A dragon shifter novel Chapter 172

172 Chapter 172 Disowned

James opened his mouth to speak, but Kieran beat him to it. ‘I’m not done. Nana, if you want to go on another hunger strike, I can’t stop you. But I will tell you this, if you don’t eat, I don’t eat. If you don’t drink, neither will I. But I’m not signing the divorce papers. 1

Was it any wonder that I loved this man?

I could have kissed him and jumped his bones right then and there if I wasn’t afraid of giving Beata a stroke.

As it was, the eighty–year–old woman was barely holding on to her

composure.

She reached a trembling hand for her walking stick.

James hustled over to help.

‘I’ve said what I’ve come to say. Enjoy your breakfast. Good day?

Kieran turned around.

‘You would do this to me, on my birthday?‘

Beata’s cracked, rasping voice stopped us both in our tracks.

‘You would walk out on us, your flesh and blood, for this…this hussy born out of wedlock, worse, born of a criminal? Can’t you see she’s turning you against your own family?‘

‘She’s not turning me against anybody, Kieran said with resignation, realising he could never hope to change Beata’s mind. ‘I chose her.‘

Beata thumped her walking stick against the floor. ‘A choice that could very well ruin your life! Can’t you see that Louise is a much more suitable wife for you? If you don’t like her, fine, I can introduce you to dozens of other girls. Girls from decent families, with a good upbringing, not a single criminal gene in their blood!‘

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172 Chapter 172 Disowned

Kieran and I exchanged a weary look, both sighed.

‘If you insist on leaving, sign this.

A sheaf of papers flew towards Kieran, landed on the floor in front of him.

He picked them up.

I glimpsed the title–‘Share Transfer Agreement.‘

Beata spat out the words. ‘Give up your shares in the V Group. Resign from your position as president. Then you can take your wife and go.

‘Mum!‘ James reacted first. ‘We said we’d talk about this!‘

Claire put in, ‘Maybe we should just give Kieran some time to cool down. I’m sure he’ll come to his senses eventually. There’s really no need for such a… drastic measure.‘

Beata huffed out a breath. ‘My decision is final.’

Claire looked at Kieran with a pained expression, wrung her hands.

He glanced around, walked to a desk, picked up a pen, signed his name.

Claire elbowed James, whispered, ‘Say something!‘

James balled his hands into fists, caught between his son and his mother.

I didn’t envy him that position.

Kieran presented the agreement to Beata with both hands, along with the keycard to this suite. ‘Nana, I’m sorry we’ll have to miss the party later. Happy birthday.‘

Beata’s wrinkled face was stony, her eyes smouldering with rage.

Rage directed at me.

Kieran took my hand.

The door snicked shut behind us.

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172 Chapter 172 Disowned

We didn’t speak until we’d stepped into the lift, which whisked us down to

the third floor.

I leaned into his chest. ‘I’m sorry.

‘So am I. But it’s not your fault. He kissed the top of my head.

‘I wish there was another way‘

He shook his head. ‘It’s the way it has to be. Nana’s as stubborn as they come.’ He paused. ‘Guess I got that hard–headedness from her.’

I pulled back. ‘What happens now?‘

‘Now, we go home. He walked over to where my suitcase stood, started packing my clothes. ‘I’m unemployed now, honey. You’ll have to bring home the bacon.’

‘I can probably get you a job at Mo Chara, I said. ‘You’d make a handsome barista.‘

He grinned. ‘I’d make a handsome anything?‘

We went down to the lobby, spotted Eimile sitting cross–legged in one of the

armchairs.

She rose when she saw us.

The white, oversized, thigh–length dress she wore looked suspiciously like a

man’s shirt.

Which I suspected was Conor’s.

So was the black suit jacket draped over Eimile’s shoulders, which slipped off as she got to her feet.

‘Kieran, good to see you. She nodded at him.

‘Eimile. He averted his eyes when he caught sight of the hickeys on her neck and chest. ‘I’ll go get you ladies something to drink?‘

‘Vodka espresso, thanks, Eimile said.

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172 Chapter 172 Disowned

‘Sure.‘

I waited for him to move off to the bar before turning to Eimile, and kept my voice down. ‘Can you tell me what happened? How did you end up with… Conor?”

She lifted a shoulder, nonchalant. ‘I heard he was attending the party, came here to talk to him, wanted to know if he had a line on Rainey. My source said he was staying at Room 2096.‘

That was the room Erin put me in.

‘I went up to the second floor, Eimile continued. ‘I was checking the room numbers when one of the doors opened. This crazed–looking guy yanked me inside, jumped me. I think he was drugged.

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