Page 146 of Bride By Coronation

Every question she wants answers to involves The Underworld, but my conscience won't let me sit here and continue to gaslight her. I remind myself that my men checked Dante's penthouse. They claim no recording devices remain.

It was a quick sweep.

Can I still trust the team?

Who can I trust right now besides Fiona, Sean, and Zara?

Valentina.

Maybe Brax, as he's like a brother to Sean and Fiona.

Bridget accuses, "You can't even deny the ring is Sean's design."

Fiona starts, "Mom, please?—"

"No, I know that ring," she claims, and a wave of pain crosses her expression.

Why did I give it to Fiona?

I should have anticipated this.

I didn't know Bridget knew anything about the ring.

Her pain radiates into me, tearing at my heart, so I try to calm her, stating, "Sean gave me a copy of the drawing. I thought it would be a nice gesture for Fiona to have something her father designed. I didn't know it was for you or that you had seen it, or I wouldn't have had it made," I lie, feeling guilty, but knowing Bridget can never know Sean made Fiona's ring for her.

Her face crumples. She turns toward the window, and more tears stream down her cheeks.

Dante's eyes darken to another level. His hatred burns right at me.

"Mom, I'm sorry you're hurt. The last thing I ever wanted to do was hurt you," Fiona cries.

Bridget glances back, sniffles, and lifts her chin, squaring her shoulders just like Fiona does. With a new strength in her voice, she accuses, "You have my husband's skull branded on your hand, and now you forced my daughter to get one on her neck."

"He didn't force me," Fiona grinds out.

"It's okay," I say to her in a gentle voice.

She shakes her head, "No, it's not. You didn't force me. I chose to get it. It's not fair for you to get blamed for things I chose to do on my own."

Every good emotion I've ever had about my wife exponentially grows in that moment. I don't know why she finds it so easy to stand up for me or act like there's no reason not to love me, even though I know it's too soon for her to feel that deep emotion.

Love.

What am I thinking?

Bridget pins her wet gaze on me. "I want to know why my children wear Sean's mark. I'm not stupid. The men have it branded on their hands and the women on their necks. What was he a part of, and what have you gotten my daughter into?"

My chest tightens. Fiona fibs, "He hasn't gotten me into anything."

I toss her a pleading look to stop talking. I'd rather do the lying here. So I quickly add, "It was a tribute to your husband and nothing more."

"Bullshit," Bridget snaps.

I remain silent, wondering how we'll ever get to a point when I can't tell the truth and she knows I'm lying.

Dante snarls, "If you're going to sit here and lie to us, there's no point talking."

I state, "I'm trying to tell you what I can. And you should know the most important thing in all of this."

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