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“You’re okay with that? I thought you didn’t like it when your papa hurt people.”
“It’s okay if he’s cleaning the world of scum like the one who tried to assault you and others.”
Adrian smirks, looking so proud of himself.
“That man was a mayoral candidate, Anni.”
“So what? That doesn’t give him the right to go assaulting people. In fact, he should be held more accountable.”
“True. But he had a family. A wife and a son.”
“Oh.” She purses her lips. “I feel sorry for them, but they’re probably better off without a bastard like that in their lives.”
“The wife attempted double suicide soon after the police started investigating her for abetting her husband's serial rape crimes. She was found hanging from the ceiling in their home, but her boy barely escaped being asphyxiated to death by gas.”
It happens gradually, almost unnoticeably, but Annika’s face blanches and her eyes widen as recognition slowly sets in.
That means he probably mentioned the incident to her. Damn it. I’m pretty sure the doctor said he wouldn’t remember much of it.
He was so young back then.
I exchange a look with Adrian, whose face is closed off, probably thinking that this goes a lot deeper than any of us thought.
That maybe he approached her on purpose, after all.
“What…what are you saying, Mom? Are you trying to tell me that the man who hurt you, whom Papa killed, is Creighton’s biological father?”
“Unfortunately, yes.”
“But that can’t be… It just…can’t… Oh my God, is that why you acted strangely when you saw his picture? Does he look like his biological father?”
“Not really, but he has the same look in his eyes. I will never forget those eyes.”
“No, no, no…” Tears stream down her cheeks with the persistence of an overflowing river.
“Anni?”
“No, Mom. No!” She sobs. “This…this just can’t be true.”
“I’m sorry, baby angel. I’msosorry.” It takes everything in me not to break down and cry with her. I wish she were here so I could hug her, try to make it better, but all I can do is be strong for her.
Her image shakes, probably from the way she’s grabbing her phone. She brings it impossibly close until I can see every streak of tears, every wretched emotion pouring out of her.
“M-Mom…you don’t understand… He thinks that time shaped who he is, and he wants revenge. No…this can’t be true. If it is, if it is, he…he…he’ll hate me. I can’t… How will I live if he hates me, Mom? How can I face him, knowing Papa is the reason behind the darkest moment of his life?”
“You don’t.” Adrian slides my hand over so that we’re both in the frame. “You stay away from him and move on.”
“I can’t just do that.” She glares at him. “I’m not a robot, Papa. I can’t simply erase him from my memories.”
“You’ll learn to. He’ll never have affection for you anyway, considering his past. Since you already know he’s so attuned to it, then you should also know that he’ll only use you to hurt me and your mother. Maybe even your brother. Needless to say, I will not allow it. I’ll give you a few days to pack your stuff, say your goodbyes, and return to the States.”
“Papa!” She cries harder.
I snatch the phone from Adrian’s hand so that it’s only me again. “Don’t cry, baby. I hate it when you do. We’ll do our best to make everything all right.”
“How can it be when it’s all…wrong?”
My heart splinters along with hers, and her pain streams through my veins as if it’s my own. It takes all my strength to remain calm. “Let me ask you this. How does Creighton remember? He was adopted soon after his mother’s death, so he can’t possibly recall all the details from such a young age.”
