Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 109783 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 549(@200wpm)___ 439(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109783 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 549(@200wpm)___ 439(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
What the actual fuck?
Not where I thought this was going.
Eilidh’s expression was baleful as she searched her father’s face.
“Eilidh—”
“That kind of brought up some horrible stuff that I’d suppressed, and I found myself reaching out to that man. Sean McClintock. I drove to Inverness to see him two weeks ago. He was quite happy to see me so he could apologize in person. Apparently, prison and a therapist sorted out his head, and he has a lot of remorse for traumatizing me.” Her casual tone discussing something so painful was like nails on a chalkboard. I gritted my teeth, forcing myself not to go to her.
Thane stood up, his pain turning to anger. “You went to see that man? Alone?”
“Don’t,” Eilidh seethed. “How dare you? Were you ever going to tell me Francine cheated on you with that man? That they had an affair?”
Holy fuck.
Her pain became all too clear.
Was … was Eilidh not Thane’s?
The very thought twisted my stomach, and I had to hold myself back from rushing to her, from wrapping my arms around her to protect her from a truth that would break her heart.
“You are not his.” Thane stepped toward his daughter. “If that’s what’s in your head or what he put in your head. You’re not his. I had a DNA test done when he tried to claim custody.”
“I know,” Eilidh whispered harshly, her tears slipping free. “I know because he told me. My question is, why didn’t you?” She turned to her brother who stared up her, eyes bright with emotion. “Did you know?”
To my shock, Lewis nodded.
He knew and hadn’t told her?
“Dad told me last year.”
Eilidh wiped at her tears. “I already knew that. I just already knew that. You can be trusted with the truth, but apparently I’m too much of a loose cannon to be treated like an adult.”
“That’s not … is this … is that why you’ve been weird with me?” Lewis stood, reaching for her.
She stumbled back, holding up her palms toward both father and brother. “Why didn’t you tell me? If I’m yours, why didn’t you tell me? Why did I have to find out from someone else that this woman you painted as a perfect wife and mother was actually a selfish bitch who cheated on you?”
Thane winced. “It was more complicated than that.”
“It was an affair. According to McClintock, it was an affair, and he wanted to stay with his wife and child. And you took Francine back, even though it was an affair.”
“My reasons for taking back your mother were my own. You don’t get to judge me for that, Eilidh Francine Adair,” Thane told her sternly.
She flinched and I stood up off the couch, edging closer to her.
“You’re right. I don’t get to judge you for that. I do get to judge you for not telling me. Why did you tell Lewis and not me? I’m the one whose parentage was in question. I’m the one Sean came after. So why did Lewis get to complete that puzzle while I was left with the lies? What is it about me, Dad? Why wasn’t I worthy of the truth?”
Thane’s features strained with remorse. “Oh, sweetheart, it’s not about being worthy of the truth. I was trying to protect you from the truth. Back then. And now I didn’t see the point in sharing. I only told your brother because he asked me directly to my face what my relationship with Francine was like. And I wanted to be honest.”
“Do you think I’m like her?” Eilidh asked, voice breaking. “Is that why you didn’t tell me? You didn’t want me to self-fulfil my genetics by becoming even more of a flaky, disloyal, selfish bitch?”
Thane held up a finger. “One, stop calling your mother a bitch. Two, don’t refer to yourself that way either.”
“I didn’t call my mother a bitch,” Eilidh snarled, gesturing to Regan who pressed her lips tightly together, suppressing a reaction. “That’s my mother. Francine was just the woman who gave birth to me.”
“Francine didn’t leave you, Eilidh. She died. And she loved you. More than anything. And people are allowed to make mistakes.”
“Even if they keep repeating them?” The tears fell fast and free now. “I think that’s why you didn’t tell me. I think you look at me and you see her. Why wouldn’t you? I made everyone dance to my fucking tune as a kid. Wanting what I wanted without caring how it affected anybody else. Then I fucked off and left my family behind to become a movie star!” She sobbed on a hysterical laugh. “And I hate every second of this life I was so determined to have. And because I can’t face what a selfish bitch I’ve been, it makes me even more of a bitch. I hate who I am. I hate myself! And now I know why. I’m my mother’s daughter!” With another sob, Eilidh’s knees seemed to give out.