Chapter 26
Shannon
A few years ago
The laughter from the party downstairs echoed through the hall as Shannon sipped her drink, the warmth of the festive lights a stark contrast to the icy knot in her stomach.
Niall had already disappeared with some young girl, a predictable move she was growing numb to.
Shannon, now immune to his insecurities and compulsive traits, was building herself up to finally end things with him after Harry’s annual party.
While Niall entertained his latest conquest, Shannon struck up a conversation with Mitchell Ashfield, one of the top international riders in Europe.
Mitchell was funny, sweet, and refreshingly unbothered by her endless questions about training and technique.
They clicked instantly, their shared love for the sport sparking an easy connection. There was no romantic spark between them, but his sharp wit had her laughing in a way she hadn’t in ages.
As she chatted with Mitchell, she almost forgot where she was, letting the conversation flow.
But beneath her calm exterior, a storm brewed, irritation simmering at how Niall thought it was okay to cheat on her.
She’d tried to distance herself from him over time, but he had a way of making it impossible.
When Niall finally returned, stumbling in with his shirttails hanging loose, drunk and slurring, Shannon’s frustration reached its peak.
He stalked across the room and snatched her wrist, his cold eyes blazing with anger. Without a word, he dragged her away from Mitchell, his grip squeezing her bones tight.
“Let go, Niall,” she hissed.
“I can’t believe you’re flirting with every guy here. You’re a fucking slut, Shan.”
He forced her away from the crowd and shoved her into the boot room, spinning her around, before kicking the door shut.
“Are you serious?” Shannon glared up at him, her pulse racing. “Don’t you dare talk to me like that.”
He had the audacity to accuse her of flaunting herself when he was the one screwing with the other girls behind closed doors.
See folded her arms over her chest and stood tall, ready to break it off with him.
Before her next breath, he crashed his mouth onto hers, his anger manifesting in the kiss, igniting the fury inside her even further.
With a growl of fury, she dug her heels into the floor, pushing against him with all her might, her hands battering his chest, trying to break free from his suffocating grip.
“Get your fucking mouth off me, Niall. God knows where your lips have been.”
Niall staggered backward and laughed under his breath. Once he’d recovered his footing, he lunged at her, seized her forearms and pinned them to the wall behind her, his full height crowding her.
Panic swirled in her chest, her pulse thundering as he squirmed against him, doing her best to get away.
“Niall… Back the fuck up.”
Her heart hammered in her chest, her breath coming in ragged bursts. Every muscle in her body braced, the air charged with anger and desperation.
Niall’s grip tightened on her wrists, and she knew she had seconds before he’d pin her again.
She didn’t think, just reacted, lifting her knee with all the force she had. The satisfying thud of it hitting his groin made her pulse spike, a rush of triumph flooding her veins.
For that brief second, she was fighting back and winning.
He gasped, his grip loosening for a beat, giving her the opportunity to twist free. As she scrambled for the door, his fists came at her .
Even though his sluggish punches were all over the place, they still hit hard.
She’d let him push her around for too long, let him wear her down, let him break her spirit. But tonight? Tonight, she wouldn’t give him that power. The thought of it made her rage burn hotter, made her fight harder.
The adrenaline surged through her, fuelling every move as she squared up, fists clenched. Her body reacted before her mind caught up, throwing a jab at him with everything she had.
His nostrils flared, and his cruel smile only deepened. The punch hadn’t slowed him down. If anything, it only seemed to enrage him more.
She stood there, heart pounding, but now even more determined.
His fingers wrenched at her hair, yanking her head back. The rough floor met her body with a thud. Anger surged through her veins as her heart hammered in her chest.
He pressed her down, his hands yanking her dress up, his body grinding against hers as she fought beneath him. His low growl vibrated through the air, words laced with venom and manipulation.
“You know you want this,” he sneered, his breath hot against her ear. “You’ve been asking for it. Flirting with Mitch to piss me off, huh? Is that what this is? Trying to make me jealous? You think I don’t know what you’re doing?”
His hands dug harder into her skin, the pressure forcing her to swallow the bile rising in her throat .
“You brought this on yourself, Shannon,” he spat. “Don’t act like you’re innocent. You wanted me to come after you, wanted to make me lose my shit. Well, here we are. Don’t act surprised.”
His accusation echoed in her mind, threatening to undo everything she’d built around her. For a moment, her heart constricted, wondering if maybe he was right.
Had she brought this on herself? Had she pushed him too far? A wash of shame crawled up her spine. But no, she wouldn’t fall for it. She wouldn’t let him turn this around on her anymore.
Her fists clenched tighter as the adrenaline fuelled her fight, knowing deep down this was her moment to take back control.
Because in his world, everything was her fault, and she knew he wasn’t letting go until she understood that.
When he kicked her legs open, something snapped. She threw her forehead into his nose with all the strength she had left and panted when blood spattered across her cheeks.
At that moment, the door flew open and Harry charged in, his expression dark.
As Harry hauled Niall off her, Shannon’s first instinct was to curl up, but the shock of it all left her rigid. She should be grateful, but part of her wanted to scream at Harry.
How had it come to this? How had he turned a blind eye for so long?
“Who the fuck do you think you are, you little shit?” Harry gritted out .
“It was her, Dad…she started it.”
“Enough!” Harry bit out. “Get the fuck out of my sight, Niall.”
As she straightened her dress, a flash of anger burned away the sting of humiliation. Eyes were on her, but she wouldn’t let them define her. She’d walk away from this, stronger than before.
“You okay, Shan?” Harry’s voice broke through the tension, his frame filling the doorway. His expression softened a fraction.
“Yeah…” The lie rolled off her tongue as she slid her hands around her middle to stop them from shaking. “All good.”
Her chin lifted, her jaw tight, as she looked past him, meeting the eyes of the others in the hallway. They didn’t know how twisted Niall had become, and she doubted they’d believe her.
The next morning, Niall disappeared. After a few weeks of peace, he slithered back to Meadow Dawn.
He offered a wad of cash as an apology for their lovers’ scuffle, as if that could erase his actions.
Shannon stared at the money, disgust rising in her throat. She wanted to scream, to tell him she couldn’t be bought, that a sincere apology would hold more weight, but the tight smile she forced was all she could offer.
For Harry’s sake.
He’d asked her to keep the peace and forgive his son, who’d paid the price by staying in rehab.
Harry was like a father to her, and she’d do anything to make him proud, so she took the money, even though it meant nothing to her.
She had cut ties with Niall that night, and no amount of cash could change the fact that she was done with him, even if that meant moving on from the whole ordeal.
It didn’t take long for the rumours to spread like wildfire, as they always did when it came to Niall.
Shannon learned to ignore the whispers, the sidelong glances, but they still stung. The idea that he’d twisted the truth to make himself the victim made her sick.
It was the last thing she ever expected… and yet, she should have known better.
From that moment on, Niall made it his mission to mess with her. Every single day, he’d find some way to piss her off, always reminding her just how little she meant to him. It was his way of keeping control, even after they’d broken up.
The only reason she stayed was because of Trixie. And the fact Harry had made a promise, a solemn vow that his son would never hurt her again.
And she believed him.