HUGH. I look across at her. My head is bursting with incessant throbbing. I have drunk far too much, but even then; it was not enough to drown out the suffering within my mind.
The turmoil of the past and present mix into one bubbling stew that is ready to explode. What exactly did I do for the world and the Goddess if she is up there to work against me time and time again? “Dad…”
She brings me from my train of thought, and I suck in a slow breath as I look at her. She is nothing like her mother. I am truly proud of her.
“There’s far too much to share, Zaia.” “I’m ready to hear it. You have been here for me father, let me be here for you.”
I sigh heavily. Never have I felt so tired of carrying these secrets. “The beginning,” I say as I tug free from her hold and stand up. “The beginning…”
I walk towards the window and stare out at the moon. Do I tell her? There is so much that this might change…
“Zaia… there is no turning back from here. If I tell you the truth, then-”
“I’m ready for it,” I say quietly. Am I wrong to tell her? But if something happens to me… she should know the reality.
“Very well then, I swear that everything I say is nothing but the truth. But I want you to remember that regardless of what I tell you, it should not affect the way you see things and… it remains between us.”
“Ok…” She sounds worried and I look up at the moon. It’s glowing brightly, almost soothing
It’s time to share the burden that has been on my mind for years. The mistakes I’ve made, the betrayal I was dealt, the sins I’ve committed… it is all becoming too much.
when everything was perfectly fine. When I was happy and content with my mother. I didn’t expect things to change overnight, but that’s just
you would have mentioned it if your mother had told you… but… I had a brother, he was a few years older
“No, Mom’s never mentioned that.” She murmurs. “So, she didn’t.” I can’t help but
it still hurt? I nod slowly. “Well… his name was Adam, and he was all set to become the future
(FLASHBACK TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO)
through the silent house, it’s
away on a business trip and was not set to
spend the evening with her and surprise her, she’ll be
even 10 pm yet. Where
archway to the lounge, spotting the two glasses of wine on the table
wouldn’t call that a party. I sniff the air. I can
showed up. I take off my jacket and put my small suitcase down,
to get back quickly. I head upstairs to find her. I’m halfway down the
mate, nor had he taken a Luna of choice, preferring his
guestroom is open, and I pop my head inside
hall to my own bedroom when the sound of moans reaches my ears. My heart thuds as I slowly step closer, fear clawing at me as
room; the moans getting louder and sickening. I
away Hugh, what you don’t see, you
lamp is on, bathing the master bedroom in a warm glow, and the door stands
Melanie is on all fours on our bed as none other than Adam, my brother, is pounding into her from
as she begs him to fuck her harder like ‘last time’. I turn away as my entire world crashes down
betrayed me. Silently I make my
(END OF FLASHBACK)
was always the one doing the workload…
knew… and so I didn’t. I kept it in. I went through grief, regret, pain, betrayal… alone…
she places a hand on my back, but
She’s my daughter… regardless…
I wanted to know if the child was even mine… and so with the help of a doctor, at one of her check-ups
Zaia whispers, sounding
you are my daughter…” I say quietly. Her heart is thumping, and I grip the window ledge. “Knowing I was the father, I decided to try to
she whispers, I turn to her, guilt filling me. I’m causing her additional
are my daughter. Never apologise for something you had no hand in.” I say quietly, touching her cheek. She looks down, and she reminds me
what happened? Where is he now?” she asks, her eyes glittering with tears. “Adam.” I sigh before turning back to the
fated mates would be beautiful, that she’d soon see the er in her ways and return to me. That this pregnancy would bring us closer. I made sure to give her
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