Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 70174 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 351(@200wpm)___ 281(@250wpm)___ 234(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70174 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 351(@200wpm)___ 281(@250wpm)___ 234(@300wpm)
My father was in there too, and I could tell by the tone of his voice that I was in trouble.
I froze. My heart thudded, heavy and slow, but I forced myself to move, to set down my bottle of Coca-Cola and walk toward the pocket doors that were three-quarters open. The weight of my mother’s silence pressed against my back, but I didn’t look at her as I stepped inside.
I was shocked see Siobhan and Paddy on the love seat. Both sat on the edges, spines stiff and hands in their laps, mimicking our mother. Siobhan’s expression was fearful and Paddy looked blank-eyed back at me.
Seamus Conlan stood by the hearth, a storm contained in the rigid set of his shoulders. His face was red, his jaw clenched so tight I could see a muscle twitch, and I felt the fury vibrating off him.
“What,” he bit out, his voice like the crack of a whip, “have ye done?”
My hands shook as I laced my fingers together, placing them before me demurely, but I lifted my chin in a rare display of confidence before this intimidating man. “I don’t know what ye mean.”
His palm slammed against the wooden mantel, causing a framed photo to pitch sideways, but it didn’t fall to the ground. From the corner of my eye, I saw Paddy jerk and I flinched despite myself.
“Don’t play coy with me, girl,” my da snarled. “Brian’s father came to see me today. Seemed surprised I hadn’t yet spoken to ye about yer… decision.” His lip curled around the word like it was bitter to the tongue. “Imagine my embarrassment when I had to hear it from him that my own daughter humiliated the Kavanaghs.”
I swallowed hard, steadying my breath. “I didn’t humiliate anyone.”
“Ye ended yer engagement to Brian,” he thundered. “Without so much as a word to me.”
My knees were practically knocking into each other I was so scared, but I knew now was not the time to bow down to his autocracy. I was old enough to make my own choices over my life. “There was no engagement,” I said evenly, and I was proud that my voice sounded strong. “Ye arranged things, not me.”
His nostrils flared, his fists curling at his sides, and I swear I thought his eyes were going to bug out of his head. “This was for yer future, Fiona. For Glenhaven. For our family. Ye don’t get to be selfish.”
I stiffened, the injustice of it burning like acid in my chest. “Selfish?” My voice shook with anger. “Ye think wanting to choose my own life is selfish?”
“Ye don’t have a life outside of this family,” he snapped. “Everything ye have, everything ye are, is because of me.”
“Yer wrong,” I said, forcing the words out, even though I’d been programmed to cower before this man. “I do have a life outside this family and I won’t be forced into a marriage I don’t want.”
His face darkened as he processed my refusal and for a long moment, the only sound in the room was my own heartbeat pounding in my ears.
Then, with deadly calm, he straightened. “I demand ye pick up that phone right now and call Brian to apologize. Ye get this engagement back on track.”
“No,” I whispered.
“Yer refusing my order?” he asked with a bark of a laugh, as if he couldn’t believe the temerity.
“I am refusing to enter into a marriage I don’t want,” I clarified.
Seamus Conlan’s glare turned glacial and he bared his teeth. “Then yer no daughter o’ mine.” The words sliced through me, leaving me cold, hollow. I couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe because I had no clue what this meant. Did this mean I was free of him?
His next words made clear the consequences of my rebellion. “Get out of my house.”
Siobhan gasped but I didn’t dare look her way. I blinked, my body numb. “What?”
“Ye heard me,” he said, his voice eerily level but backed by iron will. “Ye make yer own choices, do ye? Fine. But ye do it somewhere else. Yer not welcome in my house, in my family.”
I glanced over to see my mother’s face so pale, I thought she might be seriously ill. Her lips pressed into a tight line, but she said nothing.
Did nothing.
Just sat there, watching as my father shattered my entire world.
I looked to Siobhan, tears streaming down her face, and to Paddy whose mouth hung open in shock.
Back to my father, who glared at me so coldly, I knew at that moment he didn’t love me at all. I was just chattel to him and that made my next decision a bit easier.
“Fine,” I said, though my voice wavered. “I’ll pack my bag and be out of here.”
My da shook his head. “No. Ye leave with what ye have on yer back. Nothing more.”