Page 88 of Illicit Heir

She arches her eyebrows. "So, you've taken a pregnancy test?"

My heart beats faster, and my pulse skyrockets to the ceiling. "Why would I take a pregnancy test? I've not had sex."

Mum doesn't look convinced.

Goddammit, how could I be so stupid?

Devin and I never used condoms, and I stopped taking the pill when Caleb and I broke up, not seeing the need for it.

Mum snaps her fingers and points at me. "You've had sex, haven't ya? Who was it with?"

"No one." I continue to lie.

"Then why are ya running in here throwing up if you're not sick?"

"I don't know. Maybe I'm just nervous after everything that happened," I claim.

"Lauren, whatever's going on, this is the time for ya to tell me and be truthful. We've just lost everything. The O'Connors killed almost all the men we know in our town."

"They didn't kill Caleb, unfortunately," I sneer.

"Watch your mouth!" Mum scolds.

"Why? Who cares about Caleb and his brothers?" I bark.

Her face darkens. "Caleb and his brothers protected us."

"They did not protect us. Look at what just happened, Mum. They didn't protect the pub, did they? If they had, then we wouldn't have lost everything. My items wouldn't be in boxes in your front living area."

Disappointment fills her face. "We are O'Learys. This is exactly the reason that ya should marry Caleb. Now, I have nothing to offer ya upon my death."

"Stop saying that."

She shakes her head, looking defeated. She softens her voice. "Lauren, there's no other choice now. We have to have some way to survive. Without the pub, I..." She looks the other way, swallows hard, and blinks fast.

I close my eyes and bang my head against the wall. How did all this happen? How could we have something one minute and not the next? How could Devin have not stopped this?

What am I talking about? Devin owes me nothing. He only used me for sex.

Then why did he protect me?

Did he?

The pub was still taken away.

But I'm alive. I could be dead.

Mum sighs and steps out of the bathroom. She spins and states, "I'll be right back."

"Where ya going?' I ask.

"To the store."

Curiosity gets me. "Why are ya going there?"

"Because I need to get some things. Take a shower, clean yourself up, and put some fresh clothes on. I'll be back soon," she orders, then leaves before I can say anything else.

I decide to do what she says, and I take a long shower. I dig into the top box, feeling sick again as the few items I own stare back at me. I take out a pair of sweatpants and a sweatshirt and get dressed.

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