Chapter 0176 What’s wrong with her? “I’m fine, just a bad throat.” She says h oar sely as I offer her a tissue. Thank you.” She wipes her mouth looking between us. “He needs the truth Aran, for me…” she whispers. Where moments ago he was nothing but arrogant, his worry for her trumps his own feelings. At least I know he cares for her if not me. But even I feel uneasy, coughing up blood is not normal… Dad sits down again, glaring out of the window, and Mom sighs as she takes a seat opposite him. “The Toussaint issue has always been between your father hating Hugh… and Melanie… hating me,” she says, smiling bitterly. “And why is that?” I ask, taking the last seat in the room and facing Mom. I wonder if Zaia is all alright out there. I glance at the door before looking back at Mom. “Annette Toussaint is your father’s fated.” My eyes widen as I stare at her in surprise. Well, he sure dodged a bullet… When your father chose me over her, she promised to ruin us… well, her marrying Hugh was a stepping stone to power.” , and, I stare at Mom, my head spinning. 25 BONUS Can things get any more f ucking confusing and f ucked up? ‘But why hate us for that? She chose him, and that has nothing to do with us. Dad chose you.” But Mom’s sad smile tells me that there’s more. , “He did choose me, but Hugh and your father were once friends, extremely good friends… but Annette was the cause of a rift, and Hugh took away several of your father’s business deals at her request. At one point, the Aran King enterprises almost collapsed from his betrayal, but we survived. Mom sighs as she looks at her hands on her lap. The blackmail from Annette… was that why Hugh did it? I can imagine that being a reason, she must have felt hurt that Dad didn’t choose her. “And of course, your father countered-” “And shouldn’t I? He had ruined me enough.” Dad snarls. “I did nothing in comparison to the losses I faced…” “But you never had anything against Zaia…” but as the words leave my lips, a sudden thought makes my heart sink. “Did you treat her well, to anger him? To build a better relationship with his daughter than he ever had?” Please say no. Dad looks away, stubbornness clear on his face, and I look at Mom, who looks down, guilt washing over her. “Not I, I promise you,” she whispers. I look at the man in the chair. How bitter is he? “Hugh and Annette knew you were adopted, and Annette often liked to 2

/4 25 BONUS throw it in your father’s face. Since she knew he could not have children… Well, she went and got pregnant by someone else anyway.” Mom shakes her head, smiling humourlessly. “And what has that got to do with you?” I ask. “Why does Melanie hate you?” “Isn’t it obvious? She blames me for the ruin of her life. If I was not with your father, Annette would have been and she’d have Hugh.” Mom says, brushing away a few tears. “I always remained patient… despite everything, I loved her daughter. I was happy she was my daughter-in-law. I can never hope for a better daughter-in-law than , Zaia.” I remain silent. Melanie is a f u cking hypocrite… but looking at the wider picture, Dad, Annette and Melanie are far from innocent. They are the cause of so many problems. I look at Dad. It’s still hard to believe I am not his biological son… “I don’t get it… You say I am not your blood, but we look alike, deny it all you want but your hair and eyes… I trail off, feeling my entire f ucking world spinning. “Luck,” Dad says coldly. “Aran, no more lies.” Mom whispers. Does she know who the sperm donor was? “Would you really have gone for an ordinary alpha… I mean you would have wanted a strong son…” I say slowly, realisation dawning upon me. “Who was the donor?” “The sperm donor… he was… he is family.” Mom sighs as Dad’s frown deepens. 25 BONUS “Who?” I ask. Mom looks at Dad, who doesn’t even turn me, taking a deep breath as she closes her “efore she looks back at “Gerard King.” 2 My eyes widen as I stare at her, stunned. Dad’s cousin? eyes. “He offered… and being an Alpha, it made sense…” Mom’s words begin to fade away as I scrub my hand down my face, twisting my hand into my hair. Gerard King… The man that is in the other room, talking to my woman. Dad scoffs as he stands up. “I hope you have got the answers you wanted,” he says before he storms out of the room, slamming the door behind him. , I rest my head in my hands, as Mom rubs my back, but nothing is going to calm the storm that has been unleashed within my mind… Moonlight Muse Author Hello everyone! As promised I worked on a double update and will be posting not one but two more chapters shortly! We are finally getting a lot of answers, so keep those gems at the ready! 37 4

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