ZAIA. I stare at him trying to process everything he has just told me. My mind and emotions are


    wreaking havoc within me. How is this possible?


    How could Mom do this?


    How could she lie to me like this?


    Ate is Mom’s sister?


    I’m conflicted, but it’s clear he is not lying. There is so much to take in, including the fact that Annalise


    and I are not sisters but cousins. It’s our moms who are half-sisters, something even Mom doesn’t


    know.


    This is a mess. First, I learn I have a brother, then I learn Dad had a brother, followed by me learning


    that Annalise is not my sister and that Ate is Mom’s sister.


    That’s… confusing. But more than that is the fact that Mom cheated. I am unable to process how she


    always portrayed herself as the one being cheated on.


    She genuinely looked the part too… I had seen her sadness and her struggle so many times. It’s not


    possible, I mean I believe Dad but is there a possibility it’s a lie? A misconception or maybe even a


    trick?


    I’ve seen the raw pain Mom’s been in…. the sadness at the fact Ate stole her mate. That can’t be


    faked, can it?


    Only a terrifyingly good actress could put up such an act for so many years. There’s got to be more to


    it!


    She told me when I was old enough that it had broken her, realising Dad had cheated on her and


    wanted to be with his mistress. Why would she do that and break down into tears?


    “Dad…” I say softly, we’ve never been close until thest few years, and even now I feel we are still


    bing closer.


    I don’t know if he’d appreciate my concern, but right now, I can’t hide the pain I feel for him. I love him


    and I want him to know I will always be here for him. “Look at me.”


    He looks up from where he had his head hanging, and I smile gently. “Things will be alright…” I


    promise. Will it?


    How do you recover from betrayal after betrayal?


    “Of course.” He replies, reminding me of his usual self. My father is strong, that I know.


    “Good, but if it’s alright with you… can I ask Mom about this? I mean, she’s always been so


    heartbroken with you cheating on her. Is there a high chance that maybe… maybe it wasn’t her? Of


    course I won’t mention the truth about you, Adam or your rtionship with Ate.


    He looks sad as he shrugs slightly. ” Maybe there’s a misunderstanding?” “No, it was definitely her, I


    saw her clearly, unless there is a woman who smells, and looks exactly like her then, maybe. It was my


    mate in that room that night.” he says quietly.


    I feel disgusted at the thought but he seems so sure. “I see… then, may I confront her? It’s just that… I


    need to know.”


    “If Ate finds out, it could mean the truth of Adam being brought to light.” He says quietly. I get it…


    that could put Dad in trouble….


    “I understand…”


    “I am fine with that. At some point the truth must be revealed… but until all this mess with the Blood


    Born and these attacks is sorted out, I can’t be locked away.”


    “No. It won’t. I won’t let it. You are not going to prison father,” I say, a sudden thought urring to me. “I


    have a n …I can do this without mentioning you. “Zaia, what are you nning?”


    I smile slightly. I need the truth from her… a part of me doesn’t want to believe this… but a part of me


    also wants to see her reaction when I question her about it. If there’s even a ray of hope that maybe,


    just maybe, something is untrue in this entire situation – something that was perhaps overlooked – then


    I want to find it.


    “I will send a note to myself… with this information… something I will open in front of Mom, I want to


    see her reaction when I show it to her. It’s safe and believable, these people have pictures and things


    on both Sebastian and I, it will be believable.”


    “Be careful. If that is what you want, and if that’s what you need to do to believe me, then go ahead.”


    A sh of hurt skims through me at the fact I’m hurting him; and I take his hand. “I believe you Dad, and


    I am so sorry… All my life I’ve been told by mom that you cheated… you never denied it and I always


    med you for that… but to learn that it was not you but Mom who truly cheated. It’s shocking and I


    won’t deny that I am struggling to believe it…” I exin softly.


    “If it’ll help you, regardless of what happened between us, your mother loves you, that won’t change,


    Zaia. Are you certain you want to do this now?” he asks. “I don’t want it to cause issues between you.


    Live in denial if you must.”


    I nod. “No, I want the truth… If you allow me to do so, of course,” I say gently.


    I don’t want to pressurise him when I promised him whatever he told me will not leave this room, but I


    am also warmed by his words in defence of Mom. How can your views and respect for a person


    change so quickly?


    He seems to think over it before he nods slowly, frowning. “Very well,” he says.


    “Thank you,” I reply. He looks tired, and I know he needs a good night’s rest, I think we both need it.


    I want to ask him why he’s never liked the Kings and I’m sure there’s more to it than just business


    rivalry, but he’s been through enough today. That can wait for another day.


    I stand up and offer him my hands. ” Come, let’s go home, I’ll make us both a hot drink, Father.”


