Page 58 of Stronger Than Love

Each letter became more desperate, Liam pouring out all his feelings for me, begging me to give him another chance. Tears streamed down my face at every word. All the years of misunderstanding separating us caused by people andtheir spiteful words and actions thawed the ice currently surrounding my heart and a fire ignited in me, anger pulsating deep in my core.

Shoving the letters in my pocket, the need to escape overwhelmed me. The ocean called me to her with gentle lapping whispers, the salt air and summer rain hiding the tears falling down my face. Time became irrelevant while I stood and stared into the force of nature that calmed me.

I continued my pilgrimage to the lighthouse, skirting around the perimeter of workmen. Letting myself in, I climbed the staircase in search of the view at the top. My hands gripped the rails and my forehead pressed into the window. My happiest memories were in this room spent sharing time with Liam.

He was obviously the artist who bought it for his paintings. He’d bought every place that had been special to us, preserving it as a testament to the love we shared, and others stole from us.

Mum and Angie were out when I returned, so I quickly packed my stuff, lifted Liam’s car keys from where he left them on the kitchen counter, and did what I did best. I ran. Some of my clothes were still in the boot of his car since I never lifted them out when we arrived down a few days ago.

The radio played in the background and I lost myself in my thoughts. My resolve strengthened with each passing mile. I refused to continue to live half a life without love. Ten years ago, I’d walked away. This time, I refused to allow the wicked actions of others to steal what belonged to me.

Instead of crying, I began to formulate a plan.

I was through being a victim. If I wanted the happy ending I envisaged as a child, then the only person who could grab it was me.

***

Chapter Twenty-Two

Liam

Six weeks I’d wallowed in misery. I’d taken part in every adrenalin-fuelled crazy stunt I could find. To try and eradicate Oonagh from my system, I’d even tried random hook-ups, but apparently my dick only worked for her these days.

My backpack was thrown into the utility room and I grabbed a beer from the fridge. The house was in darkness, and I knew my way around it without lights, so I wandered into the sunroom to sit down and stared out into the garden, my fingers tapping on the side of the bottle.

“Decided to come home?” Callum stood watching me with his hip braced against the doorframe.

“Looks like it,” I replied with a shrug.

“You left a huge mess in your wake.”

I continued to drink my beer, refusing to reply. There was nothing to say because I refused to talk or think about Oonagh.

Callum stepped in front of me, and I eventually looked up at him. “You made a big mistake. Oonagh didn’t deserve the way you treated her.”

My jaw tightened and I seriously considered punching my brother.

He crouched so we were eye to eye. “Did you stop to ask what happened to her and the baby?”

I took another mouthful of beer.

“A drunk driver ran her down that September, leaving her for dead. She only found out about the baby when she regained consciousness. You were at my bedside while Oonagh was lying in another hospital bed.”

My blood cooled in my veins with every word Callum spoke.

“She never received the letters you sent. Turns out that bastard Martin sent them all back ‘return to sender’ because he’s had a thing about her for years. She never noticed him because she was too fucking in love with you.”

Nausea burned a path up my throat, and I fought the physical urge to be sick.

“She sweet-talked Dermott when he was making a fuss about you going missing. Told him you were organising something to do with your wedding.” Callum’s hand landed on my leg. “You need to fix this before she decides you’re not worth the trouble.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Where is she?”

“No idea. Niall hasn’t seen her since she took off a few days after you. Michael contacted her about Dermott, but she’s been off the radar after that.”

“Did she go back to her job?”

“Angie did, and Martin left in a huge huff, but I’ve no idea where Oonagh disappeared to.”

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