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I wanted to tell you things before I passed on to the next life. There were so many things I wished I could say but could never find the courage. Your father had such a chokehold on you that I was lucky to have those stolen moments of happiness with you. You were my daughter first, but he claimed you the second he saw you.
He loves you. I know he does, even though he doesn’t always show it. And if you’re reading this, Belen is also gone.
Athena is your stepmother now. She will take care of you, my sweet girl. I know you must feel so betrayed and upset right now. But just know we never did any of this to deceive you. We only want the best for you.
Watch the video I recorded for you on the flash drive. It will explain everything.
Why I did the things I did.
Why I tried to protect you.
I hope you can forgive me for keeping so many secrets from you, but it’s time you know the truth.
I will love you forever.
Love,
Mom
My vision blurs, black dots swimming in front of my eyes. Even more tears are falling, sliding down my cheeks as the page slips from my fingers. The sobs that escape my chest suck the air from my lungs, and I can’t breathe.
It’s too hot.
Too much.
Ares catches me in his strong arms before my head hits the couch. He yanks me backward and onto his chest as tears flow out of me and onto his bare chest.
Just promise not to leave me ever again.
His words rattle around in my head as he holds me, his long finger trailing up and down my arm. There’s no place I would rather be than with Ares, and I hate myself for it. I hate that the only person who makes me feel better has also hurt me beyond repair.
“It’s going to be okay, baby.” Ares presses a kiss on my forehead. “Your Mom wanted this, you’ll see. We’ll watch the video together, and then you’ll understand.”
“Okay,” I mutter, clutching his jeans with my fingers as I cry on his rock-hard chest.
Apollo hops up from the couch with his laptop and kneels beside me as he sets it on the table. He inserts the flash drive into the slot, waiting for the computer to load.
I watch as he clicks the buttons. His fingers are just as long as his brothers but not tattooed, and I wonder how they will feel on my body. This isn’t the right moment to be thinking about sex. But I want to think about anything other than my life.
I need a distraction.
And not like Apollo would touch me, anyway. So I lean into Ares and let him console me. I brush up against him as he whispers cute things to me. He promises to take care of me, and I believe him.
Iwantto believe him.
My mother’s face pops up on the screen.
Apollo’s finger hovers over the trackpad, and he looks at me. “Are you ready, Mistress?”
I nod.
But before he can hit Play, someone bangs on the door. Then the bell rings. Through the thin curtains, I see blue and red police lights flashing in the driveway.
Fuck.
I’m sure they’re wondering about the situation out front. My uncle’s car is still running, the fender smashing into the bumper of the Audi. If Apollo is mad about that, he hasn’t said anything. Not like I would care.
“I will handle this.” Athena rises from the couch, smoothing a hand down the front of her dress. She looks at me. “Ophelia, no one knows you’ve been living with your uncle for the past two weeks or that your father changed the will.”
