Broken Vows and Buried Twins novel Chapter 102

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Declan watched the sleek car disappear into the dark veil of the night. He rubbed his face roughly and let out a heavy sigh.

...

For the entire ride home, Hester remained entirely silent.

Gael Montgomery knew her heart was breaking.

Bella had loved Hester as fiercely as any biological grandmother ever could. Even though the old woman had once broken Hester’s heart over Caden, twenty years of unwavering family bonds couldn't be erased by a single mistake.

Hester was someone who valued loyalty and love above all else. With Bella gone, it meant that one of the only true pieces of family she had ever known in this world was gone, too.

Upon arriving at the house, Hester went straight to her bedroom.

Knowing she hadn't eaten anything all evening, Gael asked Celeste to make a hot bowl of chicken noodle soup.

Once it was ready, Gael brought the tray up and knocked gently on Hester's door.

When a long moment passed with no response, Gael grew worried. She tested the handle and was relieved to find it unlocked.

She pushed the door open.

The room was pitch black. Guided by the faint spill of light from the hallway, Gael spotted Hester curled into a tight ball on the sofa.

Her face was buried in her arms, utterly motionless and silent.

Gael sighed softly, flicked on the lights, and walked in, setting the tray on the side table.

She sat down next to Hester, gently rubbing her back. "I figured you hadn't eaten a bite all night, so I had Celeste whip up some soup. Just try to have a little?"

Hester slowly lifted her head. Her skin was alarmingly pale, her exhaustion and devastation impossible to hide. She stared quietly at Gael.

After about thirty seconds, Gael finally heard her whisper, "Bella is gone. She must have been so incredibly disappointed in Julian and me."

"What are you talking about?" Gael frowned, her tone firm. "Disappointed in Julian? Absolutely. But never you. She watched you grow up. She knew your heart, and she knew how much hell you've been put through. If anything, her heart broke for you!"

Hester rested her elbows on her knees and cradled her forehead in her hands, letting out a long, trembling breath. "Gael, why is it so hard just to live? It feels like the tighter I try to hold on to something, the faster it slips through my fingers. I'm just... so tired..."

Gael’s heart ached. She reached out and pulled Hester into a tight embrace.

"It’s going to pass. Think about the baby. Soon, you'll be on a plane, settling into a beautiful new life abroad with your little one. All of this absolute garbage will just be a distant memory."