CHAPTER 61: THE REVEAL

Vera’s POV

The house didn’t feel the same anymore. It wasn’t even tense in the way it usually was.

It was… full.

Full of something unfamiliar, something that didn’t quite fit with everything I had come to expect from this place.

Their mum came forward and hugged me as if I was a missing daughter of hers, holding in tears and whispering behind me, “we finally found you.”

I didn’t get the chance to ask her what she meant because—

Livia was talking.

She had taken over the living room like she owned it, stretched across the couch with zero shame, talking over everyone, explaining nothing and everything at the same time.

I said I was fine,

she was arguing, rolling her eyes dramatically. You people overreact too much.

You disappeared without security, Lucian snapped, standing near the center table, arms crossed, voice sharp. Do you have any idea what that means?

I went to them, she shot back, pointing lazily toward the couple sitting opposite her.

Them.

Their parents.

That still didn’t feel real.

Kael hadn’t said much since they walked in. He stood slightly behind the couch, quiet, watching, processing. But the anger was still there, just sitting under the surface.

You still call, Kael said finally, voice low but firm. You don’t vanish. You don’t make us chase shadows.

I wasn’t vanishing, she muttered. I knew where I was going.

That’s not the point.

It is the point.

“Livia.”

That voice cut through everything.

Soft.

Warm.

Everyone stopped.

Their mother.

She sat beside Livia, one hand resting lightly on her arm, not harsh, just enough to ground her.

And somehow, that was more effective than all the shouting.

She made a mistake, she said gently. But she’s here now. Listen to your brothers, baby. They’re right.

Her voice wasn’t even loud.

Livia huffed but didn’t argue again, leaning slightly into her like a child who knew when to stop pushing.

I watched that.

Really watched it.

Because it didn’t match anything I expected.

There was no fear in that interaction.

Just… family.

Real family.

It made something uncomfortable settle in my chest.

Because I didn’t have that.

Or at least—

I thought I didn’t.

Aaron leaned casually against the armrest, watching everything with that same easy posture he always had. But he was quieter than usual.

“Next time,” he said lightly, looking at Livia, maybe try not to cause a city-wide panic. It’s a bit dramatic, even for you.

Livia scoffed, please. You enjoyed it.

I did, he admitted without shame. "But still.

Lucian shot him a look.

Aaron ignored it.

That tension was still there, buried under everything else happening.

Kael exhaled slowly, dragging a hand over his face before finally stepping forward.

Dad, I knew we discussed you coming, but you guys would have called to tell us so we can prepare, he said.

Their father looked up at him.

For the first time since they walked in.

And the resemblance hit harder now.

Same posture.

Same eyes.

Same controlled presence.

Just older.

Sharper.

More experienced.

We came because it was time, he said.

That was it.

Just that.

Aaron frowned slightly. Time for what?

A small pause.

Then—

To finish something that should have ended years ago.

Silence followed that.

Understanding passed between Kael and Lucian without words.

Aaron straightened slightly.

Even I felt it.

The conversation had changed.

This wasn’t about Livia anymore.

Their mother stood up slowly. “Let them talk,” she said softly, looking between Livia and Lina. Some things are better discussed privately.

Kael nodded once.

Lucian didn’t argue.

Their father was already moving.

Office? Kael said.

And everyone agreed.

—

The walk there was quiet.

Lina stayed back in the living room with Livia and their mother.

Aaron walked ahead, hands in his pockets, relaxed on the outside, unreadable on the inside.

Lucian followed beside Kael.

I stayed behind them.

Trying to understand how I was involved in the private discussion.

Kael stopped at the door and pushed it open.

They all went in.

I stayed at the entrance.

Not sure if I was supposed to follow.

“Vera, you need to come in.”

Must I?

Kael didn’t turn when he said it.

Come in.

I hesitated for a second.

Then stepped inside.

The door closed behind me.

—

The room felt different with all of us in it.

Kael moved behind his desk but didn’t sit.

Lucian leaned against the wall.

Aaron took the chair like he belonged there.

Their father remained standing.

And then—

His eyes landed on me.

Like he had been waiting for this exact moment.

Something in my chest tightened.

I didn’t know why.

“Vera,” he said.

My name sounded different coming from him.

Like he already knew more than he was saying.

I straightened slightly. “Yes?”

Kael glanced at him.

Lucian did too.

Even Aaron’s attention shifted.

The room narrowed around that moment.

Then—

He spoke.

Unlike the thoughts that have been placed in your head…

Your parents are alive.

…What?

The word slipped out before I could stop it.

Kael went still.

Lucian straightened slightly.

Aaron blinked once.

But I couldn’t look at them.

I was still looking at him.

Your parents are alive, he said calmly.

