52

Stefan

She thought she loved me.

Moriarty's rage was real. His hatred for me, it was because I was my father's son. He didn't care about the money he felt he was owed. That didn't matter. What he wanted was the decimation of my family. Because that was the only way he could have his revenge. Revenge against my mother for not having chosen him. Revenge against my father for being the one she had loved. The one she had chosen.

He wanted the house, the land, to destroy it.

I knew now he would stop at nothing. My life, it was forfeit. But hers? I couldn't let him destroy her because of me.

I watched Veronica's sweet face, her trusting, innocent, hopeful eyes. She believed she loved me. The thing was, the moment she'd said it, I'd known it too. I'd loved her for a long time now.

And that was exactly why I had to let her go.

I hardened my face and stood.

She remained kneeling at my feet.

"There's just one problem, Veronica. I don't love you." How my voice carried the power it did, I had no