The Question At Dinner

By the time I reached my dorm, I had convinced myself of one thing.

I wasn’t going to run to Richard Blackwood demanding answers.

Not yet.

I needed facts first.

The photograph had given me one.

My mother had been at Silver Moon University in 2006.

She had known Richard Blackwood.

And somehow, twenty years later, their children had ended up in my life.

That couldn’t be a coincidence.

I placed the photograph beside my laptop and stared at it.

My mother was smiling in the picture.

I’d never seen that particular smile before.

Not the one she gave me when she was being a mother.

This was different.

Carefree.

Young.

Almost like she had been happy in a way I’d never known.

My phone vibrated.

Kian: Are you home?

I stared at the message.

Then another appeared.

Kian: Please answer.

I typed back.

Me: I’m fine.

Three dots appeared immediately.

Kian: That’s not what I asked.

I smiled despite myself.

Me: Yes. I’m home.

His reply came quickly.

Kian: Good.

Then nothing.

A minute passed.

Then:

Kian: My father wants to see you.

My smile disappeared.

I sat up.

Me: Why?

The typing bubble appeared.

Disappeared.

Appeared again.

Finally:

Kian: He wants to talk about your mother.

My heart began pounding.

⸻

I arrived at the Blackwood estate an hour later.

This time, I didn’t feel nervous.

I felt prepared.

The front door opened before I knocked.

Kael stood there.

He looked at me for a moment.

“You came.”

“You said your father wanted to talk.”

“He does.”

“Then let’s talk.”

He stepped aside.

I walked in.

The house felt different tonight.

Quieter.

The warmth from Friday’s dinner was gone.

Kian was waiting in the sitting room.

He stood when he saw me.

“Aria.”

“Where’s your father?”

“Study.”

I looked between the twins.

“Why did he want me here?”

Neither answered.

That was becoming a habit.

I folded my arms.

“I’m not leaving until someone gives me a straight answer.”

Kian looked at Kael.

Kael nodded.

Kian walked toward the study door and knocked.

“Come in.”

Richard Blackwood’s voice came from inside.

The twins exchanged one last look.

Then Kian opened the door.

Richard stood beside his desk.

He didn’t look surprised to see me.

That bothered me.

He looked almost as though he had been expecting me.

“Aria.”

“Mr. Blackwood.”

“Please sit.”

I remained standing.

“I’d rather stand.”

His eyes studied me.

“Fair enough.”

Kael and Kian remained near the doorway.

Richard walked toward the window.

“Your mother attended Silver Moon in 2006.”

It wasn’t a question.

I swallowed.

“Yes.”

“You found the yearbook.”

“Yes.”

He nodded slowly.

“I wondered how long it would take.”

My chest tightened.

“You knew I’d find it?”

“I knew eventually you would.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

Richard looked at me.

“Because it wasn’t my story to tell.”

“My mother is dead.”

His expression softened.

“And I’m sorry.”

“Then tell me what happened.”

Silence.

Richard looked toward the twins.

“Leave us.”

Kael immediately frowned.

“No.”

Richard’s voice hardened.

“Kael.”

“I’m staying.”

Kian moved beside his brother.

“So am I.”

For the first time, Richard looked irritated.

“This concerns the past.”

“And Aria,” Kael replied.

Richard stared at his sons.

Then he sighed.

“Very well.”

He turned back to me.

“Your mother and I were friends.”

I almost laughed.

“Friends?”

“Yes.”

“That photograph doesn’t look like two casual friends.”

His eyes narrowed slightly.

“You were very young when she died.”

“I was.”

“Which means you don’t know everything about her life.”

“Exactly.”

I took a step forward.

“So tell me.”

Richard was silent for several seconds.

Then he said,

“Your mother came to Silver Moon with plans to study business.”

I listened carefully.

“She was intelligent. Ambitious. She wanted a life beyond what her family expected of her.”

I frowned.

“Her family?”

Richard nodded.

“Your grandparents were very strict.”

I’d never heard that before.

“My mother rarely talked about them.”

“She rarely talked about many things.”

I felt a strange ache in my chest.

“Did you love her?”

The room went completely still.

Richard didn’t answer immediately.

Then he said quietly,

“Yes.”

My breath caught.

Kian looked at his father.

Kael’s expression hardened.

I swallowed.

“What happened?”

Richard looked at me.

“Your mother left Silver Moon suddenly.”

“When?”

“That summer.”

“Why?”

His gaze dropped.

“Because someone threatened her.”

My stomach twisted.

“Who?”

Richard looked toward the window.

“We never found out.”

“Never?”

“No.”

I shook my head.

“That doesn’t make sense.”

“It doesn’t have to make sense to be true.”

“Then why did she leave?”

“To protect you.”

I froze.

“Me?”

Richard nodded.

“Your mother was already pregnant.”

The room seemed to disappear around me.

I stared at him.

“Pregnant?”

“Yes.”

I looked at the twins.

Neither seemed to know what to say.

Richard continued.

“She left without telling anyone where she was going.”

My voice came out barely above a whisper.

“Did she tell you who my father was?”

Richard’s expression changed.

Before he could answer, the study door suddenly opened.

A woman stood there.

Elena.

Her face had gone pale.

“Richard.”

He turned.

“What is it?”

She looked directly at me.

Then at the photograph in my hand.

Her eyes widened.

“Where did you get that?”

“My mother.”

Elena’s hand went to her mouth.

For several seconds, she said nothing.

Then she whispered,

“Isabella promised she would never come back.”

I stared at her.

“Why?”

Elena looked at Richard.

And for the first time, I saw something I’d never seen from either of them.

Fear.

Richard’s expression hardened.

“Elena.”

But she shook her head.

“It’s been twenty years.”

She looked at me.

“She deserves to know.”

Richard stepped toward her.

“Not here.”

Elena’s eyes filled with tears.

“Then where?”

Nobody spoke.

I tightened my grip around the photograph.

“What aren’t you telling me?”

Elena looked at me.

And when she finally answered, her voice was barely a whisper.

“Your mother didn’t leave Silver Moon because she wanted to.”