Amber first denied it, then went back on her word, telling him the truth.
«Well, I don’t know yet. But I went off the pill the day after our first night of love.
«In other words, you voluntarily stopped taking them so you could get pregnant.
«Yes,” she answered in a very small voice.
«And I can easily guess why. It’s the oldest trick women have found to keep men.
This time it was too much, and Amber leapt to her feet to face the beloved monster before her.
«I forbid you to say that. I forbid you to describe our child as a vulgar trap.
«And how else do you expect me to describe him? When you were going to use him to imprison me.
«No, I wasn’t. How can you still insult me like that after having lived all those magical moments.
«So why didn’t you warn me about such an important decision? Don’t you understand that I had an absolute right to know the truth?
Amber wiped her face.
«Is it so horrible to have a child from me, with me.
Stephan turned away and took a few steps before stopping, running his hand through his unruly hair.
«That’s not the question.
«Then where is she? she shouted at the end of her rope.
He gestured haggardly.
«The problem is me.
«I don’t understand,” Amber replied softly.
«You know what my bodyguard just told me.
As Amber shook her head, Stephan laughed cynically.
«He warned me that one of Grandpa’s associates, a traitor who deserted the company after pocketing millions of our company’s funds clandestinely, has been found in Brazil, taking it easy in a five-star hotel. Grandpa had given me full responsibility for the punishment I was going to inflict on this nobody.
Amber held her breath.
«And what did you decide?
«I decided to send him to prison.
«But it’s understandable, my love. He’s made a very serious mistake and it’s only right he should go. I don’t see anything atrocious about it.
«Anton is almost grandfatherly in age.
«I can see that. But where are you going with this story? Please tell me.
He gestured with his hand, elegant and unhappy.
«I’m like that. As Nicholas so rightly said, even in anger, I’m a monster.
«No, of course you’re not. You’re not. You’re a little harsh when someone betrays or offends you. But you’re wonderful, my wonderful love, and I love you.
Stephan let out a pained groan.
«I shot Mom, Amber.
«You had to...
«Whatever the reason, I did it.
He swallowed, his eyes tortured.
«Maybe I inherited that horror that ate her up until the day she died.
«No!
And Amber threw herself into his arms, hugging him to her with all her heart.
«You decided to shoot to save your grandmother and everyone else who was there. It’s not malice, it’s not madness. You demanded this undeniable pain from your being in order to do the right thing. And after ensuring its failure, you accepted that bullet, which could have taken you away from me forever.
Amber kissed his face and neck, and concluded in a whisper.
«It’s a proof of love.
Stephan held her tightly.
«Maybe I shot, not to save others, but for myself. Maybe, in the end, I shot because I wanted to. I don’t know. I don’t know anymore.
«We don’t know if you inherited the disease from your mother. We’d have to consult specialists and do tests too. But if it’s really the case, we’ll face it together. We’ll live with it together, we’ll be happy because I can’t imagine it any other way.
They kissed again and again, then Stephan untied their mouths, holding her lovingly to him. They gazed at each other for a long, tender moment before laughing. The prince kissed her cheek and the tip of her nose.
«I really am bad, you know. I’m not going to change. I’ll always be ruthless, and I’ll hurt you, so many times you’ll end up hating me.
But Amber shook her head.
«You don’t have to worry about that. I’ll be with you for the rest of our lives, and you can be whatever you want to be with me, because my heart will never change.
He lifted her into the air and carried her into his study. A magnificent den with a large work table covered with many important papers, supplies and documents, a tiled floor covered with thick four-color carpets, and also a rosewood shelf containing various bindings and great contemporary novels.
Still holding her in his arms, he called someone and spoke again in her language. Then he hung up to call someone else, still speaking in his mother tongue, but this time in a warm, tender voice. Amber couldn’t help but kiss him.
When he finally hung up, he turned to the girl and devoured her with his green eyes.
«You’ll learn Russian and Greek, so I won’t be able to keep any secrets from you.
«All right, then.
Stephan took a deep breath.
«My first call was to my colleagues in Rio de Janeiro. I asked them not to sue Grandpa’s partner. But he should now live as a common man, not as a rich nobleman.
«Oh my love, but that’s very good.
«The second one was for Grandpa. He can’t wait to make your acquaintance. And the third was for father. He said he’d never forgive me if I didn’t come back to Greece with you from time to time.
«Darling, that’s really wonderful. You’ve rekindled your relationship with your father.
He smiled and kissed her neck.
«Today, then, I’m making an effort. But I won’t always be so affable and magnanimous, you know? Sometimes I’ll be so ruthless that you’ll tremble for weeks. Could you really live with me, knowing my possible illness and cruelty?
«Yes. But looking at things lucidly, I think I’m a monster too. So I’ll do whatever you want, and you’ve got to love me until the end of time.
They spent the day in bed, laughing, fighting and making plans for the future. They would live in America, but Stephan promised that they would visit Russia, the land of his ancestors, as well as his native Greece.
When night came, they went out on deck, and dancing to a languorous slow song, Stephan suddenly whispered into Amber’s hair.
«Raise your eyes to the sky, my love.
And when she did, fireworks exploded in the stellar night. And soon there appeared a sentence written in a glittering streak.
“Amber will you marry me?”
Speechless, she only let Stephan kiss her and put a ring on her finger. A magnificent antique piece, adorned with an opal as blue as her eyes.
«I love you, Amber.
She gazed into the eyes of her eternal love.
«No one will ever take this moment away from me. I finally know.
ns216.73.216.17da2
and then Add to home screen.