Page 82 (1/2)

"How do I know you ever planned to tell ain?"

She blinked back angry tears, shaking her head "I don’t know All I can tell you is when Becca was older, I always intended to give you both the truth When we began to grow close after I made CFO, I saw a different man One as ready to really open up his heart I kneas tiain You shut down and closed up, and I’ for us"

"You want o back to the way it was so we can aze steady on his Even now, his golden eyes swirled with a hint of fear, as if losing control was beyond him Diane had always told her he was the one she worried about the most, and Sydney knehy It was so hard for hih to say I love you without holding back Losing hisworse, made it easier to shut himself off

Was it even possible for him to take such a risk?

"You still don’t understand," she said softly "Or you don’t want to If you can’t give ht I could do this, but I can’t I can’t beit isn’t destroying me a little bit each day Is this what you want? Don’t we deserve to show Becca hoo people should truly love each other?"

"Becca is shown every day hoo people should treat each other Why do you always have to push for ive you!"

Shock carved out his expression as he threw out the words The truth seeped into her skin and bones and soul He didn’t love her the way she needed She’d believed this ive her the tio on forever, especially when each day she’d resent hih

"I understand"

"No, you don’t understand, Sydney I didn’t mean it like that"

A sad smile curved her lips "Yes, you did I’d rather have the truth than a lie We can’t keep doing this, Tristan Eventually we’ll hurt Becca, and she deserves ral part of her life now, and I don’t think you ever have to be afraid of not being involved with her on a daily basis But being married to you? I can’t do it anymore"

Was that panic she spotted in his expression? He took a step forward, his hand reaching out "No We can work this out Dammit, do you really want to lose e’ve had? What we’ve built?"

"Yes, I do" She squared her shoulders and told her own truth "Because I deserve ive, Tristan Pierce It’s about tih

This tiht, he didn’t come after her

chapter twenty-six

The house was quiet