Page 66 of Dark Sold Mate

Elle's world tilted off its axis. “What?”

“Silas was furious when our dad announced the banishment law. He argued with Dad for hours and said it was cruel and unfair. That was the only major fight I ever witnessed between them. Dad threatened to take his position as heir, but Silas still tried everything to keep you here.”

Elle felt like she was drowning. “That's not... Sara, are you sure?”

“Completely sure. I was there. I heard everything.” Sara grabbed Elle's hands, not caring about the nail polish. “Silas has been feeling guilty about your banishment for years. He thinks he didn't fight hard enough that he should have done more to protect you.”

Elle's mind was reeling. She had been wrong about everything she thought happened that day. Silas didn't plan her exile; he tried to stop it.

She jumped to her feet. “I need to go. I need to talk to him.”

“Now?”

“Now.”

Sara smiled knowingly. “Go. I'll clean up here.”

With her heart racing, she went to his office. She didn't bother knocking; she just opened the door and found Silas at his desk with reports everywhere.

“Elle?” His eyebrows shot up. “Is everything okay?”

“Sara told me about what you did eight years ago.” She jumped right into it. “About your fight with your dad regarding my exile.”

“Oh.”

“Why didn't you tell me? I thought you were behind it all this time. I often asked myself why you convinced your dad to make that sudden law just to get rid of me.”

“I know. I could tell by the looks you gave me and the things you said.”

“So why didn't you correct me?”

“Because I failed you!” Silas stood up and walked around his desk to stand in front of her. “I should have fought harder. I should have prevented that law from being passed. I tried, but that doesn't mean I didn't fail.”

“You tried to protect me.”

“Not well enough.”

“You tried. I spent eight years trying to hate you for something you didn't even do.” Her throat bobbed. “You just...let me do it. I was so angry with you. I accused you of everything. You didn't defend yourself.”

“It was natural to be angry. I did make your life miserable. The banishment was just the culmination of all the ways I'd already failed you.”

Elle didn't know what to say. Her whole view of the past was changing into something complicated.

“Why did you do it?” She asked the question that had been burning inside her for years. “Why did you bully me? What did I ever do to you?”

“Elle.”

“I have to know. No, I need to know why you were so mean to me. Why?”

“I never hated you. It was never about that.”

“Then what was it about?”

Silas inhaled sharply. “You might want to sit down for this.”

Chapter 17 - Silas

Silas gestured to Elle to sit down on the couch in his office. Then he sat down across from her. His heart was beating fast, and his palms were fucking sweaty. He was nervous about what he had to say. This conversation was a long-time coming. Silas was not sure if he could explain everything properly.