Page 118 of Modern Romance September 2025 1-4

‘I don’t know.’ Gazing into the distance, she said, ‘I keep thinking about what I can say that will stop them hating me or at the least stop them hating our child.’ Her stare landed back on him. ‘Mum already thinks Lucie used witchcraft to cast a spell on Thanasis. It’s a long shot but she might just believe you used your Lucifer powers to trick me into your bed and into a marriage.’

‘Even though marriage was your idea and you said your vows under your own free will?’ he said steadily.

‘She doesn’t need to know that.’

‘Doesn’t she?’

‘It would be the most unforgivable thing I could do. You know this.’

‘Even though I am prepared to lay it straight with my family and tell them to accept you or else?’

‘It’s different for you.’

‘How?’

‘You hold the purse strings.’

‘I would still demand they accept you and our marriage even if I had no financial hold over them.’

‘My family will never accept you and never accept our marriage. If I’m lucky, they’ll let me and the baby through their door one day in the future but never you.’

‘And you won’t fight to make them accept me?’

She laughed morosely. ‘There would be no point. In their eyes, you’re Lucifer.’

And Lydia would never try to convince them otherwise.

Taking a deep breath to smother the acidic bile rising in his throat, Alexis said, ‘You know, there is still a chance your brother can pull a rabbit out of the hat and convince the investors to hold tight. It doesn’t have to be over for Antoniadis Shipping.’ He gave a tight smile. ‘If the miracle does happen then your family might be more amenable to accepting me.’

Her laugh almost sounded convincing. ‘Not even Jesus could perform such a miracle.’

‘A lot can happen in two days,’ he pointed out.

‘Two sleeps but only one full day,’ she pointed out back before stabbing at some roasted butternut squash and dipping it into the feta and yogurt mousse.

‘I’m just saying don’t convince yourself it’s game over. Your brother has all the skills and acumen to turn it round.’

‘I know he does. It’s whether he has the will that’s in question. But let’s not talk about my family any more otherwise I’ll cry and this delicious food doesn’t need extra seasoning. How are things going for Tsaliki Shipping? Do you think you’ve stabilised things yet?’

He shook his head and took a drink of his red wine, which did nothing to smother the bitter taste on his tongue. ‘No. The story about us forcing Lucie to marry Thanasis refuses to die and I don’t see how it will if she doesn’t come out of hiding and officially deny it.’

‘You wouldn’t ask her to do that, would you?’

He took a long breath. If up to him he wouldn’t just ask Lucie, he’d force her, but he kept his private thoughts to himself. His wife had proved very protective and defensive of his stepsister and he didn’t want to fall into an argument, not when he was already trying to rid himself of the bitterness that had risen in him at her refusal to even consider fighting for her family to accept him. ‘No. But I would hope she did it of her own volition.’

She pulled a rueful face. ‘I’m afraid that’s as likely to happen as my mother not disowning me. Lucie gave up her job and her home to marry Thanasis for your family’s sake, and she was repaid with lies. She doesn’t owe any of you or any of us anything.’

He eyed her meditatively and swallowed back fresh bitterness. ‘You make it sound like we’re still in opposing camps.’

‘I’m still an Antoniadis and always will be.’

‘But married to a Tsaliki and always will be,’ he reminded her, and then took another deep inhale to smother the agitation simmering in his guts. ‘For all that things are yet to stabilise, I remain confident that I can still turn things round with Tsaliki Shipping. Do you know of Hans Dreyman?’

‘The name’s familiar but I can’t think where from.’

‘Dreyman Co, the German food manufacturer, one of the top food manufacturers in the world. Their products are sold all over the world. You’ll know many of their brand names. We’ve been transporting their goods for years.’

‘Is this the contract you heard on the grapevine is threatening to look elsewhere?’