"Robert, if you've really gone through with the switch, then at least tell Virginia to her face. What if she genuinely doesn't know..."
Robert Weiss shook his head.
"She's been talking about going home for years. It's the thing she cares about most. There's no way she doesn't know I changed it."
"And if I told her in person, you know her. She'd make a scene. Why bother?"
Derek frowned.
"You know she'll be furious, and you still went behind her back?"
Robert let out a sigh.
"I didn't have a choice. Vivian's alone and she's sick. I can't just abandon her."
The corner of his mouth tugged into a smile, steady with certainty.
"Virginia gave up Cambridge for me once. Asking her to give up one more thing? She'll fall in line. She always does."
His words floated out so lightly.
As if everything I'd sacrificed was simply owed to him.
Derek's voice carried a note of suspicion.
"Don't tell me you're still hung up on Vivian Blake."
Robert paused. He didn't answer right away.
A long moment passed before he finally spoke.
"When it comes to her, I have no resistance."
"And Virginia? What is she to you?"
I wanted to ask that too.
Robert exhaled, long and slow.
"She's the most suitable wife."
Suitable.