Page 78 of Secret Bet

His jaw tightened like he was trying to hold himself together, as he shook his head. "Idon'tknow."

Her eyes misted to cry for him, but she tried to give him an understanding nod. "What don'tyouknow?"

He jerked to his feet to isolate himself. "If she lives through this, then she'll want to speak to me. I don't want to causehermorepain."

She fumbled for her words as she stayed in her seat to let him pace. When he stopped, she stroked her own throat as she asked, "Peter, what are yousaying?"

His hands clenched as his body tightened. "I don't know if I canforgiveher."

She didn't say anything for a few minutes. He paced, but then he sunk back onto the couch beside her with his shoulders pushedinto the cushion. She curled her legs beside him, but didn't sayanything.

His hands eventually patted her leg. "Do you think I'mhorrible?"

She wished she could alleviate this for him. He was so used to total control but had no idea how to open up to hisfamily.

She petted his leg. "No. You'reinpain."

He sat and stared into her eyes like she was a mythical priestesswith all the answers. "How do I stop feeling like I leteveryonedown?"

She never had answers when it came to emotional stuff. She worried if she didn't help him, though, he'd be in an endless cycle of pain. He deservedbetter.

She licked her lips as her heart led her words. "Sometimes we all have tomoveon."

He narrowed his gaze. "What doesthatmean?"

She met hisstare and realized she had to speak up. This was what she'd do. This was how she had accepted her stepmother into her life after years of being the only girl in thehouse.

She tilted her head and said, "She's in your life again. You don't have to be close. It might be easier for you if you go and say 'hello, how are you doing?' Let her see that you're there and be polite. That was whatworked for me, and eventually I liked my stepmother well enough. She makes my dadhappy."

His shoulders slumped and he averted his gaze. "I don't know if I candothat."

She handed him his shirt, which had still been on the floor with his pants. Then she straightened out his pants. "Why not? You have everythingyouneed."

He took the pants from her and laid them beside himwith his shirt. He then stared at the ocean again as he said, "I was on the stairs as she stormed out of the house. Earlier, before the fight, she had laid Vicki down in the crib and kissed her forehead. I followed her that night. As she fought with Dad, I sat there waiting for her. She flew past me with her arms clenched at her sides and threw open the door. I spent years wishing she had taken mewithher."

With a heavy nod, her chest ached for him. She wasn't sure how she'd be any different if the roles were reversed. She sighed. "Youdid?"

He shook his head and didn't look away from the waves the ship made in the water. "Then I spent my entire adult lifehatingher."

She had to phrase this right so she did not upset him, and hoped he'd see the situation in a betterlight. "What about your father, Peter? I've heard unkind things from all of you, but I don't know what he didtoyou."

His shoulders were still tight, but he turned to her. His face was etched in a heavy load he had borne all his life. "I was to take the reins of Morgan Enterprises after he left, and rule the House of Morgan as hesawfit."

The House of Morgan seemed a horrible wayto phrase family. She narrowed her gaze. "What doesthatmean?"

He blinked and then stared at the floor and counted on his fingers. "To quote a few things from my dad said, let's see...to not think with my heart about anything other than work. To ensure the success of Morgan Enterprises above even my own health. To not let family ever get in the way of what's best for myself. And you don'twant to get me started on how I'm to view women. Mitch Morgan was a spoiled, bitter man who always got whatever hewanted."

She held her breath. She now believed his mother. No father should talk like that to his own son. Her hands clenched like she might fight hisfathertoo.

"So you believe he could have kidnapped your mother thatnight?"

For a long while he didn't say anything.The ship continued to sail away from Miami. Then he slumped his shoulders. "I absolutely believe that. As I said, I hated her for leaving methere."

She licked her lips. It was time for him to go. She rubbed her arms and then stared at the phone. "Peter, turn the shiparound."

The couch shifted beside her as he moved. He walked to the phone, but as he picked it up, he said, "Okay,but, Belle. When I'm done at the hospital, can I come to yourhotelroom?"

Her heart swelled. She nodded her head and offered a weak smile. "Absolutely."

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