After breakfast, I decide to listen to Catherine, so I walk around the house. I’m slow and hesitant, but I manage, and as the hour goes by, it gets a little easier. This house is incredible and almost indescribable. It’s one of the largest homes in the state. I read an article about it when I was seeing Liam. It’s been in the family since the Louisiana Purchase. Over the years, the families have added on to it, making it more modern, but from what I can tell, it’s only the bathrooms and kitchen that have been totally modernized. All the main rooms and living quarters are a twist of historical elements with some modern touches. The outside is majestic in appearance, the old oak trees give it an old-world charm. Then I see the swimming pool and veranda that brings in modern tastes; the old and the new are beautifully paired. It makes me wonder if they all still live here.

I hear a sound from behind me that makes me jump. I pat my chest when I realize it’s only Fallon.

“Avery, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. I need to be more careful. Are you all right?”

I see one of her hands over her heart and one over her belly. “Yes, I’m fine. It looks like I scared you, too.”

She waves me off. “I’ve been hoping to see you out and about. Can we talk?”

She walks to the outside living room, and I follow. We sit as she starts. “Look, I know you probably have questions concerning what Catherine meant by your training. But I need to tell you about some of my past for that to happen. I hope you can understand some of it will be hard for me.”

I nod.

“When I was eighteen, Catherine found me in a very bad part of the city. I was a scared teenage girl with no hope and no future. She offered me a chance to get out of my dire situation, and I took it. She trained me for years. She had me educated, had me learn all proper etiquette, she even had me taught on how to dress to look classy and elegant. The biggest thing she taught me was the art of seduction.”

Art of seduction? What the hell does that mean, and why?

Fallon laughs. “I see that look on your face of what the hell? I know it sounds strange, but I thank God every day that she found me. Without her guidance, I wouldn’t have this life or my love. I was a nobody going nowhere. I wanted more, and she showed me how.”

I really am not ready to start talking to people yet, but I know I have to start making an effort other than just a passing few words. So, I ask, “I don’t mean to be disrespectful, but why? Why would she help a stranger like that?”

“None taken. I wondered the same thing for a long time. Originally, she said she wanted me for her son Gabriel. I was training to be able to seduce him and make him marry me.”

I forget all my fears about verbal conversation when she says that. It is insane.

“What?”

She laughs. “You have no idea. That’s a long story, though.” She gets serious now. “What’s important is the part Catherine left out. I learned my mother was her best friend growing up. When they were older, Catherine tried to help get her off the streets by taking her in, but then she got sold to…the senator by Catherine’s husband.”

I can’t believe what I’m hearing. Her mother was taken by the same man who took us.

“The senator took my mother and made her his slave, just like he did with you. When Catherine found her, she was broken down, beaten beyond recognition. She never truly recovered, but this is the part I need you to know. When she was found, she was pregnant with…me.”

“Oh my God, you’re Senator Rollins daughter?”

“Yes, he kidnapped me when he found out who I was. He said he couldn’t have me roaming the Earth to be his living disgrace. He told me I was nothing more than a whore’s daughter and he wouldn’t let me destroy his life. He sold me off to another man named Dicky Shaw. He is supposedly worse than him. Luckily, my husband and my family found me before I was picked up. We found you, too.”

Fallon starts crying. “I’m so sorry, Avery, that he did that to you. I cried many nights, telling Gabriel how guilty I feel because of who I am to him. Please, can you forgive me?”

I start to cry, too. “Fallon, I don’t look at you and see him. It’s not your fault. Your mother and you were his victims, too.”

I grab her hand. “You know, Fallon, I had given up hope, thinking one day he was going to kill me. Hell, I prayed he would kill me. I gave up fighting him; that’s one of the hardest things I’ll have to forgive myself for. I just gave up. Until I heard them bring you in. I was so scared for you. With you there, it gave me a reason to fight. That’s when I started screaming again and fighting them. I thought if I fought them the way he wanted me to, then maybe I could take him away from hurting you. I was more scared for you than I was for myself. Damn, what does that say about me? That I cared more for a stranger than I cared for myself. I have a lot to figure out.”

