Page 235 of Modern Romance September 2025 5-8

‘When I took over as group CEO, I came up with a ten-year plan that would revolutionise our business model. I’m only five years in, but already we’re tracking well ahead of schedule.’

‘Your father must be very proud,’ she murmured, simply to fill the silence, because he had told her something great about himself, and she needed to acknowledge it. But her head was spinning, her heart hurting, her chest heavy, as though bags of cement had been placed on her.

‘My father…’ He hesitated and she glanced up at him, seeing tension radiating from his handsome face. ‘We’re not in a good place right now.’

She could tell how hard it was for Zeus to admit that. It was the sharing of a secret, of a part of him that he instinctively wanted to keep hidden.

Everything she knew about Aristotle caused her to dislike the older man, but she kept her tone neutral as she asked, ‘Why not?’

Zeus’s eyes skimmed to her face then bounced away to the ocean. They were close to where his boat was moored, but she didn’t want to leave this idyllic beach without finishing this conversation. She was worried that once they stepped onboard, he’d move on to something else. She slowed her step imperceptibly.

Zeus made a gruff sound, part sigh, part grimace. ‘He’s not the man I thought he was.’

Jane chewed into her lower lip. This was getting close to home, close to Lottie, she just knew.

‘Last week he told me that he’d had an affair.’

Jane’s footing stumbled a little and Zeus’s arm shot out to wrap around her waist. Instinctively protective. Her heart sped up.

‘Recently?’ Her voice was hoarse to her own ears.

‘Who knows? This affair was many years ago, but how can I trust it hasn’t been going on longer? That there haven’t been other women?’

‘Why would he tell you about one but not others?’ she pointed out, logically.

‘Because in this instance, there’s a complication.’ He glanced down at her and Jane’s heart skipped several beats in a row. ‘A daughter.’

She gasped. Lottie. So, Zeus had only just found out about her. He hadn’t known about Lottie and chosen to ignore her. He’d been as innocent in all of this as Lottie herself. Guilt, grief, pain and panic swirled inside Jane’s gut.

‘I see,’ she whispered, because shedidsee. She saw all too much.

‘She’s twenty-three, and my father has been supporting her all these years. While my mother lay dying…’

‘What would you have had him do, Zeus?’ she felt compelled to say, in defence of her best friend. ‘Leave her to fend for herself?’

A muscle jerked in Zeus’s jaw.

‘He took steps to make sure she was never discovered—for my mother’s sake. It would have destroyed her to know he’d cheated.’

Jane’s eyes filled with tears; she blinked quickly to dispel them.

‘But now my mother’s gone, and all of a sudden, he wants to acknowledge this woman. To bring her into the family,’ Zeus spat, and now Jane found the simple act of walking beyond her.

‘What?’ Her voice was hoarse. Just a whisper.

Zeus was so wrapped up in his own thoughts that he evidently didn’t notice how pale Jane had become, all the colour fading from her cheeks as she stared up at him.

‘As if I have any interest in knowing her.’

‘Why not?’ Jane groaned, pressing a hand to his chest. This wasLottiethey were talking about. Lottie, Jane’s best friend. Lottie, who was smart and charming and sweet and kind. Lottie, who could light a room up just by walking into it.

‘She is evidence of my father’s failings.’

Jane’s eyes swept shut. ‘Zeus, it’s not that simple.’

He was silent.

Jane tried again. ‘She’s a person, and none of this is her fault, just as it’s not your fault. And maybe it’s not your father’s fault, either. He made a bad decision when your mother got sick. A terrible decision, but he was probably driven half-mad with grief and worry. People do silly things sometimes. They make mistakes. Surely, you have it in your heart to forgive him?’