Gabriel's Redemption (Gabriel's Inferno #3)(83)

It was a letter.

She hadn’t recognized the handwriting, but it didn’t matter. Paulina’s name and address were neatly written in the top left corner of the envelope. Somehow, she’d discovered Gabriel’s address and sent the letter to their home.

Their home. The home Gabriel shared with his wife.

Julia wanted to fling the letter into the fireplace.

She was already beginning to keep secrets—reading his mother’s diary when he wasn’t looking. She couldn’t throw Paulina’s letter away, too.

Holding the envelope away from her body, she walked to the bedroom and handed it to him.

“Thanks, but I’ll go through the mail later.” He moved to toss the envelope on the bed, but she stopped him.

“Look at the return address.”

Gabriel glanced at the letter.

He cursed.

“Why is she writing to me? Not even Carson, my lawyer, hears from her now.”

Julia remained motionless, watching him.

He ripped open the letter, expecting to find a long, handwritten missive. He was surprised to find a single piece of cardstock.

He read the printed words quickly.

“It’s a wedding invitation.” He turned the card over, finding Paulina’s flowing script on the back.

Gabriel,

I would never be gauche enough to invite you to my wedding.

I simply wanted you to know that I’m getting married.

After all these years, I’ll finally be a wife and a mother, to two wonderful girls.

Now that we’re both happy, things are as they should be.

XO,

P.

He handed the invitation to Julia for her perusal.

Julia skimmed it.

“She’s getting married.”

“Yes.”

“How do you feel?” Julia searched his face.

He placed the invitation back in the envelope. Then he tapped it against the open palm of his left hand.

“She expressed it correctly—we’re both happy. She’s found the family she wanted.”

His blue eyes trained on Julia’s.

“She has you to thank.”

“Me?”

“You were the one who persuaded me to let her go. That she’d never find her own happiness while she was dependent on me. You were right.”

Julia shifted her weight at his praise, all too conscious of the fact that she’d been snooping through his personal effects only minutes earlier.

“You were right about Maria, too.” Now his eyes were sad.

Julia went to him, wrapping her arms about his waist.

“I wish I weren’t right about Maria. But sometimes loving someone means that you have to let them go.”

“I’ll never let you go. I’d challenge anyone to try to take you away from me.” He sounded fierce.

Julia pressed her fingertips to his lips. “Remember that when you’re working things out in your own mind. No matter what your troubles are, I’m here. And I’m not going anywhere.”

She kissed him again, then she disappeared into the hall.

Gabriel looked at the invitation, his mind wandering into the past.

Chapter Thirty-eight

January 2010

Toronto, Ontario

Paulina Gruscheva entered the lobby of the Manulife Building, her high-heeled boots clicking against the marble floors, her cell phone pressed to her ear. She’d been resident in Toronto for some time, but Gabriel had refused to see her, speak with her, or entertain any communication with her at all.

She’d grown tired of waiting.

When she reached Gabriel’s voice mail, she hung up and dialed his landline. She prayed silently that Julianne wouldn’t answer. It was bad enough that he was sleeping with her. She didn’t have to have their affair thrown back in her face.

Again.

Undeterred by the fact that he wasn’t answering his phones, she approached Mark, the security guard, demanding that he contact Professor Emerson immediately. When he refused, she fluttered her eyelashes and tried to cajole him. He was immune to her tall, blond, blue-eyed charms.

She raised her voice, creating a scene.

Within minutes, Mark contacted the Professor and asked that he please meet his guest in the lobby.

Paulina smiled triumphantly.

But her smile disappeared when she saw him, his expression furious, his eyes snapping, as he walked toward her. He grabbed her elbow roughly and half-dragged her through the lobby and out to the semicircular driveway in front of the building.

“What do you think you’re doing?” he spat, releasing her.

Paulina retreated a step, surprised by his fury.

“Well?” he demanded.

“I wanted to talk to you. I’ve been here for weeks. You wouldn’t see me!”

“We are not having this conversation again. I said all I had to say to you back in Selinsgrove. You know where you stand.”

He turned to go back into the building, but she caught his arm.

“Why are you doing this to me?” Her voice faltered as she blinked back tears.

Gabriel’s expression softened. Marginally.

“Paulina, it’s over. It’s been over for a while. I’m not trying to do anything to you other than persuade you to move on with your life. And to let me move on with mine.”