Julian froze.

He looked at the glimmer of tears in Francesca’s eyes, at the way she seemed so deeply hurt, and a jolt of realization struck him—she cared far more than she let on.

She wasn’t as tough as she pretended to be.

She was only twenty-seven, and yet she’d stayed by his side, enduring everything they’d been through together. He owed Francesca far too much, so much it would take more than this lifetime to repay.

And yet, ...