"I just wanted us to be safe and happy, Melanie. I couldn't bear for you to lose everything. I had to lie so I'd still have the means to protect you, to look after you, even from far away, from behind the scenes. You've got to believe me when I say I still love you."
She wanted to go to him but she knew it was too late. Something in his eyes made her see that this was the first real truth he had spoken since she had met him, but it was too late. It was true, Alex had taken her heart and she would have to let Sebastian go.
Sebastian looked up at his father now and the old man hugged him in close to his chest.
"I love you, son. It's okay. Everything's going to be okay. You'll need a little holiday from Drummond but don't worry. I need you just as much as I need Alex, but you need to grow up son. You need to stop lying to people. You need to learn the value of telling the truth."
Melanie watched as the huge, gorgeous man hugged first his father and then his mother.
Alex took her by the hand and smiled.
"Come on, sweetheart." He said. Then he turned to his family. "Mom, Dad, Sebastian, we'll see you later. Melanie and I have some alone time to catch up on. We'll be in touch with you all soon."
He gave his kindly old mother a kiss on the cheek and then took Melanie to him to be alone together truly for the first time.