“Only because you don’t understand how Rene is using you,” Charles shot back. “I’m sure he put it in romantic terms. He probably told you he’s cared about you for a long time, and that all of this is nothing more than an excuse to get what he wanted all along.”

He was watching her closely, looking for any crack. Luckily she’d developed a thick skin or he might have seen how close he’d gotten to the truth. Of course, just because Charles said it didn’t make it less meaningful. He was seeking to twist something that was good between her and Rene.

“I’ll keep my private relationships private.”

“But I would bet anything I’m right.” Charles obviously wasn’t about to back down. “Rene likes anyone close to him to be a hundred percent loyal, and he’ll do or say anything to get that loyalty. He’s exactly like his father. When Ross Darois needed money to keep his place in the family, he married it. It’s the only reason he would ever have married Cricket Talbot.”

Anger rose hard and fast. “I think you should leave Rene’s mother out of this.”

“I wish I could, but Ross did to Cricket what Rene did to you. He used her for her money. He never loved her. If she hadn’t gotten pregnant with Rene, he would have left her the minute his position was secure. They had a prenup, you know, except it wasn’t the same as the one you have with Rene.”

“How would you know?”

“When you married Rene, you got stock. He had to prove that the stock was secure in the case of a divorce. He had to show the family his prenup. I’m the legal adviser to much of the family, so I read it.”

Rene hadn’t mentioned that to her. She’d signed it, knowing all the logical reasons for Rene to protect himself, but knowing Charles had read it gave her a queasy feeling. It was nothing more than a legal document, but it seemed awfully personal in that moment.

“Like you, Cricket had a clause where Ross got no money from her if they didn’t stay married for a certain number of years. Ross got her pregnant and that was how he trapped her,” Charles said.

“I hardly think she was trapped.”

“Have you asked her? Ross and Cricket married within a few weeks of meeting each other. Ask old Louis if he thought he would lose his girl when all he was trying to do was help a friend out.”

“And how would you know all of this?”

“Because my mother slept with Ross for years,” he said between clenched teeth. “Because she was the one Ross truly loved. She married my father when it became clear Ross wasn’t going to do right by her.”