The Tycoon's Secret Affair (The Anetakis Tycoons #3)(41)

Something flickered in his eyes at her vehemence, but then he blinked, and it was gone, replaced with ice.

There would be no convincing him. He’d already tried and convicted her. She had some pride. She wouldn’t beg. She wouldn’t humiliate herself. She’d never allow him to know how shattered she was by his rejection. Or how much she loved him.

She lifted her chin and forced herself to stare evenly at him, steeling herself until she could no longer feel the shards of pain that pelted her.

“Someday you’ll regret this,” she said quietly. “One day you’ll wake up and realize that you threw away something precious. I hope, for your sake, you don’t take too long and that one day you can find the happiness you’re so determined to deny yourself and others around you.”

She turned stiffly, her heart breaking under the weight of her pain. She gripped the papers she’d intended to show Piers and held them close to her chest as she walked away. He made no effort to stop her, and she knew he wouldn’t. He’d stay here, holed up in his refuge until she’d gone.

Methodically she took the stairs to the master bedroom. She got out a suitcase and began putting her clothing inside.

“Mrs. Anetakis, is there something you need?”

Jewel turned to see the maid standing in the doorway wearing a perplexed look.

“Could you arrange for a car to take me into town?” Jewel asked. “I’ll be ready in fifteen minutes.”

“Of course.”

Jewel turned back to her packing, willing herself not to break down into more tears. She would survive this. She had survived worse.

When she had packed everything she thought she’d need, she smoothed out the papers that had all the information about Eric. No matter that she and Piers were no longer together, she couldn’t allow that child to remain in the system, unwanted and tossed from family to family.

She closed her eyes and sighed. This would be so much easier with the money and power of the Anetakis name. Slowly she opened her eyes again and frowned. She may not have the money but she did have the name. Yes, Piers had provided a settlement for her in the case of a divorce, but who knows how long it would take to lay hands on it. She needed money now. Eric couldn’t wait.

She went to her dresser and pulled out the diamond necklace and earrings Piers had given her on her wedding day. With one fingertip, she stroked the brilliant stones, remembering the way he’d fastened the necklace at her nape.

Between her engagement ring and the necklace and earrings, she should be able to raise enough cash to rent a place in Miami. But she’d need enough money to remain solvent until she would collect her settlement from Piers.

“Mrs. Anetakis, the car is ready for you.”

Jewel closed her suitcase and smiled her thanks. She looked one more time around the room she’d shared with Piers and then walked down the stairs behind the maid.

When she was settled into the car, she directed the driver to take her to the airstrip. She didn’t have time to call for Piers’s jet, though she didn’t have any qualms about using it. She had no desire to be stuck here in this place for any longer than necessary. She’d take the first flight off the island, and go to New York to see Bella and Marley and pray that they’d help her save Eric.

Eighteen

“J ewel, what on earth are you doing here?” Bella asked as she all but dragged Jewel inside the doorway. “Does Piers know you’re here? Did he come with you?”

Jewel swallowed the knot in her throat. Damn if she was going to get all weepy again.

Marley appeared behind Bella, her face soft with sympathy.

“What happened?” Marley asked.

Despite her resolve, Jewel burst into tears. Bella and Marley flanked her, each wrapping an arm around her as they guided her into Bella’s living room.

“Are Chrysander and Theron here?” she managed to ask around her sobs.

“No, and they won’t be back for a while,” Bella said soothingly. “Now sit down before you fall over. You look dead on your feet.”

Jewel perched on the edge of the couch while the other women took a seat on either side of her.

“What has that idiot brother-in-law of mine done?” Marley asked grimly.

Jewel tried to smile through her tears at Marley’s show of loyalty. “I’m afraid he’d say it was what I’d done to him.”

Bella snorted. “With that man, I’d hardly believe that. Besides, it’s easy to see that you’re crazy in love with him.”

Jewel buried her face in her hands. “That’s just it. He believes the absolute worst of me.”

Marley put a hand on her shoulder and squeezed. “Tell us what happened.”

With little reluctance, Jewel spilled the entire sorry tale from start to finish, including the part about Joanna and Eric and the paternity results.

“What an idiot,” Bella said scornfully. “Did he even call the laboratory to double-check the results? Did he question them at all? Clearly there was some mix-up at the lab.”

Jewel gave her a watery smile. “Thank you for believing in me. But the thing is, he got what he was waiting for. He’s been waiting since the start for me to fall off the pedestal, so to speak. He hasn’t been able to believe in a woman since Joanna.”

“So what are you going to do?” Marley asked. “You’re in love with him.”