The screen was still lit and the first few words of the message were clearly visible. I am so, so sorry.
Darcy licked her lips. Her throat was instantly dry and her skin prickled uncomfortably. She slid the message open with her finger then blinked at the length of the message. Damian had never been known to be long-winded. But it seemed today he’d made an exception.
Her eyes scanned the message as tears she didn’t want to shed blurred her vision.
‘I’ll kill him,’ came the voice of her father behind her, who had obviously read part of the message over her shoulder. ‘I’ll find him, and I’ll kill him.’
And Darcy knew that in that second her father, the most placid man on the planet, meant every word. He adored his girls. She knew he would lay down his life for any one of them.
Every part of her body was shaking. But she was determined to be strong. She didn’t want her family to see her break. Not after everything they’d been through together. The last few years with Laura’s illness had taken its toll on every one of them. Her mother and father had aged visibly. They didn’t need any more stress. Not when Laura was still at risk and only part way through her treatment.
Darcy lifted her head. This was her mess. No one else’s. Her heart squeezed when she thought of all their family and friends currently sitting in the church, waiting for her and Damian.
A braver woman would walk in, tell them that he’d changed his mind and invite them all back to the hotel for a party—after all, it was already paid for. That was what other brides on social media did, wasn’t it?
But even though Darcy knew her family and friends would put up a good front on her behalf, she knew that wasn’t what she wanted. She wasn’t that kind of person.
She took her phone and did a search. It took a few seconds to pull up a hotel that she’d looked at in the past but was always out of her price range. A few presses of some buttons and she’d booked herself in for the next five nights.
She kissed her sisters and her mum and dad on the cheeks. ‘Thank you all. But you know that Damian isn’t coming.’ She shook her head, trying to pretend her voice wasn’t trembling. ‘I know I should go and tell people, but I just can’t do it. I need some time to myself.’ She tilted her chin up, feeling a little braver. ‘I’ve booked a hotel. Please invite our guests back to the reception, some of them have travelled a distance. Look after them.’
‘Darcy,’ Fizz said, her arm immediately on Darcy’s. ‘I’ll come with you. You’re not going by yourself.’
Darcy pulled Fizz in tight. ‘Look after Laura,’ she whispered in her ear. ‘Her next round of chemo is two days away. Look after her for both of us.’ She pulled back now, not trying to hide the tears streaming down her face. ‘We’re the Bennetts. We’ll get over this,’ she said, the family motto they were all familiar with. ‘I love you all,’ she added before she gave a nod to the chauffeur. ‘Will you take me where I want to go?’
The man gave an immediate nod and Darcy turned and started walking away from the church, not wanting to look back at her family.
She couldn’t. Not now.
Not when her heart was breaking.
Not when she had no idea what might come next.
Copyright © 2024 by Scarlet Wilson
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ISBN-13: 9780369738073
Bound by Their Lisbon Legacy
Copyright © 2024 by Ella Hayes
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission.
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
