Chapter 56

Her throat was closing on her and her vision was blurring. She really didn’t want to cry in front of him, not anymore, but if she didn’t get the door closed fast that was exactly what was going to happen and her humiliation would be complete.

His words echoed over and over again in her mind and she wanted to hold on to them. But how could she? She would have given anything to believe him. To hear those words and hold them close. Instead, she said, “How can I believe you, Cedric?”

Sorrow glimmered in his eyes and his mouth tightened into a hard, flat line.

“I know and I’m sorry. Sorrier than you realize. As I said, I made mistakes. But loving you isn’t one of them, Anna. You have to believe me. You have to know that what I feel is real. I want to stay married to you… Forever.” He laughed shortly. “There’s a sentence I never thought I’d hear myself say to anyone.”

She shivered and fought to keep her tears from falling. “Stop. Please.”

“No,” he told her si