Chapter Twenty-Two

HEATHER WAS DEVASTATEDto find out from Valerian that he had already made arrangements for his divorce. But the pain she felt at that time was nothing compared to the way her own heart broke when she visited Poppy in her apartment.

"I'm so sorry, Poppy."

"I just don't understand what happened," Poppy whispered. "It was like he just suddenly stopped...wanting me."

"Did he find out—"

Poppy shook her head. "I didn't even get around to telling him about that. He just—he just came home to t-tell me it was over."

Heather couldn't remember feeling so helpless as she watched her sister break down in tears.

"I know he has every right to do this," Poppy choked out. "I know I can't force myself on him. All I want right now is to just s-stop. I just want to stop being so sad. I can't seem to stop being sad, Heather, and I just want it to stop."

Heather's own eyes burned with tears as she wrapped her arms around Poppy.

How, God?

How could she tell Poppy that she had gotten it all wrong?

It was heartbreak and not sadness that was tearing Poppy into pieces.

But Valerian had hurt his wife so, so much that Poppy didn't even know she was broken.

****

VALERIAN'S CHEST FELTimpossibly tight as he waited to see if his grandfather would come down and meet him. Over a decade had passed since he had walked out of this place. But the moment he came back, memories immediately flooded his mind, and it was like he had never left at all.

The familiar thud of his grandfather's walking stick had Valerian abruptly rising to his feet.

"Hello, Gramps."

A part of him expected Samuel's reaction to range from angry to awkward, but the older man did neither.

"Welcome back, son."

And before he knew what was happening, his grandfather had already pulled Valerian into his arms, and it was like coming home after being lost for a fucking eternity.

When Samuel let go, Valerian's eyes were stinging, and his grandfather looked as if he had something in his eye as well.

"I'm sorry," Valerian said rawly.

"I'm the one who should say that."

One look at Samuel's eyes was enough. It was obvious that Heather had long told their grandfather the truth, and equally obvious was how Samuel had also known of the hurt and anger Valerian had nursed against him all these years.

"I'm so damn sorry, son," Samuel choked out. "I didn't know how much you were suffering. I didn't know at all."

It was Valerian's turn to wrap his arms around his grandfather's, and no other words were needed.

Samuel invited him to stay for dinner, and it was when they had moved to the library for coffee that his grandfather asked him outright if there was something he wanted to say.

"Have I always been this easy to read?" Valerian asked with a grimace.

Samuel shook his head. "On the contrary, you did not show any emotion growing up. But you've changed, Valerian," his grandfather said simply. "And for the better, too."

"I'm not sure about that, to be honest. And especially in light of what I'm about to ask you."

Samuel's expression turned sober. "This is about your company's investment in Risto?"

"I'm afraid so. And I want you to know, Gramps...it won't be like before. I've prepared all the paperwork. All the projections you need to see. But if you still think you can't loan me the money—"

"It's yours."

Valerian could only stare at his grandfather. Was the old man pranking him?

"I wanted to help you from the start, but I didn't think you'd accept it."

"I was a stubborn and proud fool for a very long time," Valerian admitted roughly.

"You and me both, son. But at least we now know better..."

Valerian frowned at the way his grandfather's voice awkwardly trailed off. "What is it?"

"I don't want there to be any lies between us."

"I don't want that either," Valerian assured the older man.

Samuel shook his head. "This is about me, not you. I want to be completely honest with you."

The way his grandfather's voice turned taut bemused him. "Whatever it is, I'm sure it's not that bad—"

"I didn't think it was at first, to be honest. But with what's happened lately..." Samuel heaved a sigh. "I met your wife a few weeks ago. She agreed to help me, and we decided that I could act as some anonymous benefactor who was more than willing to loan you ten billion dollars."

Valerian could feel himself growing white as he listened to his grandfather's words. "That was you?" he asked hoarsely.

"You didn't know then?"

Valerian felt sick. "I..."

Samuel's expression looked at him in alarm. "What is it? What's wrong?"

"I'm sorry, Gramps...I just...I have to go, I'm sorry."

The flight back to New York was a complete blur. All he knew was that he had to talk to his sister as soon as possible, and when he finally burst inside her office like a madman—

"Do you know where Poppy is?"

Heather looked at her unsmilingly. "Why do you ask? You've already asked for a divorce—"

"I fucked up, Heather."

He told her everything in an expressionless voice, and his sister looked just as sick as he felt when he was done.

"Valerian, you idiot. You should never have doubted her in the first place," she cried out.

"You think I still don't know that?" he gritted out. "I owe her, Heather. I owe her everything, so the sooner you can tell me where she is—"

"I can't."

"What do you mean you fucking can't?" Valerian snarled. "She's my wife—"

"And you broke her," Heather cried out. "You broke her, Valerian. Do you hear me?" And despite her best efforts, Heather couldn't stop herself from breaking down as well. "You b-broke her."

Valerian stared blindly at his sister.

Poppy.

He could picture her so damn easily in his mind.

I'm so fucking sorry, Poppy.

He remembered how she had stared at him like she could no longer understand anything. Remembered how she had started to cry as he turned and walked away.

And he wanted to kill himself.