Read The Truth Be Told (The Truth in Lies Saga #3) for Free Online

how that feels, would you?”
    “Oh, so now you’re going to tell me you’re in love with her, just like you were so in love with Rebecca Sloan.  We all saw how well that turned out.”
    My eyes cut to Jared.  Anger and confusion colored his expression.  
    “Leave Rebecca out of this,” I advised.
    “As if I could.  You’re a spoiled, selfish child who thinks he has no use for propriety.  Your fling with McKenzie ends tonight.  You brought enough shame on this house when you divorced Rebecca.  I won’t allow you to shame it further by not marrying Olivia.”
    “Divorced,” Jared gargled.
    My father’s mouth twisted.  “I see you haven’t been forthcoming with your friends.  Does McKenzie know of your past transgressions?  Hmm?  Rebecca.”  His tongue darted out over his lips, and before the word even left his mouth, I felt it hit me like an arrow to the heart.  “Autumn.”
    Every bone in my body turned to mush.  My heart lurched into my throat.  Tears swam at the corners of my eyes.  “Don’t you dare,” I growled.  “You leave her out of this.”
    “You brought her into it when you brought that woman in my house.  How dare you defile my home for your selfishness.”
    “Enough!” Gavin bellowed.  He jumped from his seat, throwing his hands in the air.  “Enough!  Jesus Fuck!  Can’t you simply let it go for one week?  Both of you!  This is my week.  My wedding.  Stop badgering Drew for shit you couldn’t control.  Gah!”
    “I’m not badgering Andrew.  I’m stating a fact that your brother married a woman against my wishes, procreated with her, murdered his child, and then divorced the woman because of an alleged act of infidelity.  I can’t begin to count the number times I had to bail your brother out because of that one mistake.”
    I sat there, listening to my father recount everything I’d done.  The room was a blur.  Every voice faded.  All I could hear was the sound of my heartbeat.
    Thump.
    Thump.
    Thump.
    It pushed the blood through my undeserving veins, spelling out the hatred I carried for myself and what I’d done.  A hand gripped my shoulder.  “Murder!  He did not murder his daughter!” Gavin bellowed.  “Do you even hear yourself?  What happened that night was an accident, Father, and you know it.”  Gavin squeezed my shoulder harder.  I tried to breathe but found it difficult to inhale.
    “As for McKenzie Evans, she is a friend of mine and Morgan’s.  You will treat her as you would any other guest in this house.”
    Never had I heard so much authority come from my brother, especially not directed at our father.  
    “Is that all?” Father asked, his brow lifted, almost daring Gavin to continue, yet there was a hint of pride in his expression.
    Gavin plopped back down beside me.  He exhaled and crossed his arms over his chest.  “Yes, sir.”
    “Good.  Now, I do believe we have some planning to do for your bachelor party.  That is what we’re here for.  I was able to book a room at The Union Club, so that means nothing stupid like strippers.”  He cut his eyes to me as he uttered the word ‘strippers,’ as if he was expecting me to protest.  
    I sat there and said nothing.  My mind and heart were complete mush.  All these years and not once had my father come right out and called me a murderer until tonight.  Yes, Autumn’s death had been a terrible accident, caused by my hands, but to be called out as a murderer…I had no words.  I was devastated.  If my own father thought of me as a murderer, could it be possible that McKenzie felt the same?
    “Stop it,” Gavin leaned over and whispered.  “Don’t you dare let him get to you.”
    I nodded.  Gavin would defend me no matter what, but the truth was, I was everything my father claimed me to be.  McKenzie deserved so much better than that.
    I felt a tiny buzz in my pocket.  Pulling my phone out, I swiped the screen to find a new text message awaiting