Imperfect Affections: A Diamond Magnate Novel (Beauty in Imperfection Book 2) by Charmaine Pauls

Author:Charmaine Pauls [Pauls, Charmaine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9782491833169
Published: 2022-06-20T18:30:00+00:00

CHAPTER 16

Leon

When I get Violet’s message to say she left work early and took an Uber home, I grab my jacket and make my way to the door. Gus and Elliot are out for lunch with clients. They won’t come back to the office before late tonight, if at all. No one is going to miss me.

Outside, I stop in my tracks. Gia leans on the door of her 4x4, which is parked next to my car.

“Gia,” I say with surprise, making my way over. “If you’re waiting for Gus—”

She straightens. “I was waiting for you.”

I pause in front of her. “You were?”

She tilts her head toward her Landcruiser. “Take a ride with me.”

Not waiting for my answer, she opens the door and gets inside.

Here comes the speech about treating her daughter right, the one I expected from Gus. At least Gia is looking out for Violet.

Going around the vehicle, I get into the passenger side. Gia starts the engine and switches on the radio, selecting some nostalgic radio station. The music is a little too loud to make conversation. I take the hint and keep my mouth shut, waiting to see what Gia has planned.

She drives to Auckland Park and parks on a dead-end road on the hill. The road runs past the office buildings into an undeveloped plot of land. A field with tall polls of Highveld grass surrounds us. The city stretches below. From up here, we have a view of the skyscrapers in the south and the residential suburbs in the north.

Sighing, she cuts the engine and leans her head against the backrest. Her expression is wistful as she stares at the vista. “Sometimes, I wonder.”

I look at the profile of her face. “Wonder what?”

“What it feels like to be loved.”

The statement throws me off-kilter. I didn’t expect her to discuss her love life with me. I don’t answer. I’m not crossing that line.

“You love her, don’t you?” she asks, keeping her gaze trained on the skyline.

At the L-word, I give an internal start.

Do I?

Ash’s words repeat in my mind.

Some men aren’t made for love.

I want Violet to love me, but can I reciprocate? Do I have what it takes?

The silence in the car reminds me that Gia is waiting for an answer.

Finally, I settle for, “Define love.”

Unlike my reply, Gia’s comes easily. It slips like a certainty smoothly from her tongue. “Putting someone else’s needs above your own.”

If that’s the case, my answer is yes and no. Yes, I forgave Violet, and I’m doing everything in my power to make her happy. When it comes to our marriage, I can’t say the same. I can’t say I’m sacrificing myself to give Violet what she wants, because Violet never wanted those rings on her finger. Even so, like I vowed, they’re never coming off.

The only honest answer I can give is, “Yes, I love her. In my way.”

That’s the first time I’ve admitted it, not only to another person but also to myself. The hugeness of that statement deserves a moment, but Gia speaks, not allowing me time to digest my confession.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.