My stomach had a temporary breakdown when I saw her face. It was eerily identical to my dead mother's. I never thought I'd see her face again after what she did to mom. How long has it been, thirteen or fourteen years?

I hurled some more, making horrid sounds as I lost my lunch. What's worse, she and mom were twins and she had a son for dad who looks exactly like me. What kind of sick family joke is this?

I gagged and a string of bile lowered from my lips.

"Oh, God." I sobbed.

"Asche! Oh my goodness, are you okay?" Stephon leaned over to examine me with concern.

"I'm okay," I got out through rapid panting.

"You don't look okay. Who was that woman and why does the boy that's with her look exactly like you?" He soldiered on with his questions.

"She's...my aunt," I breathed out, fighting the need to regurgitate.

Stephon's eyebrows creased. "I thought...all of your family members were dead."

"I considered them dead and they might as well have been because they didn't exist in my life. I was raised in the system from eight years old. That woman is a stranger to me." I said coldheartedly.

"I'm sorry you had to go through this," He said sympathetically. "Do you want to go home?"

I got up slowly, taking deep gulps of air. I closed my eyes and allowed the cool air to waft over my face. My mouth tasted bitter. I looked a total mess.

I heard Stephon snarl and my eyes shot open, staring into the direction where he was looking.

"What do you want?" He glared at my aunt and her son as they stood about seven feet away from us, looking pathetic. Why is she popping up now? What sense does it make? I'm a grown-ass man now with a child. I have no need for her.

"Asche," She called out my name and my skin crawled. I spat and rose up, holding on the vehicle for support. I fastened glowering eyes on them and the boy took a step back in alarm, his face riddled with fear.

Altier stirred in my chest, rousing from his slumber, peeking with one eye open.

"Mom, I don't think this is a good idea." He tugged the hem of her blouse.

"How did you find me? What do you want?" I seethed, standing beside Stephon.

She stepped closer and I raised my fist. She stilled, her eyes wide.

"Come near me and I won't guarantee your safety," I gnashed my teeth, boiling with unadulterated rage. "You have some fucking nerve approaching me like we're all butter and toast. Did you forget what you did to my mother? How you rid me of a family and left me alone to rot in the system?"

Now both of Atlier's eyes were open in curiosity.

Her son stared at her in shock, his facial expression filled with bewilderment.

"What is he talking about, mom? And why does he look exactly like me? What did you not tell me?" He demanded, clenching his fists at his sides.

She looked embarrassed, staring at the pavement in shame. "We shouldn't discuss this here," She said, glancing at us with an imploring look.

"Who the fuck are you to tell me what to do? I'm an adult now, not the helpless, abandoned child that you knew." I spat, shaking with a hurricane of emotions. I wanted to scream at her and tell her to fuck off. To go and rot in hell. She doesn't have a clue about what I endured after mom died.

This heartless woman couldn't be related to my loving mother. They shared the same features but their hearts and personalities were so much different.

She recoiled as if I struck her.

"Don't speak to her like that!" Her son barked.

"You don't know anything," Stephon retorted.

"And neither do you!" His hormones were probably in a frenzy right now. Stephon's face darkened with fury and he took a deep breath in and exhaled.

"He's, just a kid. He's just a kid," He said in a hushed tone.

"Why is his stomach round?" The boy asked with a contorted face.

"Because I fucked, that's why!" Stephon barbed.

The she-devil gasped and looked at Stephon in utter shock. The boy's eyes goggled.

"Was that necessary?" I sighed, running a hand down my face. Stephon grumbled to himself and crossed his arms over his chest. I focused on my aunt. "Look, I've moved on. I'm better now and I don't need you guys in my life. I'll never forgive you for what you did to my mother and that's that."

"Your father is sick," She said, hoping that would get my attention.

"And?" I shrugged, nonchalant.

"He's been searching for you for the past few years. Deon was diagnosed with stage four cancer a few months ago. He doesn't have much time to live. His last wish is to see you." Her voice got tight and her eyes blurry.

I grind my teeth together forcing myself to stay calm. Are these people out of their minds? Dad's sick now and it's his dying wish to see the black sheep of the family? "Searched for a whole year? Tch, tell him to try harder. My life wasn't the best either but you didn't see me searching high and low for you all."

