41
Dillon
Ijump up, glaring at the screen, wishing I could project myself into the TV and throttle the living daylights out of that conniving bitch. Everyone else stands, crowding around the TV. I tuck Viv into my side, hating how badly she’s trembling and wishing I could make this go away, but I’m too late. The damage is done.
I’m seething as I watch Aoife talk to a Virgin One reporter in their Dublin studios. The news about Viv and me only broke three hours ago, so this must be live, which is crazy because it’s after midnight there. I have no clue how she managed to set this up so fast, unless she was already in discussions with someone.
Despite reassuring Viv many months ago, I was worried Aoife might say something when the news came out about Reeve and me being twins. So, I contacted my Dublin solicitor and requested he send a reminder to all of those who had signed the NDA, reminding them of the considerable financial penalties if anyone spoke out.
Trying to ruin Viv and me must mean more to Aoife than money because she knows me well enough to know I’m going to go after her for this.
“Are you saying Vivien Lancaster and Dillon O’Donoghue had a relationship six years ago when Vivien studied at Trinity College Dublin?” the reporter asks her, in what is obviously a contrived interview.
“Yes. They were definitely a couple,” the traitorous bitch says as old pictures of Vivien and me are shared on the screen. All the shots were taken in Whelans, which means the bitch was taking pictures of us on the sly.
“They look pretty infatuated with one another in these photos. Would you say their relationship continued after Vivien left Ireland and returned to America?”
“Most definitely,” she lies. “I mean, why else would Dillon make me sign an NDA if not to protect his relationship with her?”
“That fucking whore.” Ash clenches her hands into fists, seething as much as I am, when her phone rings. “Jay, I can’t talk,” she says, pausing for a few seconds. “We’re watching it now. I’ll call you back.”
“Can you elaborate for the viewers? Are you saying you broke the terms of an NDA to talk to us today?”
Aoife nods, attempting, and failing, to look superior. “Censorship isn’t right. Freedom of speech is a constitutional right, and I won’t be bullied into keeping my mouth shut.”
“What a dumbass,” Ash says.
“Shut up. We’re missing it,” I say.
“Why did you speak out now? Why not when it was revealed earlier this year that Reeve and Dillon were twins?” the reporter asks.
“I wanted to, but Dillon’s solicitor sent me a threatening letter, and I was afraid.”
“Oh, please. You stupid bitch. You were waiting for the best moment to come forward.” Ash grinds her teeth while Vivien is worryingly mute beside me. I hold her tighter, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.
“But it’s not right, what they did, and someone needs to say something. That poor man died not knowing his wife was sleeping with his twin. For all we know, that little boy wasn’t even his. I bet he’s Dillon’s. The timing is really suspect.”
“You stupid fucking whore!” Vivien explodes, shucking out of my arms. She grabs a mug from the table, throwing it at the TV. Before I can stop her, she’s grabbed another, throwing that one too. “That stupid fucking bitch!” She whirls around, fire dancing in her eyes, nostrils flaring, looking slightly scary. “I will kill her! I’m getting on a plane, and I’m going to strangle her with my bare hands.” Viv grabs fistfuls of her hair and paces the floor. I stride toward her, attempting to pull her into my arms, but she swats me away.
“This is all your fault! You brought her into our lives. How could you have ever slept with that bitch?” Vivien asks, glaring at me. “I always knew she was poison.”
“I tried to fix it. I—”
“I don’t want to hear excuses, Dillon.” She shoves my chest. “You were so confident you had it handled, but I’ve always known better when it comes to her. She always wanted to hurt me, and now she’s found the perfect ammunition. I’m betting the next person who comes forward is that guy from the lab or one of his staff. This is going to be all over the news.”
She breaks down, sobbing as she drops to her knees, all the fight fading. “We have to tell him now. It’s only three weeks until Christmas, Dillon. His first Christmas without Reeve is already going to be hard enough. I didn’t want to tell him until after.”
We haven’t actually discussed a timeline at all, so that’s news to me. But I understand, and I share her concerns. The timing sucks, but we have no choice now. I sink to my knees too, wrapping my arms around her, but she pushes me away. Pain slices across my chest. “Don’t touch me, Dillon. I don’t want you to touch me.” She climbs awkwardly to her feet. “I need some space,” she adds before fleeing the room.
Ash extends her hand, helping me to stand. My shoulders slump with the weight of failure.
“She doesn’t mean it,” my sister says, giving me a hug.
“I promised I’d protect her. That I wouldn’t let anything, or anyone, hurt her again, and I’ve failed already.”
Ash grips my face hard. “Cut that shit out now, Dil. You haven’t failed her. This isn’t on you. It’s on that stupid manipulative bitch.”
Fury returns full throttle, and a muscle clenches in my jaw. “She’s going to pay.”