Olei finally sobbed. My tears came harder. I held him until my legs went numb.
"What happened?" Silas's voice behind me.
I turned. He held three drinks, eyes on our faces, brow creased.
"Nothing," I wiped my tears. "A clown jumped out. Scared Olei."
His gaze moved between us.
"Just a scare wouldn't make you both cry like this." Certain.
I sighed internally. The man was too damn sharp. I wasn't going to hide it. Olei's words proved Silas hadn't lied about everything when we reunited. I needed answers about six years ago.
"Let's sit." I took two milkshakes, handed one to Olei, led him to the bench.
Silas followed silently.
"Olei called me Mom." I sipped my shake, wetting my throat. "He said he saw you crying over my picture. That's how he recognized me."
I glanced at Olei, sipping his shake, pretending not to listen. His ear twitched.
Silas looked at Olei. Expression complicated. After a few seconds, he didn't answer. Instead, he raised his hand. Almost instantly, a man in a plain T-shirt and jeans appeared from nearby.
His bodyguard. Obviously shadowing us the whole time. I hadn't noticed him once.
When the guard reached us, Silas spoke gently to Olei. "Olei, let this gentleman take you to the carousel, okay? Dad and An—Mom need to talk."
Olei's eyes darted between us. Curious, but he hopped off the bench, took the guard's hand.
"When you're done talking, come get me." Serious.
My nose stung again.
"Okay, baby. We'll be quick." I handed him the balloon. "Take this. The clown gave it to you."
Olei took it, then turned and walked toward the carousel with the guard.
Just Silas and me on the bench. The park buzzed around us—crowds, music, laughter. But between us, silence.
"Silas, I need to know what was true six years ago. What happened to you and Olei all these years?" I picked up where we left off.
His Adam's apple bobbed. He looked at me. Pain in his eyes.
"Anthea, the day after you left, my hair started turning white." His voice rough. "I thought I wanted power. Family honor. Until Vanessa told me you died in childbirth... I couldn't accept it."
"You had all that power. Couldn't you find out where I went?" I couldn't help the accusation.
But even as I spoke, I believed him. Vanessa could do anything.
"My father and Vanessa faked your death so I'd marry her without distraction. So you'd disappear from Olei's world. They killed everyone who knew the truth. I had my people investigate over and over. Nothing. Not until my father died and I destroyed Vanessa's family did I learn the truth."
What? He destroyed Vanessa's family? Silas wanted a child in the first place to smooth the way for their alliance. Why would they think my presence would stop the marriage?
"Then why just send me and my parents abroad? Why not kill me?"
"My father's decision," Silas said. "Later, I found out Vanessa wanted you dead. But my father chose to let you go. After all, you were Olei's birth mother."
What was I supposed to say? That the devil had a shred of humanity left?
