“Don’t play games with me, Sophia. Just tell me if Rose is your daughter. Is she Beast’s?” My fists clench under the table, imagining how many lives have been turned upside down. And I don’t know who’s to blame.
Tears roll down her cheeks, and in this moment, I feel sorry for her. She’s lost so much, but isn’t it her doing?
“How is that even fucking possible?” I ask.
“We never saw our second baby,” Sophia whispers, averting her gaze from mine.
And that’s when I remember the premature stillborn baby.
My Rose.
My heart jackknifes against my chest as Sophia continues. “When I met Rose at Kindred Hearts, I was struck by how much she looked like me. I called the hospital, and th-they checked the records. There was no stillborn baby listed on the day of my delivery.”
I can’t believe it.
Innumerable questions run through my mind.
How is it such a small fucking world?
Is this fucking fate?
But out of all those, only one escapes my mouth. “You know her birthday?” The enormity of this doesn’t go unnoticed by both of us as our eyes meet. “We have to tell everyone,” I say with finality, getting up from my chair.
“Zander! No, we can’t,” she rushes out, grabbing my hand and halting my movements.
“Are you not seeing what this lie has done to your family? There is a man, whom I’ve never seen as broken as I did today, who carries the photo of his daughter, his Chloe, everywhere. He thinks it’s his fault that you left him. He doesn’t even know he has another daughter. Your daughters don’t know they’re sisters.”
I can’t believe how many lives will be stirred by this revelation.
“Why did you run away, Sophia? What’s scaring you?”
She shakes her head, not saying anything, her face wet with tears. She reminds me so much of my girl.
No.
She and Rose just look the same. They are, otherwise, different.
My girl is fighting to be found, while Sophia is trying everything to stay lost.
“If you don’t want to answer me, then don’t. But tomorrow, I’m going to tell them your secret. This might be your only chance to get your life back, Sophia. To get your family back.”
I place a card on the table next to her trembling hands.
“This is the address of a hotel in Cherrywood. I’ll have a room reserved for you. I hope to see you tomorrow at Rose’s place at nine. I’ll have everyone there.” Before leaving, I add, “I hope you make the right decision.”
15
ROSE
Zander spent the whole day away. I know it had something to do with the information I dumped on him, but I tried not to think much about it. It was only possible by the welcome distraction Zach and Zane brought with them. After the panic episode, I had no desire for an eventful day and that’s exactly what they gave me.
A few minutes after Zander left, Zane joined me and Zach, and we spent the day lazing on the couch watching movies. They bickered over movie selection, what to order for dessert, and which of them has more of a following among office girls.
I know most of their theatrics were for my account, especially when they came from Zane, but I enjoyed it regardless. I don’t have much experience with siblings bickering, and I loved every bit of it.
I told them about our new house and that we’ll have a room for both of them. They laughed at my face, telling me how they’re never staying at our place, especially not so soon. They have no desire to see Zander’s naked ass or hear his grunts and moans.
Their words, not mine!