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He was here solely for Phoebe.

She deserved his apology, and she would get it even if he had to fight the Gorgons themselves to get to her.

“Please do not look at us like that, Your Grace.” Lady Scarlett smiled coldly. “One would think that you are scared of us. How scary can three women be?”

More than you could ever know.

But Ethan fought the rising panic in his throat as he smiled cordially at her. This was her residence, after all, and if she meant to keep Phoebe here, she could do so indefinitely.

It would not be good for him to further push the lady to restrict him from seeing his wife again.

“I wish to see Phoebe,” he told them gently.

It was best for him to be honest. Flattery and talking in circles would not get him anywhere at this point.

“What for?” Scarlett scoffed. “I thought you disdained her company, for all that you proclaimed your affections all over London.”

“My affections for my wife are true,” he responded evenly.

“And yet, you hurt her.”

It was Alice who spoke this time, her eyes flashing. He had never comprehended why Colin practically kowtowed to this wife of his. Now, he understood completely.

She was a formidable woman, indeed. Worthy of being the Duchess of Blackthorn.

And I have just broken her sister’s heart. Her youngersister.

It was already a miracle that she had not summoned her husband to beat some sense into him.

“I was wrong,” he implored. “I was wrong for hurting her and stupid.”

Evie smiled frostily as she turned towards her sister-in-law. “A man who can admit to his mistakes is admirable.”

“Not,” Alice countered, “if that is his only redeeming quality.”

“Indeed,” Scarlett sneered. “Is he just supposed to apologize and admit his mistakes every single time? Would that make it all better?”

No, it would not.

For an apology to matter, it was not enough to be sincere. One had to make changes to make sure the same thing never happened again.

This was what they wanted—the assurance that Phoebe would never suffer in such a manner again.

Guilt clawed at Ethan’s insides as the full weight of what he had done to the woman he loved bore down on him.

“I was a fool,” he admitted.

The three ladies regarded him with quiet glares that seemed to say, “We already know that.”

“I made a mess of things,” he continued. “I said words that hurt her. I was the one who pushed her away.”

“You did not trust her.” It would seem that Evie did not intend to mince her words today. “You asked her to trust you. Well, Ethan, that request goes both ways. How can you expect her to trust you when you lie and hide from her at every turn?”

“She wanted a true marriage,” Alice told him. “A happy one. I had hoped that you would give her that—not right away, of course, but with time. I did not expect you to hurt her the way you did, and it has not even been half a year into your marriage yet.”

“I know, and I am truly sorry for it,” he implored. “If I can at least speak to her so I can tell her how much I regret everything?—”

“And then what?”