Chapter 29 

ETHAN. 

It’s an effort to keep calm throughout the meeting. Sean Hill recognizes me. How? I don’t know, but he does. 

All that matters is that May doesn’t suspect a thing, and Anna agrees to come along with Finn to dinner. That in itself is another problem especially since I haven’t yet communicated with my uncle in a while. Grandmother says he will be coming. That Cole and Rachel agreed to keep my secrets doesn’t mean that’s my uncle, his wife and the rest of my extended family will 

share the same sentiment. 

If I spoke to Grandmother about this she would be disappointed in me and my choices; disappointed in my judgment and the lies I have told to May. 

Though I could risk her anger right now over May’s anger when she finds out that I have lied to her again and again. 

Met out an exasperated sigh and take the left turn on the road. 

“What is it?” May asks. “You seem tense. Are you worried about tonight? About our family’s meeting? Everything will be fine.” 

The care and worry in her voice has my heart squeezing with guilt. She deserves so much better. I need to tell her everything soon. 

“Hopefully,” I mutter and mean it. 

My phone beeps and I fish it out of my pocket. My gaze flicks between the screen and the road ahead and I groan inwardly at the name that flashes on my screen. 

Tapping my earpod, I steer the wheel left. “Yes?” 

“Are you always this cranky?” Jared asks, laughter evident in his voice. Someone else is laughing in the background and I recognize the annoying baritone. “Is that Neil?” 

Jared gives an exasperated sigh. “Yes, I’m so damn tired of your stupid ass cousin. I’m shipping him to your front porch this minute.” 

I growl. “He’s not my cousin. Distant relative. Why’s he at your place?” 

“I’ve got no damn clue. Think the dork finally broke up with Tina. Got himself so drunk and has been puking all over my bathroom.” 

It suddenly occurs to me that Neil, though a distant relative ought to be at dinner tonight. Just great. 

“I’ve got a bolt and I’ll send him over.” 

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“Jared, I’m married. You can’t send Neil over here and-” 

The line goes dead. 

I slap the steering wheel. What is wrong with everyone today? I can’t have Neil over. He’s an arse, and he takes pride in making me uncomfortable. He’d tell May everything just to see her 

reaction. 

I’m really not looking forward to this dinner. If only I could take a trip and run from everything, maybe even take May along with me. 

ANNA. 

“Why bother? If it’s so much trouble then stay home. May is my sister and I have to meet her family. Courtesy demands. You, on the other hand, have quite a lot of work to do. A night shift, isn’t it?” 

Sean’s nostrils flare. “May’s my family too. I should be there.” 

My eyes narrow. Sean’s been weird the whole day. First, the call that had him so tense he dropped his phone. Then the conversation. I could have sworn I heard feminine laughter, but… Mr. Bradley surely couldn’t be a woman. 

Maybe he laughed like a woman. 

And then, he became an entirely different person when May and her gorgeous husband came 

1. by. 

It brought joy to my heart, seeing her happy for the first time in a long time. Pleasing May isn’t hard, but not many people know that. Exaggerated gestures do not get to her. It’s the little things that bring tears to her heart and that beautiful smile to her lips. 

I watched her laugh at Ethan and regardless of what she says, I think she’s in love. 

Or I could be overthinking it. 

“You didn’t think that when you made her leave,” I growl, patting Finn’s back as I make my way to the car. I consider leaving him with my neighbor, but I can’t leave him, even for a 

second. 

“She left and got herself married. That’s her fault, not mine,” Sean snaps, wrenching the door open. He gets in the driver’s seat and because I’m too angry to breathe the same air with him, I get in the backseat with Finn. 

Sean looks back. “What are you doing?” 

I stare pointedly out the window. “What does it look like?” 

“Why are you sitting there?” 

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“Why do your shirts smell like other women? Why do you have hickeys on your neck?” 

Sean stares at me in silence, and then he looks away sharply. 

I wish he had an answer. I don’t want to believe it. The cologne could be from work. Or his secretary. They work together every day. It would rub off on him at some point, even I know 

that. 

The hickeys could easily be bruises from other causes. I just…Sean has always loved me. He adores me. This is a phase and it’ll pass, as always. I love him, and I know him. I know every inch of his body like it’s mine and I know how strongly his heart beats for me. 

But…why doesn’t he deny it or tell me that I’m wrong? 

Doesn’t matter. Trust is what matters and I do not regret giving it freely. 

The entire ride to May’s is silent and I am grateful for it. The silence helps me clear my head. It 

makes me feel better too. Lighter, freer. 

We’re running late, but no surprise there when I had spent most of the evening baking May’s favorite muffins. Hopefully, she’ll forgive me when she takes a bite out of them. 

We arrive shortly and I marvel at the serene environment in which May resides. It is not particularly extravagant or classy, but it is simple in a way that screams elegance—if that 

makes sense. 

I nuzzle Finn’s neck as he pushes the doorbell again and again, giggling lightly in fascination. 

The door opens and May stands in the doorway with a bright smile, though she looks like she’s been through hell. “Welcome. Thanks for coming! Let me have that—are those muffins?! 

11 

May squeals, and she leans in swiftly, kissing my cheeks. “Come on in.” 

Sean places his hand on the small of my back, ushering me forward and I move slightly out of his reach. I don’t want him touching me. At least, not right now. 

My steps slow when I see the…crowd. When May had said to meet Ethan’s family, I had presumed there would only be a handful of people around. 

There are more than ten people here, and that’s not even including May and her husband. There are a few people laughing in the kitchen as well, holding up wine bottles, all dressed too elegantly for dinner. 

I resist the urge to look down at my velvet green gown that while pretty, feels totally out of place. What kind of dinner is this? 

My gaze flicks over everything and it’s overwhelming. There’s food. So much food and wine of different types. 

How could May manage all of this? She looks just as lost as I do in here. 

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“Mommy,” Finn says, the tip of his nose rubbing against my skin. He pulls back a little and his big blue eyes meet mine. “Juice,” he says, pouting. “I want…red juice,” he adds, pointing at the wine glass in a blonde’s hand. 

I suddenly feel Sean’s arm on my shoulder. “Get him some water, will you? I’ll be right back.” 

And with that, my husband abandons me in a room full of strangers. 

Feeling odd, I start to inch toward May’s direction, when a hand comes from behind me and ruffles Finn’s hair, causing him to giggle fondly. I frown at that. Finn doesn’t like other people touching him. It’s why I haven’t hired a nanny. 

“Hey there, little one.” 

The deep baritone sets me on edge, and the hair on my skin rises as a single breath heats my neck. The voice is tinged with mirth and mischief, a combination I have heard before, though I 

cannot recall where. 

I stumble forward, wrenching myself from the solid wall of heat behind me and I turn, heart beating rather quickly. 

My heart jumps and I tingle a little. That can’t be right. He shouldn’t be here. Why is the jerk of a man here? 

Blue eyes widen a little, and then they narrow with amusement. Firm, pink lips tug up into a knowing smile. “Why, hello, Mrs,” Mr. O’Connor purrs.