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Every muscle in his body was tense as he slid back over the cushion And even when he was fully on the couch, he couldn’t lean back He sat fully upright, staying on guard, not letting down his defenses because he kne easy it was to forget about circumstances when Sylvie was in his vicinity

“Do you think there’s anything that will change yourthe place?”

It was the first tiht out and asked him the question The answer that rushed to the back of his throat was one she didn’t want to hear He shifted his gaze to the contents of the ht not be his favorite drink but it was better than having to speak and see the disappointment in Sylvie’s eyes

He held theto his lips and drank; all the while he could feel Sylvie’s gaze upon hiive this up? But he knew she aiting for an answer The woman definitely had a lot of tenacity

He lowered the e my mind”

“Is there anything I can say or do—?”

“No, Sylvie This is what has to be done” The debate of keeping the estate or letting go of the ghosts of the past churned within him “You just don’t understand”

“I would, if you told me” Her voice was soft but not forceful

The secret he’d been holding in all these years caue He hadn’t told anyone because he was ashahosts, he needed to be up-front with her If he could trust anyone, it was Sylvie

Not giving himself time to back out of this confession, he turned to her In her eyes he saw caring and sympathy He wasn’t worthy of either That undid his final bit of hesitation

“Sylvie, I know this place hosts of the past Lies and secrets that I just can’t live with anymore I need to move on—to start over”

“But wasn’t all of that dealt hen Bianca found your mother’s journal?”

“No” That single-syllable word hung in the nighttime air with all its possible implications

He raked his fingers through his hair Why did she keep pushing? She wasn’t going to like what she uncovered He wasn’t the upstanding guy that she thought he was