Page 29 of A Father's Insistence

Chapter Fourteen

Joanna

Iknow Theo told me to go to my room and lock the door, but I can’t. A heavy knot sits deep in my stomach. Guilt weighs heavily on me. I don’t know for certain what he’s doing at the moment, but I know it will involve his sister. He cares deeply for her and will use the evidence I gave him to fight for her. But I can’t help fearing that he’s rescuing her from the good and drawing her back into the path of evil, especially when his father finds out what he’s done. I’ve made everything so much worse, but what was I supposed to have done? Everything is a horrible mess. I need space to breathe and to clear my head.

I race back through the kitchen, not stopping to talk when a few of the staff ask me if I’m all right. Running up to my room, I retrieve a pair of sandals and a cardigan and put them on, then grab a small handbag I know has some change in it. Theo gave me a mobile phone the other day, but it has a tracking feature in it. Not wanting to be followed, I leave it behind. Making sure the coast is clear, I leave the house by the front door and escape down the long driveway before anyone can see me.

My pulse is racing the entire time. I can’t believe I’m being so bold. What if the Viscount finds out and comes after me? Is he watching the house? My eyes dart around me, making sure I can’t see him anywhere. I should go back. This is foolish. No, I’m a strong woman. I can do this. I keep walking, and with every step, I’m led farther away from the house. My pulse starts to slow, and I feel normal—if normal is measurable anymore.

The sunlight of the warm September day beats down on me, and tipping my head back, its rays illuminate my pale skin. I’d almost forgotten how bright it can be when the sun shines. Darkness has consumed far too much of my life recently, and it feels good to have a little light in it. Light like I experienced when making love to my husband and feeling complete for the first time. Sadly I was only dreaming when I thought it could lead to a happily ever after. That’s not in my future any time soon – probably never.

“Heh,” a masculine voice calls out, and following its deep tones, I see a man and woman embracing in the street. He’s dressed in a smart suit and carries a briefcase. He looks like he’s just come from work. The woman is pushing a stroller with a child sucking on a bottle of milk sat in it.

“I can’t believe it!” the woman exclaims with excitement. “How long must it have been?”

“At least five years,” the man responds. “I think the last time I saw you was graduation day. My god, I was so drunk at the end of that party. Did you see Timmy Collins? He was dancing on the table with the dean’s wife.”

“I remember that.” The woman laughs. “He was so drunk. I think there was talk of taking his degree away from him straight after the incident.”

They both laugh louder, and the child looks around to see what is capturing his mummy’s amusement.

“Yeah, I think he kept it in the end. Along with the dean’s wife. They are married now and have a son.”

“Really?”

The man nods with wide-eyed delight. Just then the child drops his bottle onto the ground and begins to grumble. Bending down, the man picks the bottle up and hands it to the woman who thanks him. She sucks on the nipple and gives it back to her child who mutters something that also sounds like a thank you in baby language. My hand instantly goes to my flat belly, and I repeat the silent prayer to keep me from falling pregnant until I can find a way out of the mess I’m in.

“Who’s this little one then?” the man asks.

“This is Jamie. He’s three next week.”

“Three. Wow. Big boy!” The man ruffles the top of the little boy’s head, but Jamie’s more interested in draining his bottle of all the milk. “I see a lot of you in him. I bet his father likes that. I know I’ve always wanted to see a lot of my wife in any children I have.”

The woman’s expression changes, becoming dark and furious.

“He wouldn’t know. I caught him sleeping with my best friend the week after I found out I was pregnant, and I’ve not seen him since. I told him about Jamie, but he isn’t interested. It’s been a nightmare trying to get some child support out of him.”

“Jerk!” The man shakes his head, and his face turns red with anger. “Some men shouldn’t be allowed to become fathers.” He looks up to where a small café is situated. “Look, can I buy you a coffee, and the little mite a biscuit or something?”

The woman takes a second to answer. I can see her weighing up her options of returning home to what is probably a lonely house with nobody but her and her son, or enjoying the company of another adult for a little while longer.

“Yes, why not.”

The man motions for her to go first, and I watch them a little while longer until they disappear into the café. The two of them hadn’t seen each other in a long while, but the bonds of their friendship have lasted, and I’d like to think they’ll catch up with each other and not lose touch again. There has to be some hope in this world.

A scream off to my left captures my attention, and I start to watch another couple. A man dressed in a tatty T-shirt and ripped jeans is holding a woman by the throat and is shouting obscenities at her. The woman is dressed in jeans and a tunic top, and her pink, orange, and blue hair is scraped back in a pony tail, but as she pleads with him to let her go, it starts to come undone. I take a step closer to them, feeling an insane urge within me to help her. But my heart is racing, and gripped with fear, I’m unable to do anything. Instead, I become rooted to the spot and watch like a voyeur as the scene evolves. I’m not the only one, though. Others around me stop and stare while some continue walking by and even step into the road to get past them. No one goes to help the woman.

“You fucking whore! How long has he been sticking his filthy dick in your cunt?”

“Listen to yourself, Damien. You’ve gone insane. I’ve never once slept with your brother. I’m your girlfriend, for crying out loud.”

“I’d believe my own brother over a skanky piece of dick warmer like you. He said you like it up the ass, and I know just how greedy you are when it comes to anal.”

The woman tries her hardest to escape from her captor, but he has her too closely held around the neck.

“I can’t breathe.”

“I should snap your fucking neck.”

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