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Was it the same hand he used to hold her sister’s head while Shane had given him a blowjob?

The thought was crucifying, and Serenity tried to tug her hand out of his hold, desperate to run away from the reality of Shane’s words.

But his grip only tightened.

Please.

She tugged harder even as she struggled not to cry. She knew she was being foolish. She knew she was acting every bit the nineteen-year-old she was, but she couldn’t help it.

Shehadneeded to believe that Willem and her sister didn’t have that kind of relationship. But now, she had no choice. Shane had shoved the truth in her face, and now there was no escaping the pain.

In front of them, Melanie was futilely trying to quiet Shane, who insisted on talking about thelengthof Willem’s cock.

Tears burned Serenity’s eyes, and she tried harder to pull her hand away. She needed to go. She just needed to go.

But the billionaire wouldn’t let her.

His hold was unbreakable.

Don’t go.

His thumb slowly moved across her knuckles.

I’m sorry.

Back and forth his thumb moved, an apology for every stroke, mending and breaking her heart at the same time.

Oh, how she still loved him, and it hurt.

Dimly, she heard Melanie struggling to get Shane up and Willem ordering a pair of his bodyguards to help her stepmother.Poor Shane,she thought dully,drunk on a night that Willem might have begun thinking of proposing to her.

Because that was what this was about, wasn’t it? For all she knew, that might have been why the billionaire had been unable to return her feelings. It wasn’t because he didn’t love Serenity. Maybe it was because he was already in love with Shane.

As soon as Melanie managed to usher Shane out of the dining room, Willem nodded at the rest of his security team in dismissal. “Guard the door and let me know in advance if either or both of them are about to return.”

“Ja, meneer.”

His bodyguards filed out of the room, and only when they were completely alone did Willem allow himself to glance at the girl beside him. She was absolutely still in her seat, her face pale, her back straight, and her eyes resolutely focused on the wall opposite them.

“Serenity.”

She didn’t look at him.

“Say something.” His tone was as harsh and tight as his grip on her hand under the table. He knew he should let her go now...but he could not.

But still, she was silent.

Cursing silently, Willem released her hand to cup her face and forcibly make Serenity look at him.

Their eyes clashed, and this time he cursed out loud. The pain in her blue gaze was too much, and even as he hated her for making him feel he was in the wrongwhen he was not,he hated himself more for even caring.

“You can’t blame me for something that happened before I met you,” Willem heard himself snarl.

But still, she didn’t speak.

“You were a child then,” he said harshly. “A fourteen-year-old child! How the fuck would I have known that you’d grow up to—-” He didn’t allow himself to continue and, cursing again, he released his hold on her face.

“I never lied about Shane and me,” he bit out.