Trust: Betrayed Read Online Free PDF Page B

it.”
    “So there is nothing wrong with Sophia? No cardiovascular-”
    Sophia exploded into laughter and put a hand over her mouth as Alistair scolded her, “I’m worried about you and you laugh at me?”
    “I’m sorry,” she said, struggling to compose herself, putting a soothing hand over his. “I told you there was nothing wrong with me.”
    “Sophia is a very healthy woman, Alistair. There isn’t anything wrong with her. Apart from her hypotension, she is my healthiest patient.”
    “Hmm,” he ran two fingers over his square jaw, thoughtfully, and looked from John’s face to Sophia’s. “If you say so... Could this hypotension have caused her fainting?”
    “Good question,” John mused, tapping his fingers on the desk. “Maybe. But I think it’s unlikely since she doesn’t have any other related symptom.”
    “And how low is it?”
    “Low. Ninety over fifty. But it seems normal for her, because she doesn’t feel the effects a person with so-called normal blood pressure would feel when it’s this low. So that’s how we have to look at it. It’s low, but to her, it’s normal. And I’d rather have a hypotensive patient than a hypertensive one. I’ve been her doctor since she arrived in London and she was here a month ago, for her regular check-up. There’s nothing wrong with her.”
    “What is she using for contraception?”
Now. Alistair Connor, you don’t need to know that. Ask if she is clean and how often she gets tested and be done with.
    John watched as Sophia sighed and looked down at her hands, “Sophia?”
    “John, I have nothing to hide,” she raised her head, a troubled and hurt look on her face and glanced at Alistair, who was watching her with hawk-like eyes. “I told him I’m clean and that I was using birth-control, but he needs reassurance from you. Go on, reassure him.”
    “Sophia,” Alistair scolded her. “It’s not like that.”
    Her eyes bore down on his, “Oh, yeah, it’s just like that. You’re distrustful. I, on the other hand, am not. Go on, ask away. I have no problem in opening up my life to you.” She whipped her head to look at John. “You have my permission to answer all his questions. Better,” she uncrossed her legs and raised from her armchair, “I’ll leave you two alone. That way, neither one of you will be made uncomfortable by my presence.”
    As she turned and stepped away, Alistair jumped out of his armchair and grabbed her by the arms.
    She halted mid-stride and without looking at him, asked “Yes?”
    “Sophia, it’s not that I don’t believe in you.”
    Stand your ground.
She heard his wary tone but didn’t cede. “No?” She flicked her eyes at John’s impassive face and back to Alistair’s cautious one. “But then, this isn’t the time or the place to discuss it. Ask what you need to ask. I’ll be waiting outside. I just gave my permission to John to disclose anything you want to know.”
    He snaked his arms around her, hauling her flush to his body, and squeezed her lightly, dropping his head to her cheek, murmuring softly, “Please,
mo chridhe
, stay. There’s no need to react like this.”
    He was so big, warm and tender that Sophia felt as if he was blanketing her in pure love and she inhaled deep, struggling with her emotions.
You also have issues, Sophia. If you want to invest in this relationship, you’ll have to deal with his doubts and problems.
“I’m not used to having my word questioned,” she said for his ears only.
    “Please?” he asked again.
    This is not the place to make a scene, Sophia. You can talk about it later.
She looked down at his hand. The light flashed on his brand new Love ring, which she had chosen.
He is committing, Sophia. He’s trying. Do your share.
She exhaled, “All right.”
    Immediately, he released her and, as she sat back in her armchair, he gripped her hand in his.
    “I’m sorry, John,” she apologized.
    “Please,” he waved the whole incident away and looked at