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‘Yes, you could put it that way, I suppose’ Laurel sighed, disliking how scornful he sounded, although she couldn’t really blame him ‘It was hard for her, you know More than one of her boyfriends was bad news Seriously bad news Sometimes we had to run’

And sorandfather in Canton Heights, which had been the sweetest relief, as well as a disappointment No more dank hotel roo in corners or under the covers No more drama and endless uncertainty And no more Mom

But then her ain, and in herLaurel had believed Elizabeth did love her and want her with her Why else would she come back for her? And there had been moments when Elizabeth had see She’d given Laurel plenty of advice, a lot of it bitter, and when she’d landed Lorenzo she’d pros would be better for her too It wasn’t much, but Laurel believed her mother loved her, in her oay At least, she wanted to believe that

‘So you had ten years of this and then she hit the jackpot with my father’

Laurel flinched a bit at his tone but then she lifted her chin and aze head on ‘Yes, but you know she didn’t even realise how rich he hen she met him’

‘She just got lucky, then’

‘Yes, I suppose she did I knohat it looks like—and, trust —but I do believe she and your father loved each other, Cristiano’ Heryou can understand’

He leaned forward, his eyes sparking gold fire ‘They loved each other? That’s why she siphoned two million euros into her own private bank account?’

‘She was trying to protect herself’ Laurel held up a hand ‘I knorong I’ to rew up dirt poor, who had ive herself a little security—but, yes, I realise it was stealing’ Memory sharpened inside her ‘I didn’t know you were the one who told your father, though’

So flickered in Cristiano’s eyes ‘Why shouldn’t I have?’

‘I’ you shouldn’t have Only…you could have asked her first You could have tried to figure out as going on’

‘It was fairly obvious, bella’

‘Don’t call me bella!’ Laurel snapped ‘Not now Not ever’

‘I did as right Surely you can’t deny that?’

‘I just wished you’d talked to her first I don’t think she would have ever left hie With Lorenzo we’d both finally found a haven Your father was a kind ht have understood’ Ten years later she still renation, felt her own numb shock at Lorenzo’s cold treatment of them both He’d taken her for rides in his sports car He’d slipped her pocket ht her a dress for a school dance He’d been randfather, and he’d cut her off without so much as a conversation But that was a pain too deep and personal to share with Cristiano, especially when he was looking at her with such disdain

‘I cannot believe,’ Cristiano said, ice in every word, ‘That you are blaold-digger and a thief’

‘I’ you I just wished it could have been handled differently—’

‘And,’ he cut her off with eventhe woe just twenty-four hours ago’

Laurel looked away, blinking hard She couldn’t argue hat he said Her mother had treated her badly, no matter what protestations she’d made earlier Even if she believed what her mother had said… It was just that Laurel had alanted to see the best in her mother Wanted to believe her mother loved her, deep down Because if your own mother didn’t love you… ‘I’ve already told you, I’ her,’ she said after a s Not that you’d accept any explanations’