‘Don’t you dare blame her, Lorcan. This is all on you.’ And with that I walked out of the kitchen, ran up to my room and grabbed the suitcase I’d thankfully mostly packed the day before the wedding and headed back downstairs. Nobody had moved, except for Lorcan, who was nowhere to be seen.

‘Ah, love,’ his mum said, wrapping her arms around me. ‘I’m so sorry. I thought this was different. He was like his old self again once he met you.’

I swallowed hard, trying not to cry, trying not to wish that I could go home now and be wrapped in my own mum’s embrace as my heart sat broken in little pieces on the floor of my chest. One by one the family each gave me a big hug. Not many words were spoken, for which I was glad. They and I knew there was little more to be said.

‘Drive carefully now, won’t you?’

‘I will, I promise. And thank you again for all your kindness and hospitality.’

‘It was truly my pleasure, darling,’ Maria said, taking my hands within her own and bringing them to her heart. ‘You’re a special girl, so you are.’

My throat had closed, raw and painful with emotion, so I merely nodded and she did the same.

‘I’ll take that for you,’ Cillian said, grabbing the handle of my case and leading me out to the front of the house where he loaded it in the back of the car for me before wrapping me in another big hug. ‘Sorry about the big eejit,’ he said softly. ‘Doesn’t know a good thing when he sees it.’ I hugged him back, giving a squeeze of acknowledgement before letting go and opening the driver’s side door.

‘That’s it, then?’ We both turned at the deep voice. Cillian looked at me, a silent question in his eyes. I nodded and he headed back inside, but not before shooting his brother a dirty look.

‘So it would seem.’

‘Not going to give me a chance to explain?’

‘I offered you a chance. In fact, if you recall I asked you a direct question and you refused to answer so yes, Lorcan, that’s it. I’m just sorry I was stupid enough to fall for your lies. I mean,’ I slapped my hand against my forehead, ‘sleeping with the best man? What a bloody cliché! I can’t believe I fell for that after all these years.’

‘You think that’s all it was? Sex?’

‘I didn’t yesterday but right now, yes. I do.’

‘Well, it’s not.’

‘It doesn’t really matter now, does it?’ I said, turning away towards the car.

‘Not to you, it seems.’

‘Don’t you dare!’ I said, spinning back to face him. ‘Don’t you dare try and twist this so you’re the injured party.’