Share
CHAPTER 36
Related chapters
LOVE IS ENOUGH CHAPTER 1
‘Is this a joke?! What the hell is she doing here?’ Tension gripped Theo Kralidis as he stood alone on the balcony that jutted out from his cousin’s luxurious mansion. He completely ignored the iconic view of the Parthenon against the blue September sky as he scowled at the dark-haired woman at the garden party below. ‘Aundrea Etheridge… The American beauty everybody called Dea…’ His worst nightmare… His darkest, most painful secret… His stepsister… Burning hot fury ate away at him as he watched Dea glide through the crowd of Athens’s high society, talking to people like nothing ever happened… Like she was as innocent as an angel and sweet as a baby. But she wasn’t… She was a conniving little bitch and her place was somewhere else, far away from this place and from this gathering. She was like a timebomb ready to explode and wipe away the most important business deal for the Kralidis Family. Theo gave her a look fro
LOVE IS ENOUGH CHAPTER 2
‘God… Some things never change,’ Dea told herself. She flashed a friendly smile at one of the older Kralidis women. But, as expected, the old crow dressed in unrelieved black didn’t reciprocate as she drew the lovely heiress she just talked to earlier, away from the crowd, to the other side of the garden. Well… once a black sheep, always a black sheep. It was as if the Kralidis family believed she could corrupt the young woman with just her mere presence. So narrow-minded, so unbelievably quick to judge. Dea strolled along the garden, sipping from her water glass as if she didn’t feel all eyes on her. As if she didn’t feel the skin on her back burning. She was being paranoid, she knew that. Many of the relatives had been indifferent to her when she had lived in Athens. Yet no one seemed content that she had returned. And, somehow, she knew the reason of their reaction… She sensed a strange undercurrent that hung in the late summer breez
LOVE IS ENOUGH CHAPTER 3
Dea swallowed the gasp of outrage and fought the compelling need to fling the contents of her glass into his face. Damn it! Her new and improved image was already slipping. She was never in control when she was around her stepbrother. She had to get away from Theo or risk making a scene. Making a scene wouldn’t help her gain forgiveness from her father.“Don’t confuse me with the women you associate with, Theo.” Dea turned on her heel.“Running away already, Aundrea?” She whipped around, wobbling to a standstill as she glared at him. Theo had sounded disinterested and bored while she was a jittery mass of nerves. It wasn’t fair.“I don’t run away. I never had and never will. That’s your signature move, stepbrother dear, not mine.” The muscle bunching in his cheek was the only indication that her words had hit the target.“You know how to create a disaster and leave without a trace while everyone else deals with the aftermath. Th
LOVE IS ENOUGH CHAPTER 4
“Aundrea, dear, would you care for some more coffee?” Demitra Kralidis asked.“No, Demitra, thank you very much,” Dea replied as she studied her father and stepmother from across the breakfast table. What should have been an intimate meal was more of an exhausting, unnecessary interview. Well, it wasn’t like she didn’t expect that. After her awful encounter with Theo, she had been prepared for this one too. Dea wished she could spend some time with her father in private but getting him alone was proving extremely difficult. But she was determined to succeed. She was, however, making some small progress, since she was back in the Kralidis ‘fortress’, the Greek family house. She was absolutely stunned by that. Andrea had never considered it a possibility. Yet, two days after she had been invited to Alexis’s housewarming party, she was eating a late breakfast with her father and stepmother while a maid was unpacking her suitcases. How about that?!
LOVE IS ENOUGH CHAPTER 5
Sweat ran down his spine but he didn’t sound out of breath. He placed his hands on his lean hips and stretched. She was mesmerized by the play of muscles and the faint crisscross of scars that ran down his back.“I have a place of my own but I stay here when I’m in Athens.” Dea stepped in front of him, blocking his way. It was irritating that he wouldn’t deign to look at her. She inhaled his scent and felt she was about to faint. It was hot, sweaty, and... so damn manly. A blush crept up her neck and into her face. She didn’t know why it left her flustered.“And how long are you planning to stay here?” Dea asked. His nearness was almost her undoing. Her breasts felt heavy and tight and she crossed her arms against her chest.“For as long as you are, glikia mou, (Greek for ‘sweetheart’)” he replied. “I’m only here to keep an eye on you.”“Excuse me? Oh, I see it now…” Dea’s lips parted as a thought occurred to her. Her intuition had bee
LOVE IS ENOUGH CHAPTER 6
‘She’s good… She’s very good…’ Theo thought later that night. He had underestimated his stepsister. Theo considered what he had seen at the family dinner a few moments ago and scowled. Not only had Dea gained her father’s attention with the mention of an expensive gift for his upcoming birthday, but she had also excelled in the area that had consistently been her downfall. During that dinner, she had been the quintessential companion, delighting the grumpiest of his uncles and making fast friends with the younger wives and fiancées. Reluctantly, Theo kept an eye on her the entire evening, admiring Dea’s strategy. She had approached the outer circle of his family and was slowly gaining allies. But that wasn’t okay with him. He couldn’t have this. Theo leaned against the marble newel post as he watched Dea descend the staircase like she was a queen, born and raised. She had reapplied her bright red lipstick after dinner and some
LOVE IS ENOUGH CHAPTER 7
A few minutes later, Theo joined the crowd into the music room. It had taken some time to purge the thought of Ari Iraklidis and rein in his emotions. Dea had hit her mark and it appeared she had done so without any strategy. It was as though she could see through him however much he tried to dissemble. He stood by the door as he watched one of the guests, yet another heiress and family friend, play his mother’s favorite sonata on the piano. Everyone seemed spellbound by the display of technical precision but the music didn’t reach him. Rarely did anything pierce through his armor these days. Just Aundrea Etheridge. Theo frowned at that troubling thought.“Theo?” He turned and saw Astra Galanis, his cousin’s future wife. He wasn’t sure how long she had been standing there. She was quite petite, with dramatic features, and dressed just like every other female in his social circle.“I’ve been meaning to ask… What exactly is Dea to this family?”“Sh
LOVE IS ENOUGH CHAPTER 8
“You can’t do that!” Dea exclaimed and looked around. The scent of the briny ocean and the promise of rain were suddenly overwhelming. Her head began to spin as she took deep gulps of air.“I didn’t agree to this. My father is expecting me at this wedding. It will embarrass him if I unexpectedly don’t show up.”“You have no choice in the matter. I suggest you get inside before the storm hits.” She waved her hands in the air as she spluttered with outrage.“Do you honestly believe that I will just follow you? Only because you say so?” Dea reached inside her purse and grabbed her phone.“You forget that I’m not a Kralidis...”“Put that away,” Theo replied. “There is no internet or phone connection on this island.” She refused to believe him. A man as important and powerful as Theo Kralidis would have all of the latest technology. But as she held up her phone, Dea saw he was telling the truth.“People are going to worry if we don’t show up.”
Latest chapter
