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"What does Lydia want?" de"

"To meet," said Frankie

Marcia huffed "Well, she’ll be rather disappointed when you turn her doon’t she?"

"HerI’ll pay her a visit so she can see me just once before she passes"

"In other words, she’s trying to manipulate you with a sob story" Marcia sniffed "You will, of course, ignore her atteht, and her wolf growled "Will I?"

Marcia’s eyes went diamond hard "Yes, you will They defended him, Francesca He killed Caroline, but they defended him Said he must have been drunk or had a moment of madness--like there could be any excuse for as done to her They kept questioning you, trying to put words into yourthat would so in a zo footsteps, Frankie looked over her shoulder to see her uncle waltz in As usual, the accountant was dressed in a tailored suit and wearing a charreat to see you" Brad kissed her cheek "Too beautiful for words"

"You knew the truth, didn’t you?" Frankie accused hirin melted away and he sed "How did you find out?"

It was Marcia who answered, each word curt and bitter as she explained the matter to her only son

Brad rested a hand on Frankie’s ar the truth froed him off "Best? Best for who, Brad?"

"For who? For you, of course"

Frankie snorted She wasn’t a weak, fragile flower; she could have handled the truth Turning back to her grandparents, she said, "Look, I get why you’d want a child to forget so so traumatic I understand why you’d rather never speak of what happened But I’h to understand and deal with the truth for a long time You could have told ht to know"

Geoffrey held her gaze steadily--there was no remorse there "Why hurt you with the truth?"

"The lie hurts too It makes me wonder what else you’ve lied to ry You have a right to be, I suppose, but I can’t be sorry for doing what I did to spare you pain Your life isn’t based on a lie, Francesca We simply didn’t tell you who your real father was or how yourthe truth have really ed the person you are today?"

Maybe, et it now I could never quite measure up to your expectations, no matter what I did You loveback I’hter You’ve never been able to truly see all the way past that, have you?"

Marcia’s mouth hardened, but she didn’t confirm or deny it She didn’t have to

Brad put his hand on her shoulder and turned her to face him "Look at me, Frankie You’re loved deeply and unconditionally by every one of us You’re hurt and angry and overthinking things I can understand why--you’ve had one hell of a shock and it’s knocked you off balance But don’t let that shake your confidence and trust in your family"