CHAPTER 30

          A self-condemning twist formed at Nikolas’s mouth.

“That was for my future wife’s benefit, apparently, not mine. You see, my mother brought no money to her marriage, only her position in society, which my father did not have, being ‘new’ money. Once he’d married her, he acquired her status, and so, after I was born, since she could have no more children, she became… dead weight. She didn’t want that for my wife.”

          His mouth tightened, and Nikolas looked at her straightly.

“We, Adamos, haven’t been a happy family. There has been misery and bitterness and anger and hatred and betrayal. But now it ends. I won’t bring that ugly heritage into our marriage.”

          His expression changed, lightened.

“What I