Page 129 of Illicit Heir

She nods. "Yea. He was an ugly old man. His name's not even what he said. And then he tried to kiss me. I kicked him in the nuts and then ran."

"Oh my God. Are ya okay?"

She huffs. "Yea. It is what it is. At least I didn't tell him where I was staying. I'll leave tomorrow to go back. I was going to stay the weekend, but it's pointless now."

"I'm sorry that happened," I offer.

She scoffs. "I don't even know why I thought something great could happen to me. Love sucks."

I don't know why, but her statement makes me laugh. "Yea, you're right. It does."

She tilts her head and studies me.

It makes me nervous. "Why are ya looking at me like that?"

She asks, "Do ya love the father of your child?"

"No," I say, but a funny feeling fills me.

She softly laughs. "You're such a liar."

"I'm not," I insist.

She keeps studying me.

"I don't love him. It was a mistake, so he can't know."

"Wouldn't it be better if he knows than Caleb thinking it's his?"

"Not when he's Devin O'Connor," I blurt out, then put my hand over my mouth.

Her eyes widen.

What the heck is wrong with me?

Panic fills me. I beg, "Maeve, I shouldn't have said that. Please. Promise you're not going to say anything to anyone. No one can know I'm here. Not my mum, not Caleb. No one."

A few moments of tense silence grow between us.

She asks, "What about Emily? She's worried about ya, as are your other cousins."

"No one, Maeve. I miss them, and I love them, but nobody can know. Please," I plead.

Something passes in her expression that I don't trust, but what can I do? My fate's in her hands.

She assures me, "Okay, Lauren, don't worry. Nobody will know."

"Ya swear?"

"I swear," she promises.

Relief hits me. "Thank you."

22

Devin

One Month Later

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