‘Ness, honey, I already do. Wren is my best friend, and Ty is my little dude. I love all three of you – you’re the family that I always dreamed of having. I couldn’t ask for anything more. I give you my word that I will always be a loving father to them.’ It was exactly what she needed to hear. ‘Now can I give you your ring?’

She nodded, happier than she’d ever been. Who would have thought she would be accepting a marriage proposal? Obviously Billy had been waiting for the right time.

He slid the small princess-cut diamond in a platinum setting onto her finger.

‘It’s gorgeous,’ she said softly, admiring it before wrapping her arms around him, looking into his eyes. ‘I love you, Billy.’

‘I love you too, Ness. I’ve been waiting for this day for so long.’

Vanessa was 100 percent positive that marrying Billy was the right thing to do. Now she just had to convince Mark to sign the divorce papers. She knew that he wouldn’t do them on his own; he’d drag his heels until she died of old age. Vanessa wanted to marry Billy and only Mark stood in her way.

Billy left, looking mighty pleased with himself. As soon as he drove away, Vanessa locked up, put up the ‘Back in fifteen minutes’ sign and quickly walked to the bar where she assumed Mark was, since he had been wearing his standard work clothes. She went up to the counter where she found him cleaning glasses. ‘What the fuck do you want?’ he hissed, ‘and where’s your fucking bodyguard?’

‘I wanted to talk to you by myself. You need to sign the divorce papers. Now. We need to finish this once and for all. It’s been going on for thirteen years and to be honest, we hate each other.’ She swallowed, waiting for him to explode. She was acutely aware of the people sitting further down at the end of the bar. Would they step in and help her if things escalated?

‘I don’t want to sign them.’

‘And why the hell not?’ She bit back.

‘Because you are mine, you have been since you crawled into the back of my van and spread your legs.’

‘Fucking hell, Mark. Do you have to always be like this? I’m not yours, actually, I’m engaged. To Billy.’ She lifted up her hand and showed him the ring. The finger that he’d never actually put a ring on. Not that it mattered now anyway. She was engaged to the most amazing man.

He looked at the sparkler on her finger. Anger flashed across his face and settled in his eyes. ‘Not even divorced yet and already engaged – you’re such a slut, Vanessa. I knew I could have you anytime, Maggie or no Maggie. You wanted it, but you’ll fuck up his life just as you did mine.’