< Chapter 9
Chapter 9
Those words were salt ground straight into Sylvia’s heart.
Everyone in the Gordon family knew exactly what kind of relationship Lacey had with Ronan.
Before Sylvia and Ronan got married, Lacey had been their unofficial choice for Ronan.
A brittle laugh slipped from Sylvia’s lips.
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“Andrea, it sounds like you think seducing another woman’s husband is something to be proud of. That engineer with no sense of boundaries. Surely you’re not as clueless as she is?”
She was no one’s soft target.
Once upon a time, she’d loved Ronan too much to make things harder for him, so she’d swallowed every insult, every petty cruelty.
All she’d done was teach them she was easy to trample.
But now? Now that she was leaving, what did she have left to protect?
She’d say whatever she damn well pleased.
Across from her, perched like judgmental crows, were Ronan’s aunts Kelly Gordon and Andrea Gordon, and two of his uncles’ wives, Patricia Rolland and Deanne Elsher.
Every one of them stiffened at her words. Andrea especially looked as though she’d just been slapped. She clearly hadn’t expected Sylvia to talk
back.
It was Kelly who stepped in to smooth things over, her age and experience lending her a veneer of composure.
She sipped her coffee with elegant detachment.
“Sylvia, your mother’s still in that private hospital, isn’t she? Years in the most expensive suite, must be quite a bill. And it’s not that Andrea meant to be unkind, but you have to admit you’ve contributed nothing to this family.”
She set her cup down delicately.”With all that in mind, you should at least try to be sensible. You’ve been married for years and still haven’t produced a single child. Ronan is the Gordon heir, you know. You really ought to focus on giving him a baby.”
Sylvia knew perfectly well they only ever brought up her family to put her on the spot.
She let out a soft, humorless laugh.”You’re right about one thing, Kelly. But speaking of children, Andrea still doesn’t have any, does she? You might want to hurry. At her age, a pregnancy could be dangerous. Sometimes, both mother and child don’t survive.”
Her eyes flicked back to Kelly, cool and unflinching.”And as for you, Kelly, I heard that investment you poured money into collapsed again. How much did you lose this time? Business takes skill. If you don’t have any, you could always ask Ronan for help. Losing money is nothing, but end up on the wrong side of the law and you might find yourself behind bars.”
Every word landed like a blade.
Only days ago, Kelly’s failed venture had almost landed her in serious legal trouble.
The only thing that saved her was the Gordon family’s influence.
Silence fell over the room, heavy and complete. Andrea and Kelly’s faces shifted through every shade of anger and humiliation.
Patricia and Deanne traded a wide-eyed look across the table.
Sylvia’s sudden defiance seemed to have stunned them all.
She almost felt better. Almost.
Her voice went quiet, but she didn’t bother softening the edge.
“I’m sure I’ve said something crass. If I have, do forgive me. It’s just, well, I’ve been swallowing your contempt for years. Maybe we can all try being a little more tolerant.”
On the staircase landing above, a tall figure stood in shadow, half-hidden in the gloom. His expression was unreadable.
He’d only just come downstairs in time to hear the entire conversation.
And “conversation” wasn’t really the word for it. It was an ambush.
Those barbed comments, he’d never heard them when he was around.
< Chapter 9
Menu
The Gordons were all cunning. In front of him, they played the part of warm, dignified relatives. When Ronan was busy with work, Sylvia would go back to the mansion to see Caleb on her own.
When Sylvia once complained that they treated her badly, he’d accused her of being oversensitive, of imagining insults that weren’t there.
Every time she came back here alone, this was what she faced.
At least, he thought, watching her now, she hadn’t let them break her.
Something in his gaze shifted, sharp and assessing.
He came down the last step, walked over to her, and extended a hand in his usual calm way.”Dinner’s ready.”
Sylvia looked at the offered hand as if she didn’t quite recognize it.
Ronan’s hands had always been beautiful with long fingers, strong palms, capable of tenderness she used to ache for. So many nights, she’d waited until he was asleep, then pressed her fingertips to his.
She would pretend that just touching him like this meant something real. Happiness would fill her void.
She’d imagined, over and over, those hands pulling her out of the darkness. But the truth was, she’d only ever been reaching for a mirage.
Some things, she was finally learning, you could only count on yourself to survive.
She stood without taking his hand.”I can find the dining room myself. Go keep Grandpa company.”
Ronan’s eyes darkened, seeing right through her excuse.
He set his jaw, then slipped an arm around her waist, guiding her forward.
“Grandfather already has plenty of company. I’ll be staying with you.”
Sylvia’s heart clenched. Of course, Caleb must have scolded him again.
He was always so good at playing the part when it mattered.
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