Total pages in book: 111
Estimated words: 102834 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 514(@200wpm)___ 411(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102834 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 514(@200wpm)___ 411(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
“Padraig said that you wanted to marry him. When he told you he couldn’t make that commitment, but that he’d still do everything he could to help raise the baby, you gave him an ultimatum that either he marry you, or you’d terminate the pregnancy.” I paused to take a breath, my hands shaking a little with nerves. “Is that true?”
Nell paled, then scoffed. “Of course not. He lied to save face.”
“Well, then, why are you acting so evasive?”
“Maybe because you’re reminding me of the worst period of my life,” she snapped.
“Right, and I apologise for that, but I really need to know if you lied because I … I made some decisions back then that really hurt me, but I made them because I felt a loyalty towards you.”
She blew out an exasperated breath. “What on earth are you blathering about now?”
“I’m talking about Derek,” I said, and Nell’s eyes narrowed. “You made me promise not to be with him, and I held to that promise. We were only ever friends, but I fell in love with him anyway. He fell in love with me, too, and then one day on the beach, he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him.” I paused, letting this information sink in. Nell’s only reaction was a slight tightening of her lips. “I’d wanted to say yes so badly, but I said no instead. I rejected the man I loved in a way I’ve never loved anyone else, even after all these years, and I did it for you. But now I’m finding out that what you told me about his father wasn’t entirely truthful, and perhaps I should have followed my heart after all.”
My aunt stared at me for so long I wondered if she’d ever respond. Then finally, in a dismissive voice, she said, “If you’d followed your heart, you might never have met Colin and had Deirdre. Would you give up that wonderful girl for some imagined teenage love that probably wouldn’t have lasted anyway?”
“It wasn’t imagined. In fact, it never went away. I still love him. I always will. We’re—” Unbidden, tears filled my eyes, but I managed to sniff them back. I was angry that she was using Deirdre against me. This wasn’t about my daughter. It was about the fact that she’d lied deliberately to influence me when I was young and impressionable and looked up to her even more than I did my own parents. Now I saw her for what she really was, a deeply insecure person who held grudges and manipulated people for her own ends.
A fleeting look of disgust passed over her face, like she found me pathetic, but then she forcibly softened her features as she reached across the table to pat my hand. “It was for the best. Look at the incredible life you’ve built, your amazing career. You wouldn’t have that if it wasn’t for me.”
“That’s not true. It might’ve taken me longer without your help, but I would’ve gotten where I am today regardless.”
“Was it not my ex-husband’s recommendation that got you your position at the Royal Marsden?”
“True, perhaps I wouldn’t have gotten that job without his referral, but I would’ve gotten one somewhere else. Nell, I don’t understand why we’re discussing this. What I really want to know is why you lied? Why was it so important to you that I saw Padraig as the villain when, really, he was just as scared as you were? I wouldn’t have judged you if you’d simply told me the truth. I’d have just as much sympathy for you as I did for him.”
Her expression flattened, and I could tell by the hardness in her gaze that she was quietly fuming. When she didn’t speak, I softened my voice, “Please. All I’m asking for is the truth.”
“I did it because I hated him!” she exploded suddenly, and I sat back in my seat, stunned by her outburst. A couple at the next table over glanced our way in concern. “He should have done the right thing and married me. I was carrying his child, and he should have stepped up to his responsibilities. I don’t care how young he was. I was young, too. But he imagines himself the gentleman just because he promised to take care of the child. How was I supposed to rely on a verbal promise alone? Then he goes on to become this big successful hotel magnate with a beautiful wife and three perfect children. He made the ideal life for himself, all the while never giving a care to what he did to me, how he discarded me.”
“That’s not true. He did think about you. I think he thought about you a lot over the years and regretted his actions.” So much so that when Paloma turned up on their doorstep pregnant, he’d reminded Derek of his responsibilities. Was that out of guilt for his own past actions?