Page 47 of Stolen Sun

The woman waiting for her stands but doesn’t smile. She looks at me with sadness before speaking to Noel.

“I didn’t realize you’d bring someone. I’m not sure what I need to say should be discussed in front of company,” Nate’s mother says disapprovingly.

“Not leaving,” I clip, pulling out a chair for Noel.

Instead of joining them, I stand against the wall and study the room.

“I apologize for making you think you needed a bodyguard to meet me,” she says to Noel.

I scoff but say nothing.

Ignoring me, she continues, “How have you been, Noel?”

“Why am I here, Jaclyn?”

That’s my girl.

Jaclyn smiles and nods her head, looking down at her fingers on the table.

“I get it, but I’m not your enemy. Nate and I resolved our past and built a relationship. Why do you still hold it against me?”

“He may have forgiven you, but he took it all out on me,” Noel says, her voice dripping with anger.

I push off the wall, my whole body tensing up at her words. “What did you say?” I ask through clenched teeth.

“He didn’t hit me, but there are other ways for spouses to inflict pain. I didn’t notice so much in college. For a while, I even thought it was sweet the way he’d get jealous of my spending time with friends.

Eventually, he was asking for reassurance so often that it got annoying. No matter what I did or didn’t do, he took everything to mean I would leave him. I didn’t even realize how much effort I was spending convincing him of my loyalty and love until he was gone.” She says every word without breaking eye contact with Jaclyn, holding her responsible for the broken man she married.

“I’d be careful where you place blame, Noel. Especially since you don’t know the entire story,” Jaclyn counters.

I grunt at her. “Then fucking enlightenus.”

“Did you know Grant and I had a daughter?” She ignores me, only looking at Noel.

“What?” Noel asks in shock.

“She died when she was two. Losing a child can destroy a marriage. Grant wanted more children, and I couldn’t bear the thought of having another little girl. Grant loves you like the daughter we lost, and he doesn’t want you to know the truth.” Jaclyn unloads all the heavy shit in one go.

“The truth about what?” I can hear Noel’s sympathy in her voice. I’m not letting this woman manipulate her, so she better say something that means a fuck next.

“Keep in mind that Nate truly loved you, okay?”

She waits for Noel to agree, and I’m sure I know exactly what’s coming next. But I’m not sure how Noel will react. I uncross my arms and fist my hands, bracing myself for the moment this woman goes too far.

“Your marriage was arranged when you were both fifteen. Nate insisted on moving here to let things happen naturally, so you wouldn’t feel forced to be with him,” Jaclyn explains.

“What the fuck?!” Noel raises her voice, and I take a step forward. She holds her hand up to me.

“Your father’s estate has certain stipulations,” she adds.

“What stipulations?!” Noel screams, lifting herself up with her hands on the table.

“Marriage to a specific type of family. A child,” Jaclyn whispers.

“I’ve heard enough,” I threaten. “What the fuck do you want?”

Noel tries to take back control and cuts in, “Wait, Declan, I need to understand!”

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