“I don’t care if you’re angry with me. You can go back to the countryside when the storm lets up and never speak to me again,” he finished, waving a hand in the air again.

“May I speak now?” she insisted.

“Fine.” Justin nodded and took another large sip, but his chest was still heaving, and his dark eyes continued to flash.

“If you’re quite through, I was going to say that you’re perfectly right. I’ve been despicable and I need your help, Justin. I need you to tell me how to get him back because I’m terribly afraid it’s too late.”

Chapter Eighteen

Sebastian tossed in his bed. Punching the blasted pillow no longer worked. He was tortured. Tortured by what had happened between himself and Veronica two years ago and tortured by what had taken place in his drawing room this afternoon. He’d been a rubbish husband, allowing his wife to molder in the countryside for two years without trying to make things right. He’d made mistake after mistake with Veronica. There was no doubt about it. But in the painful silence, just after Melissa had left, he’d realized none of that mattered. Veronica knew everything now, and there was some relief in that, but it hadn’t been enough. She hadn’t said a word. Not a single bloody word. Which told him everything he needed to know. The explanation didn’t matter whether it came from him or Melissa. It would never be enough for Veronica. He understood that now. And he’d sent her away because it hurt too damn much. Only now that it was lost to him forever, did he truly realize how much he’d yearned for her love.

Obviously, Veronica had never loved him. If she had, would something as small as one lie stand in the way of their life together, their entire future? No. It was time to admit defeat. The fact was, he never should have lied to her. And now it was too late. Not only had he released her from her obligation to attend tomorrow’s ball, he would also free her from this doomed marriage. It would bring scandal on both of their families and her mother might prefer to wait until Jessica and Elizabeth made good matches before announcing the news, but Sebastian would grant Veronica a divorce if that’s what she wanted. He’d even falsely admit to adultery if that would make the thing go more easily.

His gut churned. Although he’d barely admitted it to himself, a part of him had always held onto the absurd hope that if he could somehow make her believe that he’d never been unfaithful, she’d forgive him for his single lie, and everything could go back to the way it was. Ha. What a fool he’d been. None of that mattered when she didn’t love him. Perhaps now he could finally get it through his thick skull he simply was not a man who inspired love. As if his mother, who couldn’t stand the sight of him, hadn’t made that point crystal clear his entire life.