And now Diana was truly incredulous. Was he really going down this route? Could he not see that she was giving him an opportunity to redeem himself in one small way and tell her a truth she’d always known? But he would continue to treat her as if she were a halfwit, pile lie on top of lie and ruin Jason’s life, Karla’s life, in order to substantiate those lies and save his own miserable skin. Unbelievable. ‘You bastard,’ she said, shaking her head.

He pulled in a long breath, his nostrils flaring, and got to his feet. ‘On the basis that you’re obviously upset, I’m going to overlook that, Diana,’ he said, his voice tight with suppressed rage. ‘But please do not ever call me—’

‘I know!’ Diana took a step towards him, eyeballing him furiously.

He scanned her eyes, his ridiculous bluster faltering for a second. Then, ‘Know what, exactly?’ he said flatly.

He was bluffing. Waiting for her to spit it out. Diana could see the uncertainty in his eyes. Smell his fear. He knew damn well what.

‘You’ve gone too far,’ she said evenly. ‘And this time, I will see that you pay.’ Dragging her gaze disdainfully over him, she turned to walk away.

‘Know what?’ Robert shouted after her. ‘Diana! Fuck!’

Diana heard the loud crash behind her, meaning that he’d taken his frustration out on whatever was closest to hand. Of course, he would then blame anyone and everyone for causing his frustration. Robert rarely felt that he was to blame for losing his temper, for any damage he caused, be it emotional or physical. For that, he would need to have a conscience. And a man who sailed through life, destroying anyone who might pose a threat to his business or his reputation – even his own children – clearly did not.

Diana didn’t consider herself a vengeful person, but her fervent wish was that one day Robert might discover he did have a conscience. She wished more fervently that by then it would be too late. That he would already be on his way to the gates of hell.

Thirty-Four

JASON