Wronged (Book 1)

  ***

  After Drew left, Marian returned to the parlor where she read the letter again. She wanted to believe him so much, but fear held her in its grasp more firmly than ever before. And if she made the wrong decision, she would have to live with the result for the rest of her life. That could be a long time and she’d already made one wrong choice regarding marriage and love. What if she made another?

  She sat there remembering the way he’d been good to her children, the way he’d made love to her that first time, soothing her fears. She remembered how he’d finally begun to teach her the shipping business, the impromptu baseball game with Philip, the picnic in her office, the trip to his family home, and all the little things that made her laugh. From the very first he’d been kind to her, while lying repeatedly regarding the business. The business seemed to be his Achilles’ heel and he’d just given it to her.

  If it were possible, she’d sell the business and they could start something new, but that wouldn’t be fair to Philip and she wanted so much to give the business to her son.

  Claire entered the parlor. “Edward said you had a visitor. Who was it?”

  “Drew Soulier, my attorney,” Marian said staring into space, the weight of everything seeming to pile upon her, immobilizing her.

  “Is everything all right?” Claire asked, concern filling her voice.

  “No,” Marian said, and handed her the letter from Louis.

  Claire sank to the settee beside Marian and read the missive.

  No matter how much Marian tried, she still found it hard to believe that he’d just given her the business.

  “Oh, Marian,” she said, her voice filled with sympathy. “What are you going to do?”

  “He gave me the business, Claire. He outright gave me the business, which means he’s sacrificing everything for me,” she said, her voice filled with all the emotion whirling inside her.

  “Is it legal? Can he just give you a business?”

  “Yes, Drew assured me that everything was in order. That Cuvier Shipping is all mine,” she said feeling so alone. “Louis’s dream of buying the other company is gone. What do I do?” she asked Claire. “Do I just accept his gift or do I go to Louis?”

  Claire sat silent for a few moments, her face contemplative. “I can’t answer that question, Marian. You’re the only one who can. But I will say that not many men would just give away a business they had invested so much in.”

  Marian nodded her head.

  “I know,” she said, her voice wavering. “He wants me back. I love him, but I’m so afraid.”

  “I think your fear is understandable. You’ve been hurt. You’re afraid to gamble on a man who has not always been honest with you. But what does your heart tell you?”

  “It wants to give him another chance. But I don’t think I could take it if he hurt me again.”

  “So are you ready to crawl away and become a dried up widow who never risks her heart?” Claire asked. “What happens in five to ten years from now when the children are all grown up and you’re alone? Will you regret not giving him one last possibility of love again?”

  “Oh, Claire, I don’t know.” She took a deep breath and sighed. “I’m tired of being hurt by the men in my life. I need to believe that he will love me for the rest of our lives. I need to believe he will be honest with me.”

  “Whatever you decide, don’t make the decision based on fear. Make your decision based on love.”

  Marian glanced at her sister suddenly. “Are we talking about me or you here?”

  Claire’s eyes filled with pain. “I don’t want you to make the same mistake I made. Go to him.”

  Marian sat there on the settee, her heart aching with sadness. She loved Louis more than she’d ever thought she could love again, but she was afraid. Yet he wouldn’t have sacrificed his dream of owning a sugar mill, if his love for her wasn’t serious. But could she get over her fear of being hurt and accept his love once again?

  The only way to find out the truth would be to go and speak with him. Drew said he was at Belle Fournet. She would go there and talk with him and see what her heart said to her.

  “You’re right. I can’t go to Virginia until I’ve spoken with him. Tomorrow, I’m going to his parents’ plantation. I need to see him and let my heart decide if I can trust him ever again. I need to see if I can give him one more chance to be honest with me,” Marian said, slowly rising from the settee.

  She was so afraid, but she knew her heart would never heal, unless she spoke with him and then she could decide whether to give love another opportunity.