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“As much as you hate the idea of it, the fact that you drew that conclusion is exactly why you’re the one destined to follow in my footsteps.”

Aella rolled her eyes. “Don’t remind me. Besides, I’ll have a husband to take over that burden for me now, remember?”

Severo’s eyes widened, but he opted not to press the topic until Aella was ready to address it.

“Well, how’d your sister take your attempt to reach out to her?”

“About as expected. She hid a lot of her feelings behind anger, but she’s really upset, Daddy. And she’s convinced our family wants nothing to do with her.”

“That’s not true.”

“Which is what I told her,” pausing, Aella sucked in a deep breath before asking a question she wasn’t fully sure she wanted an answer to. “How did that entire situation unfold exactly? Braxton’s two years younger than me, so did you cheat on Mom or…?”

“Yes and no. Your mother and I still hadn’t worked out the kinks of our relationship by the time you were born. We’d done everything we were supposed to do on paper to maintain the appearance of a happy life, but we were still dealing with our own issues. I’m not proud of the fact that I continued seeing other women, Braxton’s mother briefly being one, but it’s not something I can take back. And had I known about Braxton when she was first born, I would have stepped up to the plate to take care of her the same way I take care of you and your sister.”

“I know you would’ve,” Aella released a heavy sigh. “She thinks otherwise. And she’s completely convinced that Mom hates her.”

“I won’t pretend as though your mother having to stomach me having an outside child wasn’t a heavy burden for her. But she would have never taken it out on Braxton. All her anger has always been directed at me.”

“So why is Brax so pissed?”

“I don’t know, Elle. I wish I did. I’ve reached out several times to try to get to the root of it. Brax has to move on her own time, but that door is always open when she’s ready.”

“I just hate the idea of her being so exposed without anyone looking out for her. Especially with things as up in the air as they are now.”

“Believe me, Braxton is just as covered as you and Ria. She may think she’s not important to me, but I’ll draw my last breath before I allow anything to happen to any of my girls.”

“Wow,” Aella chuckled. “And here I was thinking I was doing something by having Smoke keep an eye on her.”

“I appreciate the initiative, baby girl, but your sister is good. And I’m almost insulted that you believed for a second that she wouldn’t be,” he frowned, reaching over to pluck her nose. “But Smoke keeping an eye on her means he’d be separated from you, and I’m assuming that because…”

“Cassius and I agreed to get married,” Aella sighed, placing her empty cup on the table.

“Elle,” Severo grew serious. “I know this was my idea, but if you’re truly against this, don’t go through with it. I was thinking more about your safety and not your happiness.”

“Oh, trust me, I know,” she rolled her eyes again. “But from the little time Cass and I have spent together, I might not be completely unhappy. At the very least, we’re both willing to try, and that’s enough for me.”

“You sure?” her father raised an eyebrow.

“Absolutely not,” Aella laughed. “But my mind is made up.”

“If it means anything, I wouldn’t have considered him for you if I didn’t think you two would make a good match.”

“I know,” she smiled. “But regardless of the circumstances, we’re here.”

Heading around the island, Severo wrapped his firstborn daughter in his arms and kissed the top of her head.

“I love you, you know that?”

“I do,” Aella confirmed. “But we also have to discuss something you won’t love.”

“And what’s that?”

“Me moving out,” she chuckled.

Severo groaned. “I’ll discuss that with your husband when we talk after the funeral, the day after tomorrow. For the time being, I’ll enjoy all the time with my baby girl that I can get since she isn’t giving me the silent treatment anymore.”

“And I never will… unless, of course, you spring another husband on me out of the blue.”