جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 96

KARIMA HEART“Well, I have all day to listen.” The words came out calm, but even I could hear how sharp they truly sounded.Mum shifted again, like the chair suddenly turned too hot for her.“I was going to tell you everything, sweetheart. But…” Her voice cracked. Tears gathered in the corners of her eyes and she dabbed at them with shaky fingers. “I just thought you weren’t ready yet. I mean—”“You thought on my behalf?” I cut in, struggling to keep my voice from shaking. “Mum, I’m not thirteen. I’m an adult. You don’t get to make that choice for me.”“I know. I’m sorry, Karry.” her breath trembled. “It’s not what you think. I was scared. I thought you’d hate me… which...” she swallowed “—you probably already do.”My heart raced. I dragged my eyes away for a second just to breathe, then met hers again.“So… it’s true.” The words scraped out of my throat. “I’m adopted? Malcom isn’t even my real brother? And Dad—” my voice cracked “—Dad pretended to love me when I wasn’t even his child

MALCOM HEARTI just stood there staring at the door, silently praying the ground would open up and swallow me whole.“Who the hell is that?”Trixie snapped beside me. For a second, I couldn’t even form a sentence... Of all people… of all days… she had to show up now?I hadn’t gone to see her at the hospital. I hadn’t even seen her since she came back to New York. And now she was standing outside my office like a ghost I never asked to return.She stood there rubbing her arm, terrified, like she didn’t even know if she had the right to walk in.I exhaled sharply and finally started moving toward the door, but of course, Trixie blocked me again.I fought the urge to yell at her. I really would have, if I hadn't held back myself.“Why did Keisha let a stranger in without calling you first? Shouldn’t you be mad at her?” She went on, her voice dripping with irritation.I turned and glared at her, gripping the last thread of my patience I had left. “Trixie, do me a favor. Leave my office.”

MALCOM HEART“What?!” I blurted before I could even think.She glanced at me quickly, her lips pressed together nervously. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked,” she murmured, stepping back, but my hand caught her at the waist before she could move.My eyes locked on hers, and for a moment, I didn’t even care what I was doing. I just wanted to hold her and keep her close. “Listen to me,” I whispered. “I’m not marrying Yasmine. I swear, what happened between us… it was a mistake I still regret every day.”She swallowed, shifting her face away, but then met my gaze again. “I trust you, Malcom.”Relief hit me like a wave, and I exhaled sharply.“Thank goodness… I thought you wouldn’t—” but I didn’t get the words out finish.“I’m not making excuses for you,” she interrupted, biting her lower lip, her eyes flicking to the floor and back. “I’m just… I think we should forget this happened.”My brows furrowed. “What? Why?”Her hand slid to her waist pulling down mine. She held herself like she