75. A Reunion


    ZAIA. My heart thuds as the King’s turn to the man, and the first thing I notice is the change in Aran’s


    attitude. He swallows, ncing at Sebastian, then at Agatha, almost uneasily.


    The anger that was disyed on his face seconds ago is gone. “Gerard… you’re here…” Agatha looks


    stunned as she nces at Aran, who is emotionless and then back at the man. Gerard smirks slightly


    as he looks between the two.


    “I thought I was wee at any time, but perhaps now is not the right time?” he asks lightly, shoving


    his hand into his pocket as his sharp eyes flit between Aran and Sebastian and then snap to me. My


    heart skips a beat and I feel uneasy.


    This man looks to be in his forties, which means he’s possibly in histe fifties. But what gets to me the


    most is that he eerily reminds me of Sebastian in more ways than just those eyes.


    Instinctively, I grip onto Sebastian’s jacket, not knowing who he is. He is obviously familiar with the


    family if he was let in just like that… but in the years I was married to Sebastian, not once have I seen


    him. Who is he?


    “Not at all! You are always wee, but you could have told us so we could havee to collect you


    from the airport and had a feast prepared! First them, now you! I need to go tell the cooks to prepare a


    feast!” Agatha says, going over to him and hugging him tightly.


    The man smirks, hugging her back.” No need. I had business to tend to first, anyway.” Aran and the


    man shake hands before he turns to Sebastian, who doesn’t move from where he’s sitting. “And you


    are?” Sebastian asks, cocking a brow. The man mirrors his move, cocking his own brow.


    “Gerard King?” “Is that supposed to mean something to me?” Sebastian asks arrogantly. The man


    looks at Aran, curiosity in his eyes. “Aran’s cousin, a shame you haven’t even told your son about me,”


    he says with mock disappointment before he chuckles.


    “Well, you aren’t one to take pictures, but Sebastian does know of you,” Aran says, surprisingly far


    calmer than before.


    “Oh, does he?” Gerard says as he saunters into the room and takes a seat on one of the armchairs, his


    piercing eyes on Sebastian.


    “Do I?” Sebastian asks his father. “I mentioned to you about your grandfather’s brother’s family?” Aran


    says, clearly irritated.


    “Hmm… it kind of rings a bell, but it was a passingment. You have your own pack in France.


    Correct?” Sebastian asks. “That is correct, that is correct,” Gerard says, nodding slowly. He reminds


    me of Sebastian. His mannerisms, his way of talking, his voice…


    Am I being paranoid? His hair is dark, almost as dark as Sebastian’s, but he has a dusting of grey


    could he be the man both Valerie and I saw?


    “And who is this beauty?” He asks suddenly, now turning to me. Sebastian growls lowly. The man


    chuckles. “Oh, don’t worry, you are like a son to me, so that makes this woman my daughter-inw?


    Correct?” he remarks, ncing at Sebastian’s parents.


    “Of course it does!” Agatha responds, smiling politely as she nces at Aran, who says nothing. “So,


    you know who she is,” Sebastian asks coldly.


    “From your bodynguage and possessiveness, I understood that much. After all, us Kings are


    possessive, but I don’t know her beautiful name.” Gerard smirks. “Zaia, Zaia Toussaint.” I say.


    “King.” Aran answers disapprovingly. “We are not married, Mr King.” I remind him politely, making him


    clench his jaw. Gerard is watching us casually, but something tells me he’s assessing this conversation


    extremely intently.


    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    “Well… lovely to meet you, Zaia… Toussaint. The names sound familiar… Ah yes, the Toussaint


    empire, now I know where I have seen you before. For a moment I thought we have already met, but I


    think I saw you on the news. You are the new CEO of the Toussaint Empire, correct?”


    “Yes, I am, but I am not so easy to forget if we met. In fact, I’m surprised that’s where you remember


    me from. I was involved in a mass shooting that happened outside a hotel a short while back. I was


    almost killed. Everyone remembers me from there. Especially when I took on that pathetic excuse of a


    being who was killing mercilessly.” I say, looking him dead in the eye. He doesn’t react, simply holding


    my gaze.


    “Oh? That sounds devastating… I’m sorry, but I don’t really watch the news, especially when it’s always


    so dark. The world really needs to be cleansed of all the scum ruining it…” he says, almost as if he


    means something else.


    “I couldn’t agree more,” I say. Didn’t he say he doesn’t watch the news? Everything else seems to fade


    and if I had any doubt before, it’s now gone.


