Page 110 of Adoration: Isn't What It Seems (Love Isn't What It Seems 2)

Alexander’s voice pulled me back.

“The surprise is in Scotland. I want Liberty to see if she likes the house I bought for us.” Stunned, I gaped at Alexander. “But first, there is an important party to attend tonight. Brandon can you help me pick jewelry for her to wear at tonight’s event?”

I groaned. Going to an event tonight was the last thing I wanted to do. Brandon, on the other hand, clapped his hands in excitement. “Liberty loves diamonds.”

“What?” I glanced uncomfortable at everyone around the table. “I never said I loved diamonds.”

“Layla said it.” Brandon was happy to tattle on her. “She told me Mommy complained you used to drag her to walk forever to see diamonds at the store.”

“Pffft,” I shifted uncomfortably. “That was when we were kids. I liked shiny stuff back then.”

“I don’t know.” Brandon was seriously putting me on the spot. “Layla said you liked a bad boy in college and when he broke your heart, you threw away his ring. Then you cried because you really wanted the pretty ring back.”

Maxim chuckled, and I glared at him, heat coloring my cheeks. Brandon didn’t forget anything.

“Layla is just a tattletale,” I told him jokingly.Layla was my sister!God, how would I ever explain that to Brandon. “Certain things from the past should stay in the past.”

“I totally want to hear about it,” Maxim teased and if I could kill him with my stare, I totally would. “Look at you blushing, Liberty. I want to know what else Layla could tell us.”

“Alexander, can I go and play?” Smart little man, my Brandon. He made the damage and was ready to clear out before he got caught in the crossfire.

“Sure,” he told him and Brandon couldn’t leave fast enough.

I lifted glass off the table and as I brought it to my lips. “If we’ll go that route, I’ll start digging dirt on all of you too.”

I took a drink of water, my eyes observing them and I swore his smile faltered a bit. His grandfather paled slightly and shifted uncomfortably next to me.

I looked at Alexander, but he had the same stoic expression on his face then. Of course, you’d never get anything out of Alexander.

“Geez, I’m joking. You can keep your secrets,” I told them all. God knew, I had some to keep now too. That was if they already didn’t know them, and I was the last one to find out.

“Don’t you have some secrets you want to keep, Liberty?” Maxim asked seriously.

I didn’t used to have any secrets. Now there seemed to be so many, I couldn’t even keep up. I hated this cloud of secrets and deceit looming over my head.

“Aren’t we a room full of secrets then?” I joked in a humorless voice.

“Secrets tend to come out into the light unless dealt with,” Grandfather spoke up and he slowly shifted his eyes from me to Alexander and I began to wonder whether his grandfather knew more than he led on.

“Like the Glasgow family?” I had no idea what possessed me to ask this question.

Everyone’s eyes snapped to me, and I continued in a slightly bitter voice. “Seems you were right after all. My mother’s maiden name was Glasgow.”

“Who told you?” Alexander demanded to know. He was so used to barking orders.

“Does it matter?” I retorted back, with bitterness in my voice. “You all knew for certain all along.”

It was his grandfather that answered. “I guess it doesn’t matter how you found out. But yes, I knew the moment I saw you. You are a spitting image of your mother.”

My hand went to my chest again, rubbing it. It hurt… everything I found out today hurt like hell. I finally understood what my mother tried to spare me from. Then I remembered what Alexander’s father said. Nobody but him and my mother knew about the rape. Add Layla and I to the list.

I needed to check if she was okay. There was no doubt in my mind she was upset over this knowledge too. She had her own notions and dreams of what her father was like and I was sure they all came crashing down this afternoon. Just like mine did.

Shit, why did all this hurt so badly?Rubbing my chest, I hoped I could relieve the throbbing pain this knowledge brought me… for my mother, for Layla, for the hope of family I once nagged my mom about.

I blinked my eyes and noted all three Caldwell men were staring at me. Did I miss somebody talking?

Alexander broke the uncomfortable moment.

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