Kicked me out.
Disowned me.
Why is it so hard to stop loving someone, even when their actions prove they don’t love you back?
ChapterForty-Six
ATLAS
The front door slams,and seconds later, Alexander Drakos appears in the kitchen, dressed in a five-thousand-dollar suit.
He rushes straight to Ophelia.“My sweet girl,” he whispers, yanking her away from Ares with possession.“How are you?”
“Not good.”She wraps her arms around his neck and cries on his shoulder.“Uncle Ale, Dad is… dead.He’s…” Ophelia chokes on each word.“And we left things on an unpleasant note.I didn’t get to tell him I love him.”
“I’m here now.”He kisses her head.“It’s going to be okay.Your dad knew how much you loved him.And he loved you.”Alexander kisses her again.“Come home with me.I’ll handle the arrangements for your father.”
We were planning to move Ophelia back into the house after she watched the video of her mom.And since she hasn’t done that yet, she doesn’t know the truth about Alexander.She doesn’t fully understand why we unintentionally hurt her.
It wasn’t just our revenge.
We did this for her, too.
Alexander offers his hand to Officer Matthews, and they shake hands like old friends, patting each other on the back.They exchange pleasantries and talk about the remains found at the club and whether they are possibly Belen’s.
After the cops leave the kitchen, Alexander tugs on Ophelia’s hand and pulls her toward the exit.“We’re leaving.This disgusting relationship can’t continue.”
“She’s not Belen’s daughter.”Ares steps forward, hands on his waist, glaring at Alexander.“But you already knew that.”He reaches for her hand and misses by an inch because Alexander pulls her back.“Ophelia is staying with us.This is her home.”
Ares is so desperate to keep her.I’ve never seen him like this with anyone else.He’s in love with her.There’s no denying it.All of us have feelings for her.She makes it hard not to love her.
“Keep your filthy hands to yourself and get out of my way,” Alexander growls in Ares’s face, peeling his fingers off Ophelia’s arm.“You arenother family.”
Ares points a finger at his chest, then at Apollo and me.“We’re her family now.”
Alexander pushes out his palm to create distance between Ares and Ophelia.“Stay away from my niece.You will end up behind bars if you come anywhere near her.”
“Niece?”I say to break the silence once and for all.We agreed to tell Ophelia the truth when the time was right.“How about you stop lying to Ophelia?”
Ophelia gives me a pained look before aiming her gaze at Alexander.“What is he talking about?”
“Not now,” Alexander says through clenched teeth, tugging on Ophelia’s hand to lead her toward the kitchen’s entrance.
“Alexander Drakos is your father.”To my surprise, Apollo yanks her away from Alexander, breaking his no-touching rule.“He’s known for years.But Belen didn’t find out until before your mother got sick.”
“No,” Ophelia mutters, covering her mouth with her hand.“My mom wouldn’t do that to him.She loved my dad.”
“She lovedme,” Alexander said to confirm her worst nightmare.“She only pretended with Belen.”
“Alex,” my mother says, summoning him with her index finger.“We need to talk.”
Alexander glances at her, and when their eyes lock, his face softens.They were friends as kids and grew apart.Probably because of the secret they were both keeping.Until we found the proof in the records The Serpents gave me, we didn’t know our father had been hiding anything from us.She acted like her plan to marry Belen was a ploy to avenge our father when it was about Cora, too.
Alexander follows my mother out of the kitchen, where they can talk privately.We’ll need him on board for the next stage of our plans.
As Ophelia sobbed into her hands, Apollo wrapped his arms around her.Observing this rare moment of affection, I wonder if my twin is finally healing.Ophelia was the last person we thought could help him, yet she’s done so much for all of us.
I see a positive change in Ares.Until he fell in love with Ophelia, he was a miserable asshole who didn’t care about anything other than fucking and fighting.