"I couldn't face you after what I did to Estelia." She sounded regretful and I wanted to strangle her.

"Mom, who's Estelia?" The boy asked.

"She's your aunt, honey," She told him, pausing, then adding, "And your father's ex-wife."

"By death," I gritted out, feeling an onslaught of emotions. Rage, betrayal, sadness. This woman came here and opened wounds that healed years ago.

"I'm sorry," She said. "Nothing I say can erase your pain. What I did was unforgivable and I have no excuse for it."

Her son backed away from her, shaking his head. "I saw the resemblance to the point that it's almost identical. Mom, what the hell!? My cousin is my brother as well!? How could you!" He stormed off between a line of cars and she called after him.

"Devin! Devin!"

"You're destroying lives left and right, aunt and it's sickening. Tell dad for me that I don't give a shit. He shouldn't be considered my father. He's nothing to me just as you are. Don't look for me and don't you dare stalk me or I'll be forced to become detrimental. It's too late to patch up a gaping hole that you dug with your trifling ass. I wish you have sleepless nights for what you and dad did to mom. Mom is not here to defend herself so I will. Stay away and fuck you. Fuck you to the ends of time. I'll sit back and watch your body rot while I'm sipping wine and staying forever young."

I bid her one final glare before I turned away and power walked to my car. Stephon lingered for God knows what but I was done. As I walked, it was as if the floodgates of my emotions burst open and tears fell unrelentingly. I reached the car and I slid down to my knees and wept.

Atlier made a sound that sounded like a painful cry but I couldn't truly tell.

I wasn't crying because of hurt. I shed tears for my mother and the fact that her sister was the one to ruin her life. Now she's gone. I have a brother who was also my cousin who found out about me today. All these years of lies and betrayal.

Oh, mom, I'm so sorry.

I wished I was strong enough and wise enough to know what you were going through. You were faithful and loyal to dad but dad was unfair to you. You have a beautiful granddaughter now and she's loved and cherished.

I'll never forgive my aunt for taking you away from me. I don't care if you took your own life, she drove you to it. The hardest blow is from the deepest bond.

I sniffed and brushed the tears from my eyes. No more crying, Asche. The only tears you'll cry from now on are tears of joy.

"Oh, Asche," Stephon's voice emerged as he leaned over me. "Don't cry over that evil bitch. Here, let me help you up," He offered his hand but I shook my head.

"You're pregnant, Stephon. I don't want to put a train on you."

"I'm not an invalid, Asche." He said dryly as I rose on my feet. He backed up a bit.

"I know you're not," I said. "But just be careful. Let's go. I don't want to spend another minute in this parking lot.

"You're not driving," He told me. "Not in this state."

"Fine," I sighed and we got in the vehicle and headed home. I wondered what Stephon told my aunt after I stormed off. His expression was tight and a grimace lingered as he drove and we sat in silence.

It wasn't anything good I bet.

***

I got home to find my mate fast asleep.

Stephon caught my concerned gaze when I emerged from the nursery after laying Zyaire in her crib, as he sat in the living room, drinking a glass of juice. Falcon and I stepped out to take a look at the family home I purchased no longer than an hour and a half ago. We took the puppies with us and they enjoyed the brief outing. Presently they were at Felicia's. She had a thing for pets. Falcon stayed at Felicia's, promising to be back before sundown.

When we got back, Asche was out like a light. With a tearstained and swollen face. A low rumble bubbled in Zyros' throat. He was worried about Asche too.

"What happened?" I asked, sitting down opposite him.

He sighed. "Where do I start?"

"Where I won't get angry immediately."

"Then, I think I should keep my mouth shut." He frowned in the rim of the glass as he took a sip.

I released an exasperated breath and leaned back in the chair, my mind racing.

What could have made my mate so upset that he cried himself to sleep and made Stephon reluctant to tell me?

I couldn't be Tye or Nathan. I got rid of them.

So, who else?

Tick, tick, tick. Boom!

Oh, fuck.

I shot forward causing Stephon to pitch, startled.

"What?" He lowered his drink, frowning.

"Did you meet a woman today?"

Stephon quailed.

***

Q: How did you have the idea for this book?

Q: How did you come up with such a unique name Noelani?

Q: Do you have any pets?