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‘Neither of us experienced it as a child,’ Lorenzo said, ‘but that is why this arrangement can work for us I know you want Erow up in a stable environment’

‘I know that I would never abandon reen surface of the pond reflected in her eyes, ‘but how do I know I can trust you?’

Lorenzohow intensely she was coo for Eht equally hard for her own children

Lorenzo’s ht for hi chip in a massive divorce settle like that?

Suddenly he found his thoughts hurtling back to his childhood—to a tiht that he had blotted out of histhe hurt, disappointment and confusion as acutely as the day his mother walked out

He shook his head sharply, and focused on Chloe again Her face was pale and worried, and he knehat she was thinking

‘I get it,’ he said, his eyes boring down into hers ‘You’re scared I’ to leave you It’s happened to you before—first your father, then your mother and sister Even…’ He hesitated, reluctant to upset her more, but he had to make his point ‘Even your best friend left you’

Chloe sed, the lu it painful, and blinked back tears How did he know her so well—yet so little at the same time?

‘I’ to leave you,’ Lorenzo said ‘That’s the beauty of this arrangement’

‘But…what about when someone else catches your eye?’ Chloe asked A dark shadow moved across Lorenzo’s face and she knew she had offended him with her comment, but she had to carry on—her future was at stake ‘You don’t love me—what happens when you meet someone you do love?’

‘Be careful what you say,’ Lorenzo said through gritted teeth ‘Don’t forget what happened You are the one who left—the one who abandoned this relationship’

‘It wasn’t like that,’ she protested

‘Even though you thought you loved me,’ Lorenzo said, ‘even then—with your own fear of abandon—you left Not me’

‘That was different,’ Chloe said ‘I’d just found out you didn’t love me’

‘Do you still love me?’ Lorenzo asked