Chapter 4:The confession

Liora’s POV

As soon as I said, "You." Selene's eyes widened.  

"You...know him?"  

Selene continued to dart her eyes from me directly to Darius.  

A little chuckle left my lips, accompanied by a dismissive gesture, and sputtered, "I thought I was wrong, thinking I saw Mr. Darius Knight in person. The Darius Knight?”   

Within a second, Darius’s lips curved out in a smile. " In flesh and blood," he chuckled. 

The totally oblivious, Selene wore a wide smile: "Meet Darius, the man I'm going to marry!" Taking my hand, she gave it a squeeze, looking down at our held hands as she moved them hesitantly toward Darius. "This here is Darius. My sister, Liora."  

Something about the word 'sister' pierced through my heart, and I almost choked.  

Darius put his hand out for a handshake, but I didn’t notice till Selene gave me a gentle nudge.  

“Hello…I’m Liora,” I smiled sheepishly as I took his hand. The contact sent a jolt through me.    

"I'm thrilled Selene finally found you," Darius smiled broadly. "She's needed you for so long. Always nice to know you're finally alive."   

"Yes, life is so much simpler," I blurted out with the most mischievous, least truthful smile.  

Selene beamed, her eyes full of laughter as she led us to the dining table. I took my seat while Selene sat next to Darius. "Liora, you will be my bridesmaid, won't you. I am sorry I have to ask you like this, but I need you at my side-tomorrow. Please.."   

I looked at her with my fork held high in the air. "I... I am not so sure how to go about this. I have never been a bridesmaid before. I am not someone familiar with—" pointing around , "—this sort of stuff."  

Selene reached over and held my hand. "Don't worry about that. All I want is for my sister to be with me. Right? Please?"   

As for the words, they did indeed provide solace completely for me. There were probably few instances throughout my childhood where I wished I was a bridesmaid. I chuckled, half-amused. "All right, then. If you're certain things will go fine."  

She grinned. "You won't mess up. I promise."  

While Selene continued talking, Darius acted as a mere silent observer while I struggled to get rid of the intrusive thoughts in my head. The mate pull warred with my guilt, making every glance torture.   

I tried to eat but the secret I carried inside of me made that hard. I forced the food into my mouth, forced myself to chew and swallow, but every mouthful turned to dust because there was simply so much noise in my head. 

Midway through our lunch, Darius's phone rang, a frown was on his face and he picked up and took a few steps away. He came back and spoke after he apologized for the sudden call, "I have a meeting that I must go to. I'll be back for dinner."  

“But..” Selene pouted, as he placed a kiss on her lips, silencing the rest of her words.   

Darius looked at me and smiled again. “Pleasure to meet you, Liora.”  

I turned to him but quickly put my head down. "The player is all mine, Bye,"  

Selene accompanied him to the door. I glared down at my salad while the two walked away.  

"Seriously, universe," I mumbled. "I mean, out of countless guys, you had to make it him?“ 

At that instance, I heard footsteps. Selene came back, catching me muttering a sigh. "You seem worried. What's the matter?"  

I got my hands down in quick time, forcing a weak smile. "Nothing. Just... wondering where your mom is. Haven't seen her anywhere."  

For the first time since we met, Selene’s friendly smile disappeared from her lips. "Oh, my mom. Um, she's… not here. I'll just say she got herself into a mess. Legal trouble. She can't come to the mating ceremony.”

"Legal trouble?" I raised an eyebrow.  

"Yes, arrested," she said casually, as if she wasn’t talking about her mother being in jail. "But don't worry, she's got some real good lawyers working her case. But she won't be making it here for the mating ceremony tomorrow."  

I blinked, my eyes growing wide. "Sorry to hear all that. Must be so hard for you knowing she won’t be here for your big day. I know how important moms are… I feel bad knowing she will miss her daughter’s mating ceremony.”  

A small smile adorned her lips. "If only you knew who she really is, you would not have said this.”   

“What truth?" I asked.   

Her smile dimmed again, growing into a grim sadness. "She's the reason you got pushed out with Dad. She is the reason you grew up in extreme poverty. Her hate for you and dad, is the reason we never got to see each other. Her pride ruined both of our childhoods.”   

I stared back at her, absorbing her words-but my grief was deeper than I ever thought I’d feel. The same woman who I was worried for, is the same woman who made my father’s life hell, separated me from my family and made my whole childhood a living nightmare, the same woman who forced me into the arms of stripping.

Selene's eyes turned tender, and she gently tucked my hair behind my ear. "I'm sorry for all she did to you. You didn't deserve it. I want to undo it. I want you in my life. Even if it means I have to go against her.”   

Words of absolute love and kindness only made me feel guiltier. Her innocence seemed to remind me of her ignorance to my dark secrets. She had no idea the man she was getting married to cheated on her, and not just with anyone…the same girl she is willing to fight with her mother for. The same girl she is opening her doors and arms for. 

"Selene...thank you. It means so much to hear that I have a sister, and that too one who cares me about me so much. But…"   

My throat felt tight again.  

"...but I have a confession," I whispered out.