“No,” I shook my head slightly. No, that’s not— that’s not possible.

“It is.”

That doesn’t make sense, my voice came out tighter now. They’re dead. I— I was told they were dead.

You were told wrong.

Silence hit again.

But this time—

It was disbelief.

How…?

He took a step closer.

Just… closing the distance.

Your real name, he continued, voice steady, “is Aria.”

My breath caught.

Something about that name—

It didn’t feel foreign.

It felt like something I had forgotten, not something new.

“No…” I whispered.

You have two older brothers, he went on.

Each word landing heavier than the last.

“And…”

Wait… there’s more? Aaron said.

And you were betrothed to Kael.

“What?”

This time it wasn’t just me.

Kael spoke.

“What did you just say?”

Lucian pushed off the wall. Wait— what?

Aaron sat forward slightly. Okay, hold on—

“No,” I stepped back, shaking my head. No, that’s not— this is not—

Nothing made sense.

Nothing connected.

Nothing felt real.

My chest was tight.

Too tight.

Like I couldn’t breathe properly.

You’re lying, I said desperately.

I wish I was.

Why would you say something like that? my voice broke slightly. Why would you—

Because it’s the truth.

The room felt like it was closing in.

Kael looked between me and his father, his expression unreadable for the first time since I met him.

Lucian ran a hand through his hair, this isn’t funny.

“No one is joking.”

Aaron exhaled slowly. Okay… okay, let’s slow down. Because this— this is a lot.

But no one was actually slowing down.

Because everything had already exploded.

I looked at Kael.

Really looked at him.

And for the first time—

I didn’t know what I was seeing.

“…You didn’t know,” I said.

My voice barely steady.

He didn’t answer immediately.

And that silence—

My stomach dropped.

You didn’t, I whispered.

He stepped forward. “Vera—”

“Don’t,” I snapped, stepping back again. Don’t come closer.

Because I didn’t know what was real anymore.

Their father watched all of it like he expected this reaction.

Everything you’ve been told about your past, he said, was designed to keep you hidden.

From what?Aaron asked.

Lucian’s eyes narrowed. “The organization.”

“Yes.”

Kael’s jaw tightened. Explain.

And you will get your explanation, their father replied, But not now.

Dad, that’s not how this works, Lucian said.

Then he looked at me again.

And you, he added, you...have a lot more to remember than you think.

My hands were shaking.

I didn’t even notice when it started.

Like I had been living someone else’s life and just found out.

Kael stepped forward again.

Slower this time.

Careful.

“Vera—”

Don’t call me that, I said immediately.

The words slipped out before I could stop them.

The room went still again.

Even I didn’t expect that.

But it felt right.

And that scared me more than anything else.

Silence stretched.

Then—

“…Aria?” Aaron said carefully.

I closed my eyes.

Just for a second.

Because hearing it again—

did something.

And I didn’t know what.

Aaron leaned back slightly in the chair, one hand dragging over his face before he let out a quiet breath.

I can understand the parent part… but betrothed to Kael?

Lucian shot him a look, but even that didn’t carry its usual weight.

Kael hadn’t moved.

He was still standing where he stopped when everything dropped on him, eyes fixed on me like he was trying to see something different.

Something he missed.

Or something he should have known.

I hated that look.

Because it made me feel like I wasn’t… me anymore.

You all are not expected to understand this immediately, their father said finally, voice calm, steady, controlled. “But you will.”

I shook my head slowly.

No… this is too much. None of this makes sense.

I snapped slightly, frustration slipping through now.

You don’t just walk in here and tell me my entire life is wrong and… and I’m betrothed to your son… and expect me to just stand here and accept it.

You don’t have to accept it, he replied. Not yet

Aaron leaned forward, elbows on his knees now, eyes moving between all of us.

Okay… let’s try to start somewhere simple, he said. Because clearly we’re all about to lose our minds.

Lucian nodded slightly. Start from the part that sounds insane.

The betrothed part, right? Aaron added.

Their father looked at them both.

Kael moved then.

Just one step.

Slow.

Like I might break.

“Look at me,” he said quietly.

I didn’t want to.

But I did.

And that made it worse.

Because his expression—

He wasn’t angry anymore.

He wasn’t in control.

He was… confused.

Just like me.

You know I had no idea of this, right? he asked.

I didn’t answer.

Because I didn’t know what to think.

“I didn’t,” he continued. If I had, this would have been handled differently.

How?” I asked immediately. How exactly would this have been handled differently, Kael?

He didn’t answer.

Because he didn’t have one.

You said she has brothers, Lucian said suddenly. Where are they in all this?

And her parents… do we know them? Kael asked.

Good question.

Very good question.

Their father’s gaze shifted briefly.

“I need to go to my room. This is too much for me,” I said, walking out.