Chapter 27
Chapter Twenty-Seven
“ W hat happened, Lori?” Mia’s voice echoes down the line, forcing me to hold my cell away from my ear before she causes permanent damage. “You can’t tell me you’re leaving Ireland just like that and not give me a good reason for it. Something must have happened. I just know it.”
“I can’t talk right now. The plane’s about to take off.” I peer through the window, scanning the runway and the unfamiliar faces of the employees going through the usual motions for the umpteenth time.
Relieved Patrick’s not among them, I exhale and try to relax in my seat. But relaxation is far from my mind.
I’m a nervous wreck. Hurt. Lost. It’s not the first time in my life that I feel this way, but coming from the man I’ve fallen in love with, the betrayal seems so much worse.
The whole Ireland trip didn’t go according to plan at all. Then again, why did I think a man like Patrick would move out of the house he grew up in, basically hand it to me on a silver tray, shake hands, wish me well, and be out of my hair for good? Judging from what I’ve seen of him so far, he isn’t scared of much and would go to extreme length to get what he wants.
“Where are you going?” Mia asks. “Can you at least tell me that?”
“Back to New York.”
“You can’t go home,” she protests.
Of course not. I have no home. Every single man that entered my life made sure of that. My father. My former boss. Now Patrick.
“It was the cheapest airplane ticket I could get on short notice.” And the fastest to the States, which I don’t add.
“I have a friend who’ll be happy to take you in for a couple of days until you sort yourself out. I’ll text you the details.”
“Thank you.” I smile, grateful for my friend’s clear thinking. She’s a planner and not half as na?ve as I am. She would never have fallen for Patrick’s ruse the way I did.
Stupid.
I turn my attention back to the window as the usual takeoff procedures are slowly coming to an end. The cars and people outside are clearing the runway, the unfamiliar faces disappearing from view as they return to their jobs, routines, and lives.
I look at my ring finger and the tiny band I forgot to take off. Even though I haven’t had time to check whether my now-enemy and I are indeed married, the photos were clear enough. And then there’s the feeling in the pit of my stomach.
Knowing.
Cold, heavy dread that for once he was telling the truth.
He wanted the Walsh estate. He got it by marrying me. Even if I divorce him he’ll want half. He knows about my money situation. I can’t buy him out. After spending all my meager savings on the last lawyer, I can’t afford a legal battle against a famous rockstar. Besides, I know nothing about marital or property law, or any law for that matter.
Do I even want that?
Not when the house should have been his in the first place, and I still don’t know why the late Mrs. Walsh left it to me.
The doors close and the seatbelt signs go on. The air hostesses commence the usual procedures, going up and down the aisles, and checking for stray baggage. One is looking in my direction, and a frown forms on her forehead as she’s slowly heading my way.
“We’re taking off,” I hurry through my words before the air hostess can reach me and demand that I end the call. “We’ll talk once I land, okay?”
Mia protests. I don’t listen to it. I switch off my phone and hold it up just in time before the stewardess reaches me. She glares at me, her mouth pressed into a disapproving line. I have a feeling she isn’t going to offer me an extra blanket or a complimentary drink, but I’m fine with that. My stupidity is monumental, and for that I deserve all the discomfort heading my way.
I know there’s going to be plenty of it once the plane lands and I call the first divorce attorney I can get my hands on. Patrick might have left my heart broken in a million pieces, but that’s something he will never find out.
Getting involved with Patrick Walsh wasn’t the biggest mistake I ever made. The biggest mistake was falling in love with him, thinking he actually cared about me, believing he really wanted me when all along, it was just a ploy to play me and play me hard.
Turned out, I fell into a trap and I didn’t even see it coming. All because he wanted the house, which I had decided to give him anyway, right before discovering his dirty move.
Patrick Walsh is the storm who pulled me in only to leave me broken and wounded. I have no strength to brace him. I have no strength to brace the storm.
All I want is for the pain to go away and to start a new chapter in my life.
My heart might never heal, but my dignity will.