"I am the villain of Tenawyuv," Azazel said.
The room fell silent. Darla's expression shifted from concern to shock, while Alexander's face tightened with a mix of disbelief and anger.
"What?" Darla whispered, her eyes wide.
"I know this is hard to hear," Azazel continued, his voice steady but soft. "But it's the truth. I've tried to leave that life behind, but it hasn't been easy."
Alexander stood up, his face red with fury. "You mean to tell me that the father of my grandchildren, the partner of my son, is the very villain we've been fighting against?"
"Please, Dad," Kreo interjected, stepping between his father and Azazel. "To think back, did Azazel ever harm the people?"
Darla reached out, touching Alexander's arm gently. "Let's hear them out, Alexander. There must be more to this."
Alexander took a deep breath, forcing himself to sit back down. "You'd better explain, and it had better be good."
Azazel took Kreo's hand for support. He told the story of his life and how he became the villain. "I know it's a lot to ask, but I hope you can find it in your hearts to give me a chance."
The room was thick with tension. Darla's eyes were filled with tears, her motherly instincts battling with the shock of the revelation. Alexander remained stern, but the love he had for his family softened his expression ever so slightly.
"I don't know what to say," Darla finally whispered. "This is a lot to take in."
"I understand," Azazel replied. "I just want you to know that I love Kreo and our children more than anything. I want to protect them and be the person they deserve."
Alexander sighed heavily. "This isn't easy for me to accept. But for the sake of my grandchildren, I'm willing to try and understand. Just know, Azazel, that you have a long way to go to earn my trust."
Azazel nodded. "Thank you. That's all I ask for."
Darla reached out and hugged Azazel again. "We'll think about it for now."
Kreo smiled, relief washing over him. "Thank you, both of you. For understanding."
The tension in the room eased, replaced by a cautious hope. This was only the first step towards building love and acceptance that could overcome the shadows of the past.
When the day ended, Azazel was still worried he wouldn't be accepted.
Kreo patted his back. "Don't worry too much," he said. "But are you sure you want to tell our friends?"
Azazel exhaled as he nodded. This secret had been kept too long; it was time to let it out.
---
The next day, Kreo invited their friends over. Everyone gathered in the living room, catching up after Azazel's disappearance. When the time felt right, Kreo stood up and signalled for Azazel to join him.
"Everyone," Kreo began, his voice steady but serious, "there's something important we need to share with you."
The room fell silent as their friends turned their attention to the couple.
Azazel took a deep breath, feeling Kreo's reassuring presence beside him. "I need to confess something," he started. "I am the villain of Tenawyuv."
The room erupted in a mixture of gasps and stunned silence. Some friends exchanged looks of disbelief, while others remained quietly contemplative.
Sarah was the first to speak. "So, you're the one we've been hearing about all this time?" she asked, her voice calm but curious.
Azazel nodded. "Yes, but I've changed. Meeting Kreo and having our children has transformed my life. I want to focus on being a good partner and parent."
Elise leaned forward. "It's a lot to take in, but honestly, Azazel, you never actually attacked the city. You've had the next generations of the James family. That counts for something."
Sarah nodded. "It all depends on the people, but we'll try our best to help you. The city will most likely accept you because of your connection to Kreo and the children."
Other friends began to nod in agreement, offering words of support and encouragement. The initial shock was giving way to acceptance.
"If Kreo believes in you, then I do too." said Lilith.
Kreo squeezed Azazel's hand. "We'll overcome this, one step at a time."
The room began to buzz with conversation again, friends asking questions and offering advice. The road ahead was still uncertain, but with their friends by their side, Kreo and Azazel felt more hopeful.
---
As the evening wore on, the house slowly emptied as their friends left, each with promises to stand by them and help navigate the path ahead. Azazel and Kreo stood together at the door, watching their friends disappear into the night.
"See?" Kreo said, wrapping an arm around Azazel. "You're not alone in this."
Azazel smiled, "Thank you for believing in me, for standing by me."
"Always," Kreo replied. "We'll take it one day at a time."
Together, they closed the door and faced the future, ready to build a new life where their pasts didn't define them, but their love and determination did.