ruining his life. Forgive me, but I don’t dare marry him.” She removed her ring and handed it to Hestia. “Please give this to him. Now I have to go.”
Hestia called to her, but she dashed out of the apartment to her car. The tears continued to gush as she drove toward Heraklion. Her phone rang, but she didn’t answer it. When she reached the hotel, she parked the car and rushed to her suite.
Once inside, she ran sobbing to her bedroom and buried her face in the pillow. When her phone rang again, she refused to answer it in case it was Takis. If he knew what she’d done by confiding in his mother, then he might never want to speak to her again.
* * *
Takis was surprised when his mother met him and his father at the back door of the apartment. “I’m so glad you’re home! Your fiancée has been trying to reach you.”
“I know. I tried to call her back, but she hasn’t answered yet.”
“I’m not sure she’s going to.”
He frowned and followed her inside to the kitchen. “What do you mean?”
She glanced at his father. “Both of you need to sit down so we can talk.”
Takis lounged against the counter, unable to sit until he knew what was going on.
“Lys came by the hotel earlier looking for you.”
Takis groaned aloud. “We went into the village to pick up the bedroom furniture you ordered and set it up at the house. I wanted it to be a surprise for her.”
His mother nodded. “While you were busy, we had a very informative talk about many things including the children’s hospitals you’ve been building. I’ll tell you everything, but first I want you to know you’re the luckiest man on earth to have found a woman who loves you so much.”
“She admitted that to you?” Takis was stunned.
“You’d be shocked what she told me.” In the next breath she related their whole conversation, leaving nothing out. After she’d finished, his father spoke first.
He stared at Takis through eyes that glistened with tears. “Your mother and I have loved you since the day you were born. We were so afraid for you after Gaia’s death, we rejoiced when Kyrie Nassos opened a new door for you. We didn’t want to say or do anything to discourage you from leaving, and we’ve never regretted that decision. You have no idea how proud we are of you.”
Takis couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Cesare had been right about everything. As for Lys...
“We’re not ready for the grave yet, son. We expect to enjoy years of life with you and the wonderful woman who loves you enough to have confided in your mother.”
Takis was so overcome with emotion, he could only hug them for a long time. After clearing his throat, he said, “Since Lys was so honest, I have something important to tell you too. You may not love me so much when you hear what I’ve done. It’s about the reason we’re engaged. Nassos left a will.”
Once his whole confession was out, silence filled the room. His father walked over and clapped him on the shoulder.
“I only have one thing to say. The fact that Kyrie Nassos thought so much of you he would give you half his hotel tells me and your mother that you’re the finest, most honorable Manolis we’ve ever known. I think all that’s left to say now is that you go find your fiancée and thank her for making this family closer than ever.”
His mother smiled. “I already love her.” She reached in her apron pocket and pulled out the engagement ring. Takis was aghast Lys had taken it off. “Give it back to her with our love.”
Takis’s heart was running away with him. He looked at his father. “Will you drive me home so I can get my car? I need to go after her before she decides to do something crazy like leave the country.”
“Where would she go?”
“To a friend of her mother’s in New York. If that’s her plan, I’ve got to stop her.”
* * *
Takis broke all speed records driving into Heraklion. It was a miracle he wasn’t pulled over. To his relief, her car was still in its space when he parked his Acura. But she could have called for a limo. There wasn’t a moment to lose.
He hurried to her suite and knocked on the door. When she didn’t answer, he phoned her. Still no response. Without a second to lose, he raced to the front office. Magda was on duty.
“Have you seen Lys this afternoon?”
“No.”
“She hasn’t left the hotel?”
“Not that I know of. Let me check with the manager.” She came right back. “No one has heard from her.”
“Then I need a card key to her room. I’m worried about her. We’re due at our engagement party.”
Magda seemed hesitant.
“Tell you what. Will you come with me and let me in?”
“Yes.” She grabbed a card key. Then she turned to the other woman manning the desk and said she’d be right back. Together they hurried to the third floor.
Magda knocked on Lys’s door and called out to her. After no response, she used the card key to let them inside.
“Lys?” Takis called her name. “It’s Takis. Are you ill?”
“What are you doing inside my suite?” sounded a familiar voice in an unfamiliar tone. He could rule out sickness. Her voice sounded strong.
Relief flooded his system that she hadn’t gone anywhere yet. He thanked Magda. “I’ll take care of this now. I promise you’re not in any trouble.”
“I’ll have to take your word for that.”
After she left, he started down the hall. “I’m coming in the bedroom, so if you’re not decent, you’d better hide under the covers.”
“I’m dressed if that’s what you mean.”
He moved inside. She looked adorable sitting on the side of her bed in a pink robe and bare feet, her face splotchy from crying.
Her purple eyes stared accusingly at him. “How did you get in here?”
“I’m part owner of the hotel, remember?” He sat down on a side chair.
“Nobody knows that.”
“Magda let me in.”
“Of course she did once you used your charm on her. She should be fired!”
“On the contrary, she passed the most important test for me by functioning in a crisis.”
“What crisis?”
“I couldn’t find you anywhere. After