    “As pleasant as that sounds, I need to go home, Ate and I have already argued.” He says with a


    heavy sigh. I frown, sne’s ckmailing Dad… now do we fix that?


    I’m not letting Dad suffer and be ckmailed like this. I brush my tears away and fix my top, hoping I


    don’t look like I’ve been crying too much.


    I am going to fix things for him. He’s held strong for me. It’s my turn to carry the weight for those whom


    I love, and I will.


    We head out, and I take the reports the guards had written up. Gaspard observes me for a moment


    and I’m sure he can see I’ve been crying.


    I order the driver to take us to Dad’s mansion first. I make sure Dad enters the mansion with Gordon,


    who is on duty, anyway. Only when the door shuts, do I tell the driver to take me home. One of my


    guards sits in the front, staying on alert.


    Looking down at the files in my hand, I flip through them. Ate has gone as far as to threaten their


    families…


    I lean back, staring up at the night sky out of the window. I need tob through the guards and pack


    members and find out if there are others she’s ckmailed or abused… A. full investigation must be


    carried out. If I build my case, I might be able to strike a deal with her…


    It is worth a try. I just need to have more solid backing. Mom’s family knew about the Blood Born, which


    means there’s a chance that maybe Ate does?


    But Mom never knew she was her sister … is it from Mom’s maternal or paternal side? Ah, so many


    questions!


    I massage my temples, and I lean back against the leather seat, mulling over everything Dad had said.


    Adam… I need to learn more.


    Mom and Ate’s history…


    Ok, stop girl stop. I’m bing obsessive! When the car halts outside the house, I get out. Maybe I


    need a run…


    N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    I look towards the dark path that curls around the side of the house, and for a split second, I’m tempted


    to try to shift again.


    I shake my head as I walk towards the door. I didn’t shift because it is so, so painful… I felt like I was


    going to die… but I want to try again. Maybe things will be easier.


    Another day. I unlock the door and head to Valerie’s room. Jai is fast asleep on the armchair beside the


    bed, his head on the bed, as he holds her hand loosely. I silently leave the room and head upstairs.


    After checking up on the kids, I find myself walking towards Sebastian’s room before I stop in my


    tracks.


    What am I doing?


    My cheeks burn and I turn quickly and head to my room, but I slow down half way there, hesitating


    once more. I do need to fill him in on how the meeting went…


    I just need to see him, he gives me strength and brings me peace…


    No… not like this. I look in the mirror. My eyes are puffy and red; he’d instantly know something


    happened.


    Sighing, I head to my room, shutting the door behind me, I throw the file onto the bed and strip out of


    my clothes.


    Tossing them into the washing hamper, I enter the bathroom. I stay in there for far longer than I meant


    to, reying over the events of the evening again and again. The hot water soothes the tension in my


    neck and back. I’m so tired…


    Finally, I switch the shower off and grab a towel. I should just drop Sebastian a message about the


    meeting. He will be waiting.I towel my hair dry first, as I dry my body quickly and step out of the steamy


    bathroom and into my bedroom.


    The room is no longer bathed in darkness; themp is on and there’s at man sitting on my bed, in


    nothing but grey sweatpants.


    His ankles are crossed as he flips through the file I had left on it. His chiselled godly body looks so


    good and it sends a shiver of pleasure through me.


    “Holy fuck…” Sebastian mutters, his eyes raking over me. They darken with approval and carnal


    hunger, and I can’t help but press my thighs together, clutching the towel in front of me.


    My heart is racing as I poke my eyes out at him, and try to mask how hot and bothered I’m suddenly


    feeling. “What are you doing here?!” I exim, whipping open the towel and wrapping it around myself


    quickly.


    “I heard youe in, but when you didn’t show up in my room, I thought I’lle find you myself.” He


    retorts arrogantly. “But that view… how about you just drop the towel and let me get a better look? I


    won’t bite, I just want to see that sexy body of yours naked and wet…”


    “Sebastian! Behave! How shameless, I exim, blushing as I look around. for a distraction. I nce at


    the blinds which he has thankfully drawn before turning the light on.


    “Proud to be,” he winks at me cockily and shaking my head, I walk over to my wardrobe and take out


    some panties and nightwear.


    “I’ll be right back,” I say as I go to the bathroom with my clothes, making sure to keep my panties


    wrapped in my night dress I know he’s smirking as I leave the door open and quickly pull on my panties


    and satin slip dress. I’m about to wrap my matching gown over it when I look up at the mirror.


    My heart thuds and I freeze, the temperature suddenly seems to drop as a shiver runs down my spine.


    There in the steamed up mirror staring back at me is the symbol of the Blood Born emphasised by the


    steam and below it, there are four words written. THE END IS NEAR