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Stavros slowly shook his head. He had never seen his friend this humbled, but he had never seen Serenity Raleigh so broken either. He said finally, “She’s coming down to meet you, but I have been asked to be your chaperone.”

Willem’s lips twisted. “Your wife’s orders, no doubt?”

“She’s as protective of your ex-intern as Serenity was of her in the past.”

Willem inclined his head. “Understandable. They share a remarkably poor taste in men, I’ve noticed.”

Stavros had to smile at that. “I have to agree.” He and Willow might be happily married now, but he would never allow himself to forget the pain and suffering he had put his own wife through because of his stubborn blindness.

Before either of them could speak again, they heard the door open, and Stavros said tensely under his breath, “Don’t hurt her again, or I’ll have to come after you personally.” Then he was walking away to meet Serenity halfway across the room.

He saw immediately that her eyes were faintly swollen, her nose red, her face pale, and knew that she had not been able to completely control her tears when she had gone to her room to change.

“I will be right outside the door,” he told her gently.

She fidgeted in her feet. “You don’t really have to—-”

He tried to make light of the situation, saying easily, “Unfortunately, my wife’s condition requires that I do. Whatever she asks right now, I give her, and you know she asked that I do not leave either of you alone.” He nodded towards the hallway. “I understand your need for privacy so I’ll be right outside, making calls—-” His tone became faintly apologetic.

“Willow told you to leave the door open?” she guessed.

“I’m afraid so.” Turning towards Willem, Stavros said, “I’ll be leaving the two of you then.”

She stared at Stavros as he walked away, a part of her wanting to follow him out. She should just leave, pretend Willem hadn’t ever come, and it would be all over. That was what sheshoulddo, but she just...couldn’t.

“Serenity?”

Willem’s tone was quiet, almost hesitant, and her heart skipped a beat at hearing the Dutch billionaire sound so.It was all an act,she told herself fiercely. He had made love to two sisters in one night. No man who could do that could ever be capable of love.

Taking a deep breath, she slowly turned around to meet Willem’s gaze—-

He held flowers in one hand.

Flowers.

He had never personally given her flowers before.

He had sent her a lot of gifts over the years, for every occasion in her life, but none of them had been flowers that he had personally given to her.

Until now.

An act, it’s just an act, just an act, she told herself feverishly even as she wanted to cry at the way her heart kept racing faster and faster the longer she stared at him.

He was walking towards her now, slowly. It was as if he was giving her all the time in the world to escape him, and it was at that moment she really did cry. The tears fell, fast and furiously, and she could no longer stop crying.

By the time he reached her, Serenity’s shoulders were rocking hard at the strength of her sobs, and she was too weak to struggle away as his arms closed around her.

In his embrace, she cried harder.

She cried at the way her heart continued to beat for him, cried at the way her heart couldn’t seem to understand that all this was an act.

It was just an act.

But then Willem said in a raw whisper, “I’m so damn sorry,engel.”

She shuddered.

The endearment used to make her feel special, but now it made her feel like the cheap, stupid whore Shane told her she was.