Page 53 of Surrender
Gwen couldn’t look away. Couldn’t defend herself. Not yet.
“Are you fucking serious?” Sophie demanded. She turned to Liam. “She’s Cian’s daughter? The one we’ve been looking for?”
Liam gave a single, grim nod.
Keefe turned back to Gwen, a storm building in his eyes. “Is that true?”
Her silence gave him his answer. The hurt on his face was instant. Devastating.
Tears spilled down Gwen’s cheeks. “Keefe, I?—”
But he was already on his feet, chair scraping loudly behind him. The back door slammed before anyone could stop him. A second later, the roar of his engine shattered the night as he tore out of the driveway.
“Keefe—!” Gwen moved to follow, but Sophie blocked her path.
“Don’t,” Liam warned, catching Sophie’s arm before she did something she couldn’t take back.
But Sophie was seething. “Ruby. Gwen. Whatever the fuck your name is.” Her voice cracked like thunder. “Get out. Now. And don’t you dare go near my brother again.”
Gwen stood frozen, heart in shards, then slowly pulled off her apron and placed it on the table.
“I’m so sorry,” she whispered.
She made it to the front door. Then she was gone.
Chapter 15
Connor and Darcie’s house was full to bursting after the christening, with food laid out in every direction and the happy chaos of babies being passed from lap to lap like precious parcels. Laughter rippled from the living room, and someone had uncorked a bottle of champagne.
But Keefe O’Brian sat in the far corner of the kitchen, nursing a drink he hadn’t touched and staring out the window.
He was a shadow of his usual self—no booming laugh, no sarcastic quips. Just quiet. Hollow.
From across the room, Sophie watched. She stood beside Nan and Sylvia, cradling her wine with both hands.
“So, tell us,” Sylvia said softly, “how’s your brother doing?”
Sophie sighed. “He’s miserable, but he won’t talk to me about it. I feel awful. It’s my fault, really. I introduced them. I should’ve been more careful.”
“That’s not fair,” Nan said. “How were you supposed to know she wasn’t who she said she was?”
“Has Gwen tried to reach out to him?” Sylvia asked.
“Why would she?” Sophie scoffed. “She lied, she left. She’s got as much chance of getting back with Keefe as a cat has in hell without claws.”
Nan and Sylvia exchanged a glance. Neither agreed, but they knew better than to say so. Sophie was fiercely protective of her brother—but she was also too close to see the truth clearly.
Keefe still loved Gwen. That was obvious to anyone.
As if summoned, Keefe appeared behind them. “What are you three gossiping about?”
“You, as it happens,” Sylvia said smoothly.
“We wanted to know how you’re doing,” Nan added, peering up at him. Baby Hal, who was draped in her arms cooed at Keefe with a smile.
Keefe tickled Hal’s little foot, making him giggle. He tried for a smile himself, but couldn’t manage it. “Don’t worry about me, Aunt Nan. She wasn’t the first woman to lie to me.”
No, she wasn’t. But she was the first he’d loved who lied. And that made all the difference.
