Page 85 of Daring Destiny

“Why not?” Rory’s eyes bore into me, gentle but curious. “We don’t bite.”

I swallow, feeling queasiness rise up again and feel the need to flee.

“The thing is, we’re not close. I introduced them to Brennan and it was the last straw. I don’t want them in my life anymore,” I blurt out, surprising even myself with the admission. “They’ve hurt me deeply for many years, especially my mom. She has her reasons, but I’m tired of being a punching bag for something that’s not my fault. Brennan and I have been through so much, I don’t want them to tarnish my new life. Or my relationship with all of you.”

Every pair of eyes is trained on me at this point and I hate feeling so exposed. The table goes silent and for a moment, all I can feel is silent judgment.

“Oh, A. I wasn’t sure if you knew. Don’t worry, you’re one of us now. She can’t hurt you anymore.” Brennan’s eyes search mine, then he glances around at his family. “She’s not Astrid’s biological mother.”

I freeze, stunned. The words hang in the air, and suddenly my entire world feels like it’s tilting.

“What?” I whisper, my voice barely audible. “What are you talking about?”

Brennan’s expression shifts from confusion to horror. I know the exact moment he realizes he’s made a horrific mistake. “I thought...uh, I thought you…. I thought that’s why you haven’t…”

I stop hearing anything he’s saying because the room is spinning. I know I’m going to be sick.

“What did you do?” My voice shakes with utter devastation. “Even though I asked you to leave it alone, you didn’t listen. Have you been investigating my family behind my back?”

“Astrid, I—” he starts, but I can’t let him finish.

I’m going to throw up.Right now. I shove my chair back and bolt for the bathroom, barely making it before the nausea overwhelms me. I collapse over the toilet, my stomach heaving, and I can hear someone’s footsteps approaching, but I kick the door shut and manage to lock it. I don’t want to see him. I don’t want to see anyone. Not in this state.

However long it is later, when I stand up, I’m shaking uncontrollably. I splash water on my face and stare at my reflection in the mirror, trying to understand why Brennan would press forward when I begged him not to. It’s such a violation. Unforgivable, maybe.

How long has he known? Why didn’t he tell me? How could he do this?

There’s no way out, I realize. I’m locked in the McGloughlin’s bathroom and the only way to leave is by walking past all of them. Howmortifying.

I tentatively peer out the door and Brennan is there. Waiting. Leaning against the wall, his face pale and stricken.

“Sorry doesn’t cut it.” He reaches for me but I avoid his touch. “I wasn’t trying to hurt you. I wanted to give you answers to make things better. When I found out, I figured you already knew and it’s why you felt so strongly. So, I dropped it.”

“Make thingsbetter?” I repeat, incredulous. “Brennan, you withheld information from me again.Deliberately. I told you to drop it and you didn’t give two shits. How am I supposed to process this? I’m so fucking mad. And hurt. And devastated.”

He looks like he’s been punched in the gut. “It wasn’t malicious. I really thought I could help. I wanted to surprise you.”

“Let me make one thing clear. Youdon’tget to make my decisions for me,” I snap, my voice rising to a yell. At this point I don’t care if his entire family hears me because I cannotcomprehendwhere his mind was at. Hyperfocus or not. This iswrong. “I’m a grown woman whotrustedyou, Brennan. For what? You have no respect for me. None. What else have you been keeping from me?”

His look of distress doesn’t faze me.

“I haven’t—A, please. I’m wasn’t trying to hurt you,” he pleads. “I thought if you had the information you wouldn’t be so hard on yourself about your relationship with your family. I hate seeing you hurt. It kills me...”

“I told you I don’t need you to fix me.” I shake my head, tears stinging my eyes. “I needed you tolistento me. You didn’t.” My voice cracks but I’m beyond being worried about appearances at this point. My emotions are raw. Real. Legitimate. “I can’t marry someone who’ll disregard my capability to choose how I conduct my own life.”

I pull off my engagement ring and hand it to him. He makes no move to take it from me so we stand in the hallway staring at each other. I can see how badly he wants to fix what he broke.

It’s too late.

I love Brennan with all my heart, but I’d lose respect for myself if I were to brush this off. “I need to be away from you.” I grab his hand and press the ring into his palm. “To rethink what I want. Right now it feels like our entire relationship is ruined.”

He collapses into himself at my words. The pain in his eyes shatters me, but I can’t let myself soften. Not this time.

“Astrid, please.” Tears stream down his cheeks. “I love you.”

“I need space.” I walk past him, back toward the dinner table. “And I need you to respect my wishes this time.”

As I approach the family, who are obviously uncomfortable witnesses to our abrupt breakup, I keep it simple because there’s no way they haven’t heard every word we’ve said.

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