how then, could he feel nothing for her either? She
had been through so much; he didn t want to hurt her more. He knew, though, if she looked into his
eyes now, she would know the truth.
He was hollow.
Luke spun on his heel at the sound of the front door of the house opening and closing. He walked
to the foyer, not wanting it to be, but hoping it would be Cassie.
Uncle Alessandro walked straight toward him. He was in his early sixties like Victor, but often
looked younger because of the warm smile that never left his face. He wasn t smiling as he
approached Luke. How are you?
Fine, Luke said calmly, dismissively.
Alessandro sniffed audibly. Been drinking?
Not nearly enough, Luke said dryly and took another deep gulp.
You have your brothers worried.
They ll get over it.
You have your uncles equally worried.
Luke slammed his glass down on a table. I said I m fine.
You ve had a rough month, Luke. First your friend passed away and now your mother. That
would shake any man.
Glaring at his uncle, Luke snapped, I came here to be alone, Alessandro.
His uncle looked around the large foyer before answering. Did you? You chose an interesting
place to hide. Max told me he bought these homes as a place for your family to start over. What are
you looking for here, Luke? Because this is just stone and mortar. Your family is back in New York,
and they need you.
Me? No. When it comes to being a doctor, I m good. I save lives. But with family? Nothing I do
makes a damn bit of difference. If you re so worried about my brothers, go be with them.
Alessandro straightened his shoulders and advanced on Luke. And leave you here, drowning
your sorrows in alcohol? No. You re coming back to New York with me.
Luke s temper began to rise. I don t want to have to throw you out of my house, Alessandro.
Try to, Alessandro said, and slammed one of Luke s shoulders. Luke was as stunned as he was
infuriated by the action. He d never seen this side of his uncle before.
Get out.
Make me. Alessandro pushed Luke back another step.
Planting his feet and clenching his hands at his sides, Luke snarled, Don t touch me again.
Alessandro went nose to nose with Luke. Or what? What will you do?
Get out of my house, Luke roared, angrier than he could put in words.
Good, Alessandro said, stepping back. Get angry. You should be angry. Victor told me what
happened at the hospital.
Luke picked up the glass beside him and threw it furiously across the room. It shattered against
the wall and fell to the floor. It was the first time in his life he d lost control like that, and it felt
strangely good.
Alessandro nodded in approval. Yell. Scream. Break every damn thing in this house. It needs to
come out.
Luke ran his hands angrily through his hair and growled. I hate her, and I hate who I am because
of her.
In a gentle tone, Alessandro asked, Who are you?
Slamming a hand down on the table beside him, Luke yelled, I thought I knew. I thought I had all
the answers. Now I don t know anything. Not one fucking thing. I love my profession, but I don t ever
want to step foot in that hospital again. I thought I was a good brother, so why am I here and not with
them? And why, if I m in love with Cassie, do I not want to be with her?
Is that a fire I hear in the other room? Let s go sit down, Luke. I want to tell you a story.
Luke took a calming breath and followed his uncle into the living room. They sat across from
each other on chairs in front of the fireplace. Luke sat with his head in his hands. Still angry. Still
confused.
Your mother wasn t always bitter and obsessed with Victor. Her family met ours while
vacationing in Italy when I was in my early teens. Patrice was a beautiful girl from an insanely rich
family who gave her everything. I don t think Patrice had ever wanted something and been denied it
until she decided she wanted Victor. At first it was cute. She had a crush on him. As we grew older,
she hid her feelings better, but they were still obvious to anyone who knew her. Victor liked her, but
not in the way she wanted him to. They foolishly explored that connection. Victor didn t tell me what
happened, but I knew. Your father knew, too. Patrice was openly desperate to gain Victor s attention.
But Victor met Elise right after that, and there was no other woman for him. I felt for Patrice. She was
deeply hurt. George felt the same, and more. He d always loved Patrice. One of the happiest days of
his life was when she married him.
Luke rubbed his hands over his face. You re not telling me anything I don t know. My mother
was clear about how and why she did what she did.
Alessandro rubbed a hand across his forearm and looked into the fire. You know the facts, but I
want to make sure you understand your mother was genuinely hurt by Victor s disinterest in her. Now,
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