Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 116759 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 584(@200wpm)___ 467(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116759 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 584(@200wpm)___ 467(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
“Yes, they would. And you’re a faithless idiot for believing her!” Juno yelled, almost a shriek, that shuddered through us both. Then she stormed out, her footsteps stomping through the house until the front door slammed hard behind her.
Mum collapsed against me, her hiccupping cries like a vise around my chest.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
SEBASTIAN
It seemed utterly selfish to call Lily on Christmas evening, especially after how we left things between us.
Yet, as I walked through the fields on our estate that evening, the moon the only thing lighting my path, I kept reaching for the phone in my pocket.
Thirty years ago. That’s how long ago the incident my mother spoke of happened.
It boggled my mind to think that something that happened so long ago, something seemingly long buried, could unearth itself abruptly and cause so much damage.
Juno had returned only to lock herself in her bedroom.
Dad was locked in the primary suite.
And Mum was staring at the flickering TV, not processing anything but the emotional muddle in her head.
I’d taken myself for a walk.
Happy fucking Christmas.
The only person I wanted to see right now was Lily. She made all this shittiness disappear.
Bugger it.
I’d never pretended not to be a selfish arsehole. Swiping the lock screen off my phone, I found Lily’s name right at the top of my video call list. An ache scored through me as I hesitated.
What if she didn’t pick up?
I tapped her name.
I shivered against the freezing cold air as a particularly bitter breeze nipped at my cheeks. The app rang out and I was just about to end the attempted call when the screen changed.
There was Lily’s beautiful face.
“One second,” she told me breathlessly, and I watched as she shrugged into her coat, moving the phone from one hand to the other, and stepped out of the back patio door of her parents’ house. I could just make out her family gathered around the living area in the kitchen before she ventured farther into the garden. “Happy Christmas,” she said, giving me a small, strained smile.
Things were definitely still weird between us.
But maybe my family problems might help ease the awkwardness. “Oh, if only, Sawyer. If only.”
Her expression tightened. “What’s happened?”
My breath puffed visibly in the cold air as I let out a long exhalation before I proceeded to recount my day to my friend.
“Sebastian.” Her tone was quiet with sympathy afterward. “I’m so sorry.”
“I just … I don’t know what to do. Not about my dad’s drinking. Not about this woman and this bomb she dropped on my mother.”
Lily cocked her head to the side, her dark hair tumbling over her shoulder with the movement. “Do you know who this woman is?”
“I do. She runs in my parents’ circle. We’ve always avoided her. Now I know why.”
“You and Juno should find her. Make her tell your mother the truth.”
I raised an eyebrow. “You think my dad is telling the truth? That this woman is lying?”
“Don’t you?”
“I do.” Tears of frustration, sadness on behalf of my father and my mother, burned in my eyes, and I looked away for a second so I could get myself together.
“It’s going to be okay,” Lily promised quietly.
“I don’t think so. Even if we got to the truth, I don’t think my father will forgive my mother for not believing him.”
“I don’t know … I think a man so heartbroken he’s driven to drink might forgive quite easily if it means getting the love of his life back.”
Hope flickered at Lily’s words. “How would we get this woman to tell the truth? I mean, she tried to manipulate my father with a terrible lie when they were younger. I’m pretty sure she’s a narcissist.”
“Well—and this is something I will never advise my patients when I become a licensed psychotherapist—” She wagged her finger comically at the camera. “You could dig up some dirt on her.”
A surprised smile curled my lips. “Lily Sawyer, are you suggesting I blackmail this woman?”
She grinned sheepishly, holding up her forefinger and thumb. “Maybe a wee bit.”
My laughter rang out across the field.
Lily always made me feel better.
Then as a cold fleck hit my cheek, Lily let out a little gasp. “Oh, Sebastian, it’s snowing here!” Her beautiful smile filled my screen. “It’s snowing on Christmas.”
I looked up from my phone to find snowflakes falling around me. “It’s snowing down here too.”
We shared a long look, my chest aching with gratitude and maybe something else.
“Happy Christmas, Sebastian,” Lily murmured.
“Happy Christmas, Lily.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
SEBASTIAN
Lily’s idea sparked another. If there was one person who knew everything about everybody in my family and our social circle, it was my grandmother. Princess Mary might have once been a bit of a party girl “black sheep,” but she was a working member of the royal family. She had power. And I believed she’d be equally motivated to help us.