Chapter 175: Secrets and Lies

"Her parents demanded that she marry to get her own inheritance."

"But she was already married."

"Yes but they had no idea so our parents divorced quietly. Father kept us and we all returned to England. Dad went into politics and our family spread a story about a French wife that had died of a heart condition whilst we were young. It did wonders for his political career; everyone loves a widower."

"F*ck; that's f*cked up." It's hardly the most eloquent sentence but I really don't know what else to say. This is so far from okay.

"Mum remarried almost immediately," Gabriel tells me, "to Lewis Stone. I think she loves him. She focused on her work for a few years before having her daughters. She has two; Aurora who is twenty-two and Aileen who is twenty."

We're silent. I'm not sure what more there is to discuss but there's clearly more or my brother would have left by now.

"What else?" I ask when I can't take any more.

"We need to talk about your boyfriend."