“Avery, it means you’re brave and selfless. It shows me you have a huge heart. A heart that needs to be filled.”

“Well, it shows me Catherine’s right, I need to work on myself.”

“Catherine is always right. It makes me sick sometimes.”

We both stop crying and start laughing. It feels good to laugh again; it’s been so long.

“Avery, will you talk to me about Liam?”

“Liam, why?”

“Because I know he loves you, and I was hoping you could tell me about the two of you.”

“Liam doesn’t love me, Fallon. He never did. What we did have is long gone, and there’s no reason to talk about it. I’m grateful to you and your family, including Liam, but there is nothing there.”

“That’s interesting.”

“What’s interesting, Fallon?”

“I’m going to tell you something. I probably shouldn’t, but I don’t think you will try to hurt my family, or even Liam. If you do, Avery, I’ll come after you. They are my world now, and I will be selfish and protect them. Do you understand?”

Well, sweet Fallon just showed her claws, and it was effective. “Yes, I understand. I wouldn’t do anything to hurt any of you.”

“When we found you, Avery, Liam recognized you right away. He ran to you and tried to calm you. You were like an animal at that point, and you didn’t know who he was. He went into a rage. He waited until I got you out of there then he went to the other room where the guards were and shot them both in their heads. He killed them.”

What? “NO! Liam wouldn’t do that. He’s not capable of hurting anyone.”

“But he did, Avery.”

I shake my head aggressively. “Why would he do that?”

Fallon reaches over and grabs my wrist, then looks straight into my eyes. “He killed them for you, Avery, because they hurt you.”

She releases my wrist and clears her throat. “I don’t know what happened between the two of you, but I know that man would’ve never done that unless he was in love. If that’s not enough of a reason for you to understand, then how about the nights?”

I’m left in shock. Liam killed those men. I cannot begin to fathom the Liam I knew would kill anyone. I start finding it hard to breathe. I can’t begin to understand how…wait, what nights?

“Fallon, what are you talking about? What nights?”

She smiles and says, “Avery, Liam doesn’t live here anymore, but since you’ve been here, he comes every night and sleeps in that chair, the one in the corner of your room. He has not left your side. Every day we pretend we don’t know, and every night he comes and leaves in the morning. Now that’s love.”

I think about what she’s telling me, and it clicks. I thought I would hear him at night, trying to soothe me, telling me I was safe now and he would never let anyone hurt me again, and I heard him calling out to me. I thought I was dreaming. Just like I dreamed of him and our past, so I wouldn’t dream of the hell I just went through. I wasn’t dreaming his words, though, they were real; he’s been there the whole time.

“Fallon, does Catherine know? Is this why she’s helping me?”

“I don’t know if that’s the reason she’s helping you. But yes, Catherine knows he loves you. Everyone knows.”

Fallon gets up and walks away. I can’t help crying for Liam. Did I turn him into a killer? I am so filled with regret and anguish. We are definitely not the young, carefree people we once were. Then I can’t help wondering about everything she just said about love. Liam might think he loves me like he did before until he realizes, like before, he doesn’t. I promised myself I wouldn’t fall for him again, and I won’t. I can’t allow myself to feel this way. He might have killed those men to help me out, but I can’t allow him back in my life. I start drying my tears, then I wonder if that’s why Catherine’s doing this. Is she helping me because of Liam? I have to find her and tell her if she is helping me for Liam, it won’t work. I don’t love Liam anymore, and I will never allow him back in my life.

I search the house until I find her in her office. I rush in and get straight to the point.

“Catherine, are you doing this because you think Liam loves me?”

She swivels in her chair, debating my question. “I don’t think, Avery. I know Liam loves you. But no, I am not helping you for him. I’m doing it for you. If you want my help, it’s here for you to take. As far as Liam and you are concerned, I don’t care. Let me ask you, Avery, do you love my son?”

“I did once, but no, I don’t anymore. I hate him, Catherine. So, if you think I’m going to run into his arms, you’re crazy.”

“Well, I’m not crazy. But I think you’re lying, and that’s fine. Do what you want with my son. Now, do you want my help?”

“Yes.”

“Then I’ll see you for lunch. Please close my door on your way out.”