Stealing Cinderella(77)

“That isn’t necessary,” I challenge him. “She has a psychiatrist back home in Norway. You can speak to him, and he will tell you himself.”

“Thorsen.” Ella touches my hand, trying to calm me. “It’s okay. The doctor’s just doing his job, and I understand. But I can assure you, Dr. Hobbs, it was just an honest mistake.”

“Please do explain.” He arches a brow at her.

Ella proceeds to give him a bullshit story about how she hasn’t been sleeping well, and she was locked out of her home, so she went to the farm. She tells him she often napped there, and she took the entire bottle of the sleeping aid, thinking it was a single dosage.

“I see.” The doctor studies her. “And what about your injuries? Or the lighter fluid? How do you explain that?”

At the mention of lighter fluid, my stomach revolts with a sickening realization.

“I can’t remember how that happened,” Ella lies. “I think I was confused, maybe. I could have fallen in the barn. It’s hard to say.”

Dr. Hobbs isn’t buying her story, but he writes down one final note in her chart and sighs. “I’ll need to speak with your doctor back in Norway before I make any decisions.”

“I’ll give you his contact information.” I reach for the pad and pen on the table and scribble Dr. Blom’s name and phone number.

Dr. Hobbs takes the information and heads for the door. “I’ll be back to check on you in the morning.”

Once he’s gone, I shut the door behind him and turn to Ella. The softness in her eyes betrays her nerves.

“Tell me what really happened, Ella. No lies.”

“You first.” She glares up at me. “Why are you even here? Why aren’t you with Lavinia?”

“Lavinia?” I grimace. “Why would I be with—”

Suddenly, it occurs to me that Lavinia must have told Ella about our so-called engagement. It’s something so simple, but it never crossed my mind because Lavinia was barely a blip in my consciousness until I learned of Ella’s connection to her.

“I saw the papers.” Ella’s lip wobbles, and she looks away. “I know you’re engaged to her. You can tell me the truth. Please don’t lie to me anymore.”

“Min gudinne.” I turn her face back to mine. “Is that what you thought? Do you really believe I’d ever marry her?”

“What else am I supposed to think?” She swipes a few stray tears from the corners of her eyes. “You were with her. She had a ring on her finger. I saw the photo.”

“But you don’t know the story.” I shake my head, frustrated that I never dealt with this when I should have.

“Are you telling me it isn’t true?”

“Of course, it’s not true.”

“I need more than that,” she says. “Make me understand.”

I fall into the seat beside her with a sigh.

“When I came looking for you after the ball, I enlisted my secretary’s help. He reported this information back to my parents, and they believed Lavinia was the woman I’d been trying to find. They invited Narcissa and both of your sisters to stay at the palace for one month. My father was determined to see me marry her because I had already turned down two of his previous choices. He ordered me to spend three days a week with her, and I did it because he would have denied me access to my mother if I hadn’t.”

“But you did go out on dates with her?” Bitterness colors Ella’s tone, and it has the unfortunate effect of reminding me I have a cock I’d like to bury balls deep inside her right now.

“I went out with her because I had to,” I say. “Those dates meant nothing to me, and the entire time I was with her, all I could think about was coming home to you.”

“You told me I was nothing to you,” Ella whispers.

“I know.” I reach for her hand and tangle my fingers with hers, desperate to feel her warmth. “I lied to you because I was angry, and I wasn’t thinking straight. I’ll never forgive myself for that, Ella. I’m sorry I hurt you. I’m sorry for all of it. I put you through so much, and you stayed with me. You never let me push you away. You’re the only woman I want, and I can’t let you go. Even if you hate me. I’ll find a way to make you care again.”

“I want to believe that.” She lowers her lashes. “You have no idea how much I want to believe it. But how can I be sure you aren’t planning a wedding to Lavinia like she says?”

“Because she made the entire scheme up,” I growl. “She stole my mother’s ring from her room and told the media exactly where we’d be. I had no idea what she was doing until she blurted it out herself. Believe me when I tell you I hold no affection for any of your so-called family. While Lavinia was desperately trying to win herself a title, your stepmother was carrying on an affair with my father.”

Ella cringes, and I can tell this isn’t the first time she’s been embarrassed by their behavior.

“But you hid me from your family,” she argues. “You could have told them, and you didn’t. Were you ashamed of me?”

“Ashamed of you?” My voice hollows out. “No, gudinne. I could never be ashamed of you.”

“Then why?” she persists. “Why hide me?”