Page 143 of Illicit Heir

Kathleen's head jerks back. "What are ya talking about? Caleb doesn't know it's yours."

"He does," I inform her.

She shakes her head in confusion. "No, that's not right. He thinks it's his baby."

"No, he knows it's mine."

The blood drains from her face. She weakly accuses, "No, he wouldn't have gone to get her if he knew. He wouldn't want her if he knew it was an O'Connor she was carrying."

Spit flies out of my mouth as I snarl, "Are ya ridiculously stupid? Of course he would go get her. Do you not think he would use my child to hold over her head? To hurt her? To hurt me?"

Kathleen swallows hard. "No, he..."

"He knows. It's been confirmed. And it's your fault."

She shakes her head. "I didn't tell him!"

"If you didn't tell, then who did?" Alaina asks.

Confusion fills Kathleen's face.

I press, "Aye. Who would've told Caleb if it wasn't you?"

She shakes her head. "I-I don't know. No one. No one would've told him. No one knew she was pregnant but me."

Alaina asks, "What about the other barmaids? The ones who were there the night that Devin showed up?"

"If ya hadn't stepped foot in my pub, none of this would've happened," Kathleen seethes at me.

"It's no longer your pub," I remind her.

Alaina raises her voice, ordering, "Let's stay on track."

Kathleen agrees, "Yea. This isn't about me. It's about you and what you've done. Remember?"

I bark, "No, it's about what you've done."

"Enough! This isn't helping anything," Alaina reprimands. "What about the barmaids? Did they know she was pregnant?"

Kathleen shakes her head. "No, of course not. Nobody knew."

"No one?" I question.

Kathleen insists, "No."

"Then who would've told her?" I ask.

"I don't know. But if Caleb knows..." Kathleen shoots Alaina a helpless and fearful expression.

My gut dives further. "Is there anything else that ya need to tell us before ya let the door hit your ass on the way out?"

Kathleen looks between the three of us, then shakes her head in defeat. "No, but, Alaina, please do what ya can to convince Caleb to let me see my daughter."

I roar, "Why would Alaina convince Caleb of anything? They're not even on the same side anymore. Are ya that daft?"

Alaina interjects, "Devin's right. What were ya thinking, Kathleen?"

Her mum's hardened expression breaks. She starts to sob. "He told me he would care for both of us."

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