Bitter Truths: A Twisted Arranged Marriage Romance (Crimson Falls Duet Book 2) by Dani René (best fiction novels to read .txt) 📗

happened. Darius releases her throat, and her hand flies up to massage the wrinkled skin as she locks her gaze on the older Shaw brother. “Randolf and Conall had an argument one night.” She shakes her head, lowering her eyes to the ground before she speaks again. “I told Randolf to leave it be. He found the notes that Conall had written in the books in the library. I gave all but one back to Conall. I wanted so much to have one last memory of a time I was happy.”

Silence hangs in the air when Gran falls silent. That explains why all the books were here in the Shaw library and I only found the one in my gran’s home. I can’t imagine why my grandfather would’ve gotten jealous over notes. But then again, I wouldn’t like it if Lycan had memories of his exes.

But that still wouldn’t push me to kill.

“I don’t understand why he would’ve killed Conall,” I speak up. “There’s jealousy, and then there’s what you’re trying to say Gramps did. It doesn’t add up.”

She looks at me then. Her eyes locked on mine, and I notice how she doesn’t veer from me. She doesn’t look at Darius or Lycan. And something clicks in place in my mind. As if a puzzle piece just slides into place.

“You were pregnant,” I whisper, realizing that my grandfather may have gotten angry, and possibly jealous, but to kill someone, there had to be more to the story. So much fucking more.

And when she nods, it’s as if the room fills with ice.

20

Lycan

No. No. No.

If Grace Bardot was pregnant all those years ago, just before Dad died, it would’ve meant that he had been with her not long after our mother died. He would’ve told me. We were close. Betrayal hits me hard as Grace confesses to learning about her pregnancy.

My hold on Scarlett tightens. I don’t want her to think I’m angry, so I pull her closer. The softness and warmth of her keeps me somewhat calm. And if she weren’t here, I would’ve lost my control, restraint would’ve been a thing of the past if my wife wasn’t near me.

“I didn’t want to tell him about it, but I had no choice. He saw the test. He locked me in our bedroom and told me he was going to sort it out and when he came back, he was calm. There was still anger simmering in his eyes, and I knew something had happened.”

“And you didn’t ask him about Conall? I mean, our father was the love of your life for a long time. And the fact that you cheated with him means you still had feelings for him,” I whisper as my mind tries to make sense of what could’ve happened.

“He told me he didn’t want to raise another man’s child.” There’s an edge to her voice when she says this, not the anger I expected, but guilt. Her gaze flicks to Darius, then back to me. “It was one of the most horrific nights I spent with the man I married.”

“What happened?” Scarlett’s voice is nothing more than a murmur, and I’m shocked Grace can even hear her. The fear in my wife’s tone is clear, she doesn’t want to know what had occurred that night, because we all have an inkling without Grace saying the words.

Scarlett shakes her head.

I want to step forward, to pull my wife away from the news she’s about to receive and keep her safe from the atrocities that her family has done over the years. But no matter what I do, I realize I can’t shelter her forever. She told me she’s strong. But this is far beyond anything either of us imagined.

“I’m sorry, Scarlett,” Grace says in a low whisper while I pull my cellphone from my pocket and hit dial on the number. Three rings, and I end the call. It’s time to put a stop to this and keep my wife safe. “I didn’t mean for you find out about this. I did things I’m not proud of and I accept my fate, but don’t blame your father for this.”

“Don’t blame him?” My wife’s voice turns loud, filled with shock that Grace can even request that of her. She shakes in my arms, her body trembling, and I can’t imagine what it must be like to realize your family never truly loved you. “He fucking sold me! Do you even understand what that means?”

Grace tips her head as if she doesn’t care. Her chin jutting out in defiance as she pins her granddaughter with a stare. “It doesn’t look like you’re too angry since you married him,” she snips before tipping her chin in gesture to me. “I think you did rather well. Lycan is wealthy, can give you children, I’m sure. And when the time comes, you’ll live a comfortable life without ever having to work again.”

If anger were an entity, it would be beside my wife right now. I release her when she pulls free from me and stalks toward the old woman. I’ve seen her angry a few times, when I took her for the first time. When I saved her from the woods and brought her to my house. But those moments have nothing on this.

She gets in Grace’s personal space, she’s inches from her, before Scarlett speaks. “Don’t you ever talk about me or my husband like that. I was pushed into this life, yes, but I made sure it was something I wanted. Do you even understand what it’s like to have your choices taken away from you?”

When Grace doesn’t answer, she merely watches her granddaughter, and for a moment, a split second, I’m sure I see pride in her eyes as she takes the younger woman in.

Scarlett continues, “You had a choice a long time ago, and you chose wrong. You could’ve righted those wrongs, but you didn’t. You could’ve raised your son properly, but you didn’t. I’m