Shock turned into numbing self-protection when, upon waking up alone in the master suite the next day, I learned from Sophia that Ax had left. That he’d left instructions for Andreos and I to return to Athens alone.

As if the staff knew things had changed drastically, from the moment we walked through the front door of the Athens villa the atmosphere seemed altered. The only one who thankfully remained oblivious was Andreos. Having mastered the art of rolling over, he was now determined to conquer sitting up in record time, and thus provided the only source of delight in the house.

In a bid to make the most of whatever time I had with him, before Ax returned, I all but banished poor Sophia as I greedily devoured every precious second.

Two days turned to three.

Then four.

And then came the news from the housekeeper that Ax was expected mid-afternoon.

The urge to delay my exit, to see his face one last time, pummelled me. But, knowing I couldn’t delay the inevitable, I booked my flight to Switzerland. The bag I’d hastily packed while Andreos napped stood like a silent omen at the foot of my bed.

‘The car’s waiting, kyria,’ Sophia informed me, her face wreathed in worry.

Unchecked tears streamed down my face as I leaned down and brushed my lips over Andreos’ plump cheek. ‘Promise me you’ll look after him?’ I managed through a clogged throat.

Sophia’s anxious gaze searched mine. ‘I... I promise. But, kyria—’

I shook my head, knowing I’d break down if this was prolonged. ‘That’s good enough for me. Thank you, Sophia.’

Bag in hand, I hurried out, flew down the stairs to the waiting car. Blind with tears, I didn’t register his presence until the car was pulling away.

‘I will allow those tears for now, pethi mou. But for what comes next I’ll need that formidable resilience I’ve come to know and adore.’

CHAPTER TEN

‘AXIOS! WHAT...WHAT are you doing here?’

His face was as gaunt and ashen as the last time I’d seen it. But in his eyes purpose and determination blazed in place of horrified anguish.

Even so, the sight of him shook me, his presence unearthing a cascade of emotions through me.

When he didn’t answer, when all he seemed to want was to absorb every inch of my face, I tried again. ‘I thought you’d gone...that I’d never see you again.’

His chest heaved in a mighty exhalation. ‘I had to go,’ he replied gruffly.

Despair and disappointment slashed me wide open. ‘Oh. I understand.’

He gave a grating self-deprecating laugh that was chopped off halfway through. ‘Do you? Do you understand how utterly useless and powerless I felt? How I had to walk away because I knew I’d failed you again?’

‘What? Why would you—?’

‘We will dissect that later. But for now...’ my breath caught as his thumb brushed away my tears, ‘...it’s tearing me apart to see these tears,’ he grated roughly.