Diary,
"Leave him alone!" Mum screamed as Kyros hit her mercilessly. He was a ruthless, heartless man indeed. I slowly stood up and wiped the tears off my face.
"Leave us alone." I said coldly as the room became still." Now!" Kyros straightened his shirt, signalled to the guards to leave, put his hands into his pockets and shot me a cold stare.
"20 minutes." He said and left the room, closing the door behind him. The room was quiet as a graveyard- you could almost hear a pin drop.
"Sandra," Mum's voice wavered as she sobbed softly. In as much as I wanted to hug her tight and wipe her tears, the weight of her betrayal held me back, my own tears threatened to fall as I looked away and bit my lower lip in an attempt to fight back the tears that stung my eyes.
Tony walked up to me and stroked my hair, smiling fondly at me and that did it. The dam broke and my tears flowed out in torrents. I sobbed for quite a while.
"Talk to your mum, Sandy. I understand how you feel. It's gonna be okay and I believe God would grant you the strength you need." He said as I raised my tear-stained face and puffy eyes to meet his gaze.
"I will. I-I'll talk to her." I sniffed, attempting to smile as he tucked a strat strand of my hair behind my ear. I immediately pulled away, my cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
"Y-your shirt." I stammered as I looked away and he looked at his soaked shirt, chuckling.
"Believe me, I've seen worse. But that's okay." He said as I playfully glared at him.
"We'll be back San." Lissa said, hugging me as Anaia nodded and they left. I was glad they did, in case i started to cry again because i had this strong feeling that my mum's confession was going to break me further. Ray lay unconscious in a corner but i was glad that he was still breathing- i just prayed he would come around soon enough to hear what mum had to say. I wanted her to confess before the both of us.
I took a deep breath, as I sat down opposite her on the table.
"M-mum?" My voice came out a trembling, stuttering mess as she put her hands on the table and reached for mine.
"Darling, I'm so sorry for what has happened to you and Ray. Please forgive me..." she said, sniffing as she squeezed my hands.
"You're our mum, we love you and we're ready to forgive you no matter what. I just need answers. I need the truth this time- everything." I said as she nodded.
"Mum why? Why didn't you come get us since Brookville's destruction? I thought that would've been all over the news or something?!" I asked, trying to maintain a low voice as she remained quiet.
"And why would Kyros have to lure you with pictures before you eventually came? Who's Kyros to you and why has he held us captive for this long? No one knows what he's done to the other captives and we're the only ones left." I said, wiping a stray tear from my face in anger.
"Darling, I'm sorry for not coming earlier....i was just trying to protect you-"
"What?!" I asked, confused.
"No one can find out. I stayed away because if the truth eventually came out, it could destroy all of us-"
"What truth?" I asked.
"Calm down Sandra-"
"Please mum, what truth are you talking about? And what do you mean by you wanted to protect us? Mum you knew that Kyros had is kidnapped! You knew!" I screamed in anger.
"Y-yes dear, I knew. You see....."
I know I wasn't present back then but mum's words painted a vivid picture in my mind...
FLASHBACK 10 YEARS AGO...
The opulent dining room was filled with the aroma of roasted duck and the soft hum of conversation. The table was set with fine china and crystal glasses, reflecting the wealth and status of the two families gathered around it.
At the head of the table, Reginald Pembroke, my maternal grandfather, a stout man with a thick gray beard, smiled warmly at his counterpart, Damon Bronson.
"Damon, my dear fellow, it's been far too long since our families have had the pleasure of sharing a meal together."
Damon, a tall, slender man with a receding hairline, nodded in agreement. "Indeed, Reginald. I'm glad we could finally arrange this dinner meeting."
To Reginald's right sat his daughter, Jael, mum, a beautiful young woman with long, curly brown hair and a look of quiet desperation in her eyes. She fidgeted with her napkin, avoiding eye contact with the young man seated across from her, Damon's son, Caelum.
Caelum, a handsome young man with a brooding expression and a mop of messy thick black hair, stared at Jael with a mixture of discomfort and obligation. It was clear that neither of them was thrilled about the prospect of marrying each other.
As the dinner conversation progressed, Reginald and Damon discussed business deals, politics, and social events, their words dripping with an air of superiority. Jael and Caelum exchanged polite but strained smiles, their body language screaming discomfort.
Finally, as the main course was served, Reginald cleared his throat and turned to Jael and Caelum.
"I'm sure you two are aware of why we've brought you together tonight. Your union would be a powerful one, joining our two families and securing a bright future for both of you."
Jael's eyes flashed with resentment, but she bit back her retort. Caelum, on the other hand, looked like he'd rather be anywhere else. "Yes, Father," he muttered, his voice barely audible.
Damon beamed with pride. "I must say, I'm delighted at the prospect of welcoming Jael into our family. She's a lovely young woman, and I'm sure she'll make a wonderful wife for Caelum."
Jael's face turned pale, and she pushed her chair back from the table. "Excuse me, please. I need to... powder my nose."
As Jael fled the table, Caelum let out a sigh of relief. Reginald and Damon exchanged a knowing glance, their faces set in determined smiles.
"This is just the beginning," Reginald said, his voice low and conspiratorial. "We'll make sure those two are married within the year, no matter what it takes."
Damon nodded in agreement, his eyes glinting with a ruthless light. "Our families' futures depend on it."
PRESENT DAY...
"Wait....did you say Caelum?" I asked as she nodded.
"You mean Kyros?"
"Yes. He named himself that, he was second in command to his father's cult and legacy. He decided that name was more befitting for his new status." She explained.
"So you eventually got married? What about grandma- your mum? Why didn't she oppose or even try to stop the wedding?" I asked as mum sighed, a mixture of hurt and buried anger flashed in her eyes. Although, I had never really had a close relationship with either of my grandparents, I thought mum's mum would have done something to help her.
"She was fully into the wedding. She said it was a dream come true, to see her daughter marry the only son of such an influential, wealthy family....I had no choice." Mum said, her voice breaking.
"S-so does that mean that Kyros is-is our father?" I asked, my own voice sounded foreign after speaking. Mum hesitated a bit.
"Y-yes. He's your father."