Page 109 of Adoration: Isn't What It Seems (Love Isn't What It Seems 2)

“Hi, Livy,” Maxim greeted me. “We were worried about you.”

“Oh,” I waved my hand in a nonchalant way, avoiding his eyes. “I just went for a walk.”

I didn’t have to look at either brother to know they both watched me like a hawk. Alexander’s grandfather walked over and kissed me on the cheek.

“Hello, my dear,” he spoke softly. “All good?”

I met his eyes and felt like he could read through my pretense, and everything I was hiding today. I had so many questions for these men but my mouth remained sealed.

Instead, I nodded, smiling. It was a better alternative than bitter lies on my tongue.

“We are all having dinner together,” Brandon exclaimed.

“Thank goodness,” I mumbled. “Because I am starving. Someone interrupted a meal coming my way,” I glanced pointedly at Alexander. I hoped I’d be able to stomach at least some food with all the worries weighing on me.

We all continued into the dining room. As we sat down, Grandfather asked, “Will we see you tomorrow, Livy?”

I thought about my lunch with Layla and Alexander’s father earlier. I had so many questions. I felt so confused. There were too many things happening and I needed quiet, alone time to think through them all. I stared out the window, my eyes landing on the peonies in the garden. It was the first time I noticed them. Absentmindedly I rubbed my chest, the pain was overwhelming. I needed my mom and Lena.

Oh my God,I left Layla behind and she was my sister. I was so confused.

Did Mom know?

Layla met her only couple of times and I tried to dig through my memory for any signs that I missed. There would be no way Mom wouldn’t notice the resemblance between Layla and her father.

Our father,I winced inwardly. I didn't want to think about that man as my father.

“Liberty?” Maxim, Brandon, and his grandfather called out to me at the same time. Forcing my eyes away from peonies, I returned my gaze to them.

Alexander answered on my behalf. “Liberty will take a few days off. We will go to a reception tonight, and then, we’ll go out of town with Brandon. She’ll be back next week. I have a surprise for them.”

I glared at him with annoyance. “What reception?”

“Charity reception event,” he replied. “It happens every year on this day.”

There would be no way I would have known about that reception or forgotten about it if he’d told me. I didn’t want to go at all, I needed to think things through.

I felt agitated that he was ordering me around instead of asking me. He would not be telling me what to do. Not to mention, I could not handle another surprise. I had enough surprises to last me a lifetime.

With the deep breath, I smiled and answered sweetly. “So nice of you to answer in my stead, Alexander. Thank you. But I will only go to events when asked and if I agree.”

As if he understood, his grandfather took my hand and gently patted it, not saying another word.

“What’s the surprise, Alexander?” Brandon jumped in. He was so excited I couldn’t help but smile. At least he was with me. Alexander’s words came back to me. He was willing not to get divorced. What if he only felt obligated to protect Brandon and me? Would we live for the rest of our life in a loveless marriage?

I froze and dread came over me. It wouldn’t exactly be loveless because I fell for him, slowly but surely. I loved him. For all his agitating qualities, overbearing ways and horrible manners in the restaurant earlier, I fell for him. My attraction started on the day I first saw him, but the feeling was masked by my irritation at him more. Then Lena and Larry died and he came, was there for me in the shadows. And slowly, over the weeks, I started feeling more for him.

He was my all consuming passion and desire, and I gave him my heart, body, and soul without even realizing it.

Oh Mom, you were so right!

But what about Alexander’s father? Or my father? There was so much that needed to be discussed. I glanced at Alexander and his grandfather and found both their eyes on me. Maybe they suspected I found out something. Although now I wished I knew none of it.

Food was being served, and as I chewed on the food, I felt like it would get stuck in my throat. What a shitty day all the way around!

I finally found out about my father and my heritage, I thought bitterly. My husband wanted to remain married although I couldn’t understand why if my mother was the one that destroyed his family. Maybe it was some other woman.

I wasn’t sure that I could remain married to him regardless. I couldn’t imagine what was worse, a loveless marriage or one sided love or potentially my family being the cause for Caldwell’s family hardship. Mom was in a loveless marriage, look how that ended. So many thoughts were giving me a splitting headache.

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