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.
I was happy and content with my mother. I didn’t expect things to change overnight, but that’s just how life deals its blows… When you least expect it.” I begin, memories of the past begin to cloud my mind… Will it change
mentioned it if your mother had told you… but… I had a brother, he was a
and I try to remain emotionless. “No, Mom’s never mentioned that.” She murmurs. “So, she didn’t.” I can’t
it still hurt? I nod slowly. “Well… his name was Adam, and he was
(FLASHBACK TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO)
are they? I walk through the silent house,
a business trip and was not set to return until Friday, but after sealing the deal early; I was able to catch a flight
with her and surprise her, she’ll be happy to see
pm
the archway to the lounge, spotting the two
call that a party. I sniff the air. I can only pick up Melanie’s
in town? Maybe she changed her plans because he showed up. I take off my jacket and put my small
long flight, but I wanted to get back quickly. I head upstairs to find her. I’m halfway down the hall to our bedroom when
he hasn’t found his mate, nor had he taken a Luna of
to the guestroom is open, and I
my own bedroom when the sound of moans reaches my ears. My heart thuds as I slowly step
and sickening. I recognise that voice.
Hugh, what you don’t see, you don’t
Leave. But no, I have to know. The lamp is on, bathing the master bedroom in a
sight before me is one that I will never forget. Melanie is on all fours on
like ‘last time’.
I make my
(END OF FLASHBACK)
spare her the details, telling her I saw her mother cheat on me with my brother. I was always the one doing the workload… the boring
and so I didn’t. I kept it in. I went through grief, regret, pain, betrayal… alone… As Melani pretended to
places a hand on my back, but I can’t look
She’s my daughter… regardless…
told me she was pregnant… I wasn’t expecting that and after what happened I wanted to know if the child was even mine… and so with the help of a doctor, at one of her check-ups I had a small amount of amniotic fluid drawn from
whispers, sounding
Her heart is thumping, and I grip the window ledge. “Knowing I was the father, I decided to try to give it another chance, our fake relationship.” My voice breaks and I
sorry,” she whispers, I turn to her, guilt filling me. I’m causing her additional stress. As her father, I should be
touching her cheek. She looks
what happened? Where is he now?” she asks, her eyes glittering with tears. “Adam.” I sigh before turning
soon see the er in her ways and return to me. That this pregnancy would bring us closer. I made sure to give her attention and love. Yet… they
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
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!