Page 71 of A Devious Secret

Gemma let out a dry laugh. “If that is the case, then why would I take anything you say seriously?”

“I know the toll your estrangement has caused him but he is too proud to admit it,” her stepmother said.

“I don’t know what my father has told you about me, but we have never been close, far from it, in fact,” Gemma shared. “I do not have any fond memories of my father.”

Her stepmother took a step towards her. “I want to change that,” she said. “After your mother died—”

“Do not speak of my mother,” Gemma declared, speaking over her. “You don’t know the first thing about her.”

“I know that your father cared for her.”

Gemma arched an eyebrow. “Is that why he wasn’t at her side when she died?”

Her stepmother winced. “I would admit that was poor judgment on his part, but he told me that he cared for her.”

“Then I shall take your word for it, and not his actions,” Gemma said dryly.

“Gemma…” Her words stopped. “I know you have no reason to trust me, but I do want what’s best for you.”

“I do not trust you,” Gemma admitted. “You married my father one month after my mother died.”

“Your father was lonely and I was—”

“What?” Gemma demanded. “What could have possibly justified your actions?”

Her stepmother lowered her gaze as she admitted, “I was with child.”

“That is your excuse?” she asked in disbelief. “You admit to sleeping with my father when my mother was still alive.”

After a long moment, her stepmother shared, “I lost the baby right before your husband died. That is why we couldn’t attend his funeral.”

“I do not care what your reasonings were,” Gemma said. “I want nothing to do with you or my father.”

Her stepmother had a crestfallen look on her face. “I know you are angry, but I am not here to fight with you. I am here to make amends.”

“I’m sorry, but it is too late for that.” Gemma gestured towards the door. “I believe it is time for you to go.”

Her stepmother slowly nodded. “I agree, but I do hope you will reconsider.”

“Why should I?” Gemma asked.

“I know, deep down, that your father wants you in his life.”

Gemma shook her head. “No, my father always wanted a boy. I was just the consolation prize.”

Her stepmother walked over to the door and stopped. “I don’t have any children of my own, but I had hoped that we could have had a relationship.”

“You thought wrong,” she said without a hint of remorse. “By your own admission, you admitted to being my father’s mistress while my mother was still alive. What kind of woman would be with a man when his wife was dying?”

Lowering her gaze, her stepmother responded, “I realize now that my actions could be called into question—”

Gemma cut her off. “Just to be clear, I do not want anything to do with you or my father. He doesn’t want a relationship with me. He just wants to control me. And I refuse to give him that power.”

“Gemma, please be reasonable…” her stepmother attempted.

“Good day,” Gemma said before she turned her back to her stepmother. She didn’t want to hear one more thing that woman had to say. She had spoken her piece and now it was time for her to leave. With any luck, she would never have to see or speak to her stepmother, or father, for that matter, ever again.