12: I Wish This Could Last.

Eve

"If you keep staring at him like that I might just not be willing to sign these papers."

I still stared, unwaveringly, at Grace. Right now he was sound asleep in his crib... By the time he wakes up, I'll be far gone.

Danielle was standing next to me, her expression full of thrill and warmth.

She loved him the way I did and that's all that mattered... for my son.

It was a struggle to tear my eyes away from this little ball. I met Danielle’s eyes. We stared in silence. Mine hinted at guilt, but what was more evident was desperation.

I was desperate... This is my son... I want him to live a very normal life.  

The life that I didn't have a chance to experience.

Before I was adopted, I was just a little girl, living in the shadows of the Waldorf family, until Keaton decided to welcome me into the family... I didn't understand my situation back then. What would a five-year-old kid even know then?

Maybe sometime in the future I’ll be able to openly acknowledge Grace as my flesh and blood... That can't happen if Keaton and Flavian live longer... That can't happen if my whole Waldorf family challenges me, the EC will be getting involved.

I’ve witnessed a scene firsthand at the madhouse where Madame Antoinette executed a whole relative’s family after confirming one of his children was born from incest. She didn't give a reason, she never does. It just happened and nobody talked about it.

"To set an example," said Keaton when I asked.

I was only nine. That day was forever engraved in my mind... though this never occurred to me the night I slept with Flavian.

The Waldorf family was not just your regular criminal family running the mafia. The Waldorf family was of noble blood, around for ages and generations. However, in the past there was a need to preserve the blood and genes, so naturally there were incestuous unions and alliances. The consequences showed in the new generation of descendants, plagued with strange illnesses. The birth counts also started dropping and so much happened that even some of the heirs didn't live long.

That was actually how the Elders’ Court was established, with the goal to preserve the Waldorf household while also electing the most eligible heir.

They made rules which included that no heir must be born through incest, nor should they engage in one.

Flavian and I weren't blood related so this rule is insignificant.

I'm safe right? Wrong.

There's another rule stating that every union between an heir their mate of interest must be verified and approved by the EC, the leader of the empire and the matriarch of the family.

Nobody would approve of us, Flavian had 3 wives already, one is deceased, second one, he divorced and the third one is depressed.

Just thinking about my years of sweat and blood, surviving this family.... surviving Keaton’s upbringing... could go to waste? Waste? No... I have to succeed my dad, it's me against me.

Can't let anything inconvenience my plans now.

Not even this child.

I was the first to leave the room. Danielle followed and met me in the dining room soon after.

On the table was a pen and a few documents lying around... adoption files... I just stared at my own paperwork, pen in hand, expression blank as ever.

"You don't have to do this-"

"He looks every inch like that man. Yes, I do!"

"Exactly. What if someone suspects me then? You know I'm not married... You know every member of that family has default generic features: green eyes, blonde hair..."

She was right though. Anyone who marries into the Waldorf family, their children inherit the genes. It was rare to see mutants. Flavian’s father was a good example; he had red hair and blue eyes... It’s funny that none of his sons inherited it, not even his looks.

"I assumed you were in a relationship."

Her silence confirmed my words and I took my eyes back to the document in front of me, flipping the page and inking down the first signature. Consent.

This was also a contract, prepared by a lawyer I hired privately. The clauses were on point, an adoption contract that ensured the safe life I envisioned for Grace... no mistreatment and no negligence. I know aunt Danny would never... but just like Percy always said... Paper is evidence.

I’m sure that before Grace turns 18 I would have achieved the goal... reached the level where the Elders’ Court cannot penalize me using their stiff rules...ohh I forgot to mention as another one 

'an heir is prohibited from having offsprings outside wedlock'

I won't need to abolish the rules. I just need to remain unchallenged. I signed another page. Approval.

"Eve, I still think there are other ways to go about this... let's be logical here."

Thanks to daddy... Flavian almost died. Will he ever recover from that? If dad can do such damage to his own flesh and blood, what more will he do when he finds out his brother has a son with his step daughter? What will happen if he figures his brother has a son before him?

If I don't make things right now, will my son, who is only three months old, live to see his twenties? Will he even live?

Why are there so many thoughts?  

I just want a future... why so many thoughts?

So many obstacles—

My body jerked at the sudden pitch of a cry that hurt my ears... but mostly my heart. Without delay, we rushed back upstairs into my room where Grace was wailing in his crib.  

I cradled him into my arms, my heart pounding... I haven’t gotten used to him yet, but I guess he has gotten used to me because he hushed up the second his mouth was sucking my breast.

This little sound box.  

Oh, stop looking at me with those eyes. You're gonna make it harder for me to leave you and it's not fair.

My eyes widened as he raised his arm in the air, feeling my cheeks, feeling my face... This was the first time. When his palm touched my lips, I smooched it.

The moment was awkward yet I kept smiling like a helpless, charmed fool.

"I wish this would last longer."

Danielle said it... she said what was on my mind.

"I'll be downstairs. I got some documents waiting for my signature."

My eyes lit up at once. She agreed.

 She finally agreed...

The awkwardness that was clouding the air was long gone, replaced with something lighter, like some burden had evaporated off my shoulders.

"Thank you. For all you're doing for me..."  

She flashed a wide smile, blowing a kiss before exiting the room.

Although my mother is just as lovely and caring, Danielle has been more of a mother to me than her since I knew her.

She never lets me down.