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Love always has a winner, and a loser A conqueror and a conquered I decided long ago I never wanted to be either

She’d thought, when Stavros ed his mind But he hadn’t He just wanted them to be a family

So did she

Holly took a deep breath Maybe she could love hih for both of them, she tried to tell herself If Stavros treated her well, if he cherished her, couldn’t that be enough? As long as he was a good father, and a good husband? As long as he spent time with them? Which she was sure he would, as soon as this business deal was over

Stavros ht not be in love with her, but he cared about her After all, he’d arranged a big birthday party for her tonight A sort of surprise party, their first social event as a married couple All their friends and family would be there

She just had to focus on the positive She enty-eight now, a row up

She could live without her husband’s love

Lifting her mouth into a smile as she reached the café, she pushed the stroller inside She saw her little sister sitting at a nearby table, her face in her hands Next to her on the table, there was a s

Holly parked the stroller beside the small table “Nicole?”

Her sister looked up Tears were streaking her face

“What is it?” Holly cried, horrified

“I just got a call from Oliver,” she whispered “Stavros canceled the annuity So he’s leaving me”

“Oh, no!”

“He’sin with soive him the lifestyle he deserves”

Sitting in a nearby chair, Holly pulled Nicole into her arainst her shoulder