Page 95 of A Diamond Deal
The lift doors opened. She walked inside, her chest heaving. She collapsed against the back wall.
Her heart cracked.
The tears didn’t trickle.
They spilt down her cheeks in waves.
A sob tore free from her throat.
He’d retreated behind his walls of control. He’d twisted her love until it became something ugly.Selfish betrayal.She hadn’t meant to betray him. She…
Hehadstopped playing games. He’d fallen in love with her, too. But how could she expect him to give her what he’d never had?
The doors closed.
It was too late to change her mind now.
She’d messed it all up.
She was quivering.Shaking.Tears rolled down her cheeks. It raked through her. Emotion after breathtaking emotion.
She didn’t fight it.
She cried for him. For her. For Isaak. She cried for the happily-ever-after they could have had, but their pasts had stolen it. But most of all, Poppy cried for all the words said too late to save their marriage.
It was over.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Twelve Days Later…
Konstantinos held thefinal divorce decree in his hand.
For twelve days, he’d been waiting for this. Expedited it under Greek law. For his marriage to be stamped void.Over.For the document in his hand to ease the pressure on his lungs—to let him breathe. But still, he couldn’t draw breath deep enough. Still, he walked. He’d been walking every day, visited every hermitage on the island. And he couldn’t find it.Air.
He hadn’t left the island.
He hadn’t checked the press.
He hadn’t looked forher.
His lungs squeezed.
He was all alone. The island was his self-imposed prison. He understoodthiswas what he deserved now.
Forever second best.
Forever abandoned.
He was to be forever alone.
His step quickened. He didn’t know where he was going. Where he’d end up. It was the same every day. Through the trees and over the clifftops he walked. He searched for what the island promised. What the monks had called it when they had made it their home so long ago.
Salvation.
The trees rustled.
He stopped. Looked down at what they guarded.