    Deep down, I feel he is the shooter… It has to be him… and if so, does he know that I recognise him?


    Sebastian ces his hand on my thigh and I’m pulled from my thoughts. I scan the room to see Agatha


    has left. Aran is still standing there, silently.


    I wanted answers from him, but I am also d the argument that was about to go down was diffused


    for now. “Father, can I speak to you privately?” Sebastian asks coldly.


    Perhaps I spoke too soon! “We have guests, Sebastian,” Aran replies, clenching his jaw. “Oh, don’t


    stop on my behalf, and I wouldn’t consider myself a guest… but as you wish,” Gerard says. “Or…


    perhaps while you both have your… conversation, maybe Zaia could keep mepany?”


    Sebastian frowns, ready to reply, when I ce my hand on his arm. “I think that would be great.” I look


    at Sebastian, who is frowning sharply, and I reach up and peck his lips softly. Our eyes meet and I


    hope this time he can read me. I will be ok.


    “Go,” I say quietly. Sebastian nods, ncing at Gerard before looking at his father and jerking his head


    towards the door. “Come, father.”


    Aran frowns, ncing at me before he follows Sebastian to the door. Sebastian nces back at me,


    before frowning at the man opposite me and leaves the room. Aran shuts the door after himself, leaving


    me alone with Gerard…


    SEBASTIAN.


    “This could wait,” Dad sneers, the coldness back in his voice the moment. the door of his office shut.


    “No, it can’t. What is your issue with the Toussaint’s?”


    “That is none of your business! Sebastian, enough!” Dad threatens. “No. I want to know because


    whatever it is, is what has caused issues, preventing the Toussaint’s from epting me!” I growl.


    As the words leave my lips, I realise it is my greatest issue… more than wanting to know what the


    reason is, it’s wanting to know why… why was I never epted. Where did Ick as a mate and


    husband towards Zaia?


    Before I fucked things up, of course. “Since when does another’s opinion matter?” Dad spits. “It does


    when it’s the parents of my woman. Their behaviour towards me has always caused tension. I want to


    know why that is. Tell me now.” I snarl.


    He shakes his head as he stands there behind his desk, staring at me. “We epted Zaia, did we not?


    Why do you need their approval? You are here, in this pack! This is where you belong. Their opinions


    don’t matter.”


    “It does when I know I’m constantly being lied to! There are things I should know, but I am never told!


    Like the Blood Borns, you know about them, right? The Triquetras?!”


    His silence answers that question, but it only grates on my fucking nerves. I feel a rage inside of me,


    one that’s slipping from my grasp and the only thing keeping me sane is Zaia.


    “Tell me why the fuck the Toussaint’s dislike me.” I snarl. “Are you certain that you can handle the truth,


    Sebastian?” He hisses. “If I can handle your hatred, I can handle anything.” I counter coldly.


    He looks down before he smiles humourlessly. “Well… I did everything to keep the truth hidden, for


    your sake, but I don’t think I care anymore. You are nothing more than trouble. Riled with arrogance


    and pride. Perhaps the truth will remind you of your ce!” He says contemptuously.


    The door opens and we both turn as Mom enters, shaking her head at Dad, her face pale. “What are


    you doing?” she asks. “Your son wants to know why the Toussaints don’t like him. I think it’s high time I


    tell him.


    “Please… Aran, don’t,” she whispers. “No. He should know the truth,” Dad answers with a sneer. “Just


    spit it out,” I say, running my fingers through my hair agitatedly.


    “See, I should have followed my judgment and gotten rid of him that very first day! Look at his


    arrogance! I knew I never should have listened to you!” He snaps at Mom, who flinches.


    My eyes sh. “Don’t you dare speak to her like that!” I snarl, mming my hand on the table as my


    aura swirls around me. I see the glimmer of fear in his eyes, it’s gone so fast I wonder if I scared him?


    but….


    “I can speak to her however I wish! Do you want to know the truth? Then here it is!” he says, flinging


    his hands wide before pointing at me with a trembling hand.


    “You. Are. Not. My. Son!” Those words shoot through me, echoing in my mind as I stare at him,


    shocked. I’m unable to process it….


    I think I hear Mom break into sobs, but I’m unable to focus on her as I stare at Dad’s cold, satisfied


    smirk of victory… Almost as if he wanted to those words to hurt me. As if this was a burden he wanted


    off his chest.


    “See? You are no Alpha of this pack. I gave it to you as charity! I raised you although I didn’t need to!


    That’s why the Toussaint’s don’t like you, knowing their daughter is mated to a false Alpha!”