The Conspiracy of Baby-Switching novel Chapter 74

Violet

I sip my tea as I hold the remote up to the television to turn the channel. I probably should go to bed, it's after 10 p.m., but I'm not in the least bit tired.

I hear the front step go and then a soft knock on the door. Who in the world?

I open the door in a rush to see Gabriel, he's in a navy suit and his dark cold eyes hold mine. Animosity drips from his every cell, and a frisson of fear runs through me. "Gabriel?"

"Where the fuck did you go today?" he growls.

Before i can even process what he just said he brushes past me into the house and begins to pace. He's beyond furious.

"What?" I frown.

"You heard me, don't act fucking stupid," he fumes. "Where did you have lunch today?" he sneers.

Oh shit, my lunch with Jack, I completely forgot all about that.

Right...I open my mouth to reply but he cuts me off.

"I've blown my entire fucking life to smithereens...to be with you...and here you are, going on lunch dates with another man," he growls. "What happened after lunch is what I want to know." He begins to pace with his hands on his hips, his fury palpable.

"I'm having the worst week of my entire life, and I have to worry about Ariana and work and the children, and now, to top it all off, I've had to rush all the way here to rein in my out-of-control girlfriend."

I begin to hear my angry heartbeat in my ears and I put my weight onto my back foot. "First, I'm not your girlfriend. Don't ever call me that again."

"Oh yes you fucking are." The veins in his forehead are sticking out so far, I can almost see his pulse.

"Since when?" I put my hands on my hips in disgust.

"Since Saturday night."

"What? There was no being-exclusive conversation." I screw up my face.

"We had sex, Gabriel, that's it."

"That's it?" he explodes. "That is not fucking it?"

"Calm down."

"I will not fucking calm down," he yells.

"You're going to wake up the children," I whisper angrily.

"I love you, Violet," he whispers. "I've always loved you."

Oh no...

My eyes well with tears because damn it, life is cruel. For so many years all I wanted was to hear those words, and yet, now that I do, I feel nothing.

"I'm sorry."

"What does that mean?" He frowns.

"I never wanted you to throw your life away," I whisper, unexpected emotion overwhelms me and tears well in my eyes. "I never wanted you to

feel a one-sided love. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy." His face falls as his eyes search mine.

"Gabriel... You broke something between us, and I don't..." I screw up my face in tears. "I wish I did love you...it would be so wonderful for the kids to have their parents together."

He turns away from me as the tears break the dam and run down my face.

I hate that I can't do this even for them.

"When you broke my heart, I thought I would never recover," I whisper.