Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 100423 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100423 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
Hugh steps closer, his hand brushing my arm. “Why don’t you go back to the manor. You need rest. I’ll handle things here.”
I’m reluctant to leave, but I nod.
His voice is gentle, his eyes earnest, but before I can respond, a voice calls my name, instantly familiar and unwelcome, and my heart sinks. I turn and see Cecilia, her horse-faced features pinched with concern, her coat flapping as she strides over. Hugh moves away then and gets back to conversing with the workers, not wanting to deal with her either. My mood plummets even more. She is honestly the last person in the world that I want to see right now.
“Lauren, oh my God,” she wails dramatically, “we heard about the fire. I’m so, so sorry for what’s happened.” Her eyes dart to the cottage, then back to me, and I force a smile, my voice tight.
“It’s okay,” I say, lying to myself as much as her, trying to find strength. “I fixed it once, and I’ll do it again. It’s fine.” The words feel hollow, a lie to keep me from breaking.
Cecilia’s expression shifts, her lips pursing, her tone sharpening. “I warned you,” she says, her tone low.
I flinch, offended, my anger flaring. “What are you talking about?” I snap, my voice low, dangerous.
She steps closer, undeterred, her eyes glinting with something like triumph. “I told you about Hugh, about your land. It means a lot to him, Lauren, even if he has to destroy your house to get what he wants. I warned you he’d pull something like this.”
Her words hit like a slap, and my breath catches, because she’s expressing aloud the fear I’ve buried, the suspicion I didn’t want to face.
“Don’t you think it’s convenient?” she presses, her voice lowering, conspiratorial. “This fire, after you refused to sell? I’m sure he must have tried to seduce and charm you into giving it up, but when that didn’t work… maybe he resorted to this out of desperation.” She gestures at the charred cottage, her words venomous, sinking into me, stirring doubt, anger, betrayal.
I’m reeling, my heart pounding, my eyes flicking to Hugh, who’s still talking to Joseph, unaware, his posture tense and focused. And then they turn and walk away, heading towards the manor. They are completely unaware of my dazed eyes watching them.
Cecilia leans in, her voice softer, “It’s best you keep your distance from him, Lauren. In the meantime, if you need a place to stay while you sort this out, I have a spare bedroom, and you’re welcome to it. Anytime.”
Her offer is kind and unexpected, but somehow it grates. Her presence, as ever, is an intrusion, and her accusations have poisoned the very air I breathe.
I want to scream, to tell her to shut up and fuck off, but I force myself to be calm. My voice is unconsciously icy. “Thank you, Cecilia, but I’m not ready to talk about my affairs to anyone right now. I need to be alone, to assess the damage. Please.” My words are a clear dismissal, but she still hesitates, her eyes narrowing.
“Please,” I say again.
She nods. “I understand. You’re a dear girl, and it must be horrible for you to lose everything like this. My offer still stands.” Then she turns and leaves, leaving me with her cruel words lodged in my brain.
My feet are rooted to the spot as my eyes survey the scorched wreckage that was my beautiful home. The damage is extensive, and I hear one of the men say that the repairs could cost as much as a new house, and my heart sinks, because I can’t afford this, not now, not ever. I poured almost everything I had into buying new furniture. The thought that I spent all my money on furniture now strikes me as asinine. God, I must have been living in a dream.
The thought creeps in—if I can’t rebuild, I’ll have to sell the land, to Hugh, to anyone, and go back to Chicago, defeated.
Cecilia’s words gnaw at me. Her suspicions and accusations are taking root in the fertile soil of my disappointment. The more I think about it, the more it doesn’t feel like a coincidence. Did Hugh really do this to me? Did he push for the renovations, knowing they’d fail, knowing a fire could force my hand? Did he seduce me, charm me, only to burn it all down when I wouldn’t yield? Is he really that devious?
The memory of his arms, his kisses, his promises, twists into something manipulative, calculated, and I’m furious by the way I have allowed myself to be hoodwinked. I want to push the painful thoughts away, but I can’t. Then it makes me wonder if once again I'm being a right bitch because of how caring he has been, how generous.