AllFreeNovel
Share Us
It’s going to be bad this time.
I raise my head and stare my father dead in the eyes, pull my shoulders back and declare with every ounce of false confidence I can muster, “She’s mine.”
Odi gasps and turns to stare at me. Her huge green eyes are an ocean of emotions. Disbelief. Betrayal. Pain.
Hope?
My father’s delighted laughter fills the entire ballroom, rebounding back at me and echoing through my mind in a way which promises to haunt me for days to come. Months. Years.
Furious whispers break out all around me, their speculation and judgement are fire ants crawling on my skin. I try to hold my nerve. Now is not the time to show weakness.
I need to focus on one thing, and one thing only: getting Odi out of herewith us.
Processing can come later.
“What?” Kaiden gapes at me.
Zie is frowning.
My father is delighted.
The General ispissed,but trying to hide it by guffawing loudly, calling my claim preposterous.
But my fatherknows. He has a winning glint in his eye. If it were possible for me to feel even worse than I already do, that glint would do it. But nothing can make me feel sicker than the look of total disbelief on Odi’s face. She’s staring at me like I’ve ripped her world apart, like mine didn’t just implode when I reached the same conclusion as her, just a split second sooner.
I feel sick. Iamsick. She’s never going to forgive me for this.Iwon’t forgive myself either.
“Impossible!” The General spits. “There is absolutely no need for a paternity test. Rose is mine and she will be remaining in my custody. If you ever want to see your daughter again, little flower, you’ll choose us right now.”
Odi takes a step away from me. And I don’t blame her, I really don’t, but shecan’t. She can’t choose them.
“Please Odi, I promise I can and I will explain everything, when we get back to the flat.”
Now’s our chance to put everything right and make amends. She may be afraid but she has to know that we’re the best choice. Better the devil you know.
She shakes her head, takes another step away from me.
“Y-you’re asking me to choose…between two monsters.”
She’s right. I am a monster. But I still can’t let her go.
“Choose Zie and Kaiden. They’re innocent and they have no idea what’s going on. Please, just trust me?—”
Her face hardens and shutters.
I panic.
Please,I mouth.
She becomes a frozen mask, but it’s not a no.
“Fuck you, Axel Abbot,” she hisses. “You want me to trust you?! You just admitted to…to… How many times, Axel?”
“Odi, please. Don’t do this, not here. Not in front of them. Just tell them you’ve made your decision and I’ll tell you everything once we’re back at the house. Please, I’m begging you.”
“We will need a paternity test, to be sure,” my father states evenly.
“What? This is absurd! There’s no way she’s his. She’s mine!” The General snarls. With every word his face turns a darker shade of puce.
