Page 52 of The Billionaire's Secret Wife
“We were bad for each other. By the time I realized this, it was too late. There were three children, and I couldn’t leave.”
Vanessa tapped the table with a fingernail. The infamous Pryce prenup meant her mother would have lost custody of her children, and that wasn’t something she would have risked.
“For a time I thought things might change if he realized the prenup had nothing to do with my decision to stay, but…we just weren’t meant to be,” Ceinlys added.
“Love isn’t enough, is it?”
“No.” Ceinlys reached over and held Vanessa’s hand. “You’re a smart girl, so maybe what I’m about to tell you is superfluous, but…” Something in Ceinlys’s eyes shifted, grew hard. “Never forget you have to protect yourself. Don’t ever let yourself be in a position where you have to depend on somebody else for your happiness and fulfillment in life. Don’t ever let emotions cloud your judgment and make you see things that aren’t there. I don’t want you to have the kind of life that I had. I want you to be free and happy.”
Vanessa laid her other hand over her mother’s. “Are you free and happy?”
Ceinlys’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. “Soon, dear. Soon I will be.”
* * *
Salazar drained another glass of whiskey. The home office was dark except for the light on the desk. It illuminated his mother’s portrait. Shirley Pryce had been a harshly beautiful woman with a mind that stayed sharp to the very end. The artist had put a small curve to her lips and softened the lines around her eyes. A complete lie. Shirley Pryce had never smiled easily, and her eyes had always been hard and vigilant.
“You wanted your grandkids to marry well. And gue…guess what? Vanessa snagged Justin Sterling! Can you believe it?” He toasted his mother. “Amazing what that girl can do, eh? Despite your worries about her ‘over-education’.”
He staggered over to the liquor cabinet. “S’pose I should call and congratulate Vanessa,” he mumbled. “But that would take energy.” Ever since Ceinlys had hired Samantha Jones, Salazar hadn’t been able to focus on anything.
Why now? He couldn’t figure it out. Did she think he’d change his mind about the prenup? Or was it something else?
It was really too bad the best liquors in his cabinet couldn’t help him. Because he’d do anything to numb the bitter ball of panic in his gut.
Chapter Fifteen
His hands still on the keyboard, Justin took another look at his phone. Vanessa hadn’t called him back or returned his texts about their weekend getaway to Mexico. Maybe she was occupied doing the busywork her partners had given her. Even though it was clearly bullshit, she dedicated herself to the work, just like always. He appreciated that about her, even though her work ethic could be annoying from time to time.
When his phone rang, he answered immediately. “Justin Sterling.”
“Holy shit, you dog!”
He made a face. “Nate?”
“You married Vanessa Pryce? And you didn’t tell me when I asked you why you were flying to L.A. so much?”
“What are you talking about?” Justin flipped through all the possibilities in his mind. “Who told you that?”
“Barron. He had his assistant send out a text blast to everyone in the family just now. He said he’d already gone to L.A. personally to welcome her into the family.”
His stomach dropped like somebody had disemboweled him. “You’ve gotta be kidding. When did he go?”
“This morning.”
Justin bit back a curse. “How did he find out?”
“Unlike your erstwhile brother, Barron is a suspicious bastard. He probably checked on why you were flying back and forth between San Francisco and L.A. so much. I told you to watch your expenses.”
“Damn it.” Justin gritted his teeth, thinking shit shit shit. “Okay, thanks. Gotta go.” He hung up. No wonder Vanessa hadn’t contacted him. She was probably furious right now. He tried her number again, but it went to voice mail. He tried the next person on his list.
“How are you doing, Justin? I hear the doctor gave you a clean bill of health, but I don’t know if I can trust it.”
Justin reined in his temper at the droll tone. “Barron, what did you do?”
“Be more specific. I’ve done a lot of things in my life.
Actually you can hang up now. I’m right outside your office.”
