Stephon stared at me strangely. His eyes narrowing after seconds dragged on.

"How did you know that it was a woman who approached Asche today?"

I sighed and raked a hand through my hair. "If this is the same lady we're talking about, she called asking for Asche a few weeks ago. I refused to let her speak with him. I wanted to ask Asche first if he desired to speak to her. Something seemed off when I spoke to her. So I decided to play it safe and I'm glad I did, but I'm also furious that she had the audacity to seek him out on her own."

Stephon nodded in understanding. "I wish I could tell you more but I think you should hear it from him instead of me. Asche is a strange one and I don't know about you but I would like to sleep well tonight."

"I get it. I'll wait until he wakes up. He needs his rest anyway. In the meantime, I'll try and track down that woman and see if she'll stay away and allow him to live in peace. From the response you gave me and how my mate cried himself to sleep, I know her pop up left him devastated. Do you mind keeping an eye on Zyaire? I'm going to make a quick stop at the office."

Stephon eyed me inquisitively but agreed nonetheless. He loved Zyaire and I'm sure he's going to be a great father when their daughter is born. I promised to return within the hour.

I left the penthouse and drove to my publishing company, acknowledging the receptionist as I headed to the elevators, ascending to my private floor. My PA stood up as soon as I stepped in, donning a deep frown.

"Mr. Armander," She hurried over in her pumps that clipped along the tiled floor. "There was a lady here earlier, she said her name was Mrs. Daxon."

My teeth clenched and I forced down an inhumane growl. That woman was really pushing her luck. What is it that she wanted from Asche that she was so desperate to show up at my company?

"How long ago did she leave?" I asked.

"About ten minutes before you arrived. She left a number for you to reach her by. She said that it was urgent. She looked...distraught," She paused, her face thoughtful.

"Write the number on a piece of paper for me please and bring it to my office. I'm going to look over the security cameras for a second. Thank you for keeping her at bay, I don't do well with personal, unannounced visits."

"Yes, sir." She bowed and scurried off to do as I asked and I went into my office and sank down into my desk chair, opening my laptop and opening the program for the security footage. I rewind it fifteen minutes back and sat back as the cameras rolled, showing a lady at average height with brunette hair striding through the entrance, walking over to the receptionist who greeted her with a pleasant smile.

Yes, good customer service. I was rather pleased with the way she dealt with her. I felt like a proud employer. Even though this woman begged and pleaded, the receptionist didn't cave in and kept a smile on her face as she phoned my floor and I watched as my PA answered the phone, her expression shifting from a smile to creased brows. She exchanged a few words with the receptionist before ending the call. My eyes shifted to the footage of the receptionist area, my eyebrows drawing in when the woman refused to leave after she was told I wasn't in my office. She made a few gestures with her hands and offered a slip of paper to the receptionist, walking off with a frustrated look on her face. I closed the footage and leaned back in my chair, tenting my fingers together as my thoughts raced.

There was a knock on the door and my PA strode in with the strip of paper, giving it to me and excusing herself after I offered her my thanks.

I rolled in my chair to the telephone and dialed her number. She answered immediately as if she was waiting on my call.

"I thought you'd ignore me as well." She said in relief, instantly identifying the call.

"Why are you sniffing around my establishment?" I got right to the point. "Especially if you're not interested in returning a book or offering me a marvelous piece of literature?"

"I'm sorry for being a nuisance. You see, Asche is my nephew and we've been searching for him for years," She began and I stopped her in her tracks.

"First of all, Asche has been alone for a while and if you are alive and healthy, why didn't you have him in your custody? It seems as if he's been on his own for many years. Please explain because you being his aunt doesn't make sense to me."

She took a moment before she replied, "It's a long story."

"Well summarize it because I'm on a tight schedule." I gritted out, kicking my legs up on top of the desk and crossing them at the ankle.

"Are you his boyfriend?" She asked instead and I almost blew flames through the receiver.

"You are one audacious woman. I must commend you for your gallantry. The answer is, that's none of your business. If you have nothing important to say-" I made a move to disconnect the call.

"Wait!" She quickly said and I paused in my movements, bringing the receiver back to my ears. "I'm sorry. That was very fast of me. I just saw you both together and I assumed-"

"You assumed nothing," I said coldly. "I need you to get straight to the point ma'am or I'm ending this irrelevant call." I was beginning to get agitated. She wasn't making any sense and I had it in my plans to get back home before Asche wakes up.

"Yes, yes I did," She concurred repentantly. "The fact of the matter is, Asche's father is sick. He's actually dying." Her voice became thick with emotion as she said that. Asche has a living parent? I always assumed that he was an orphan.

"I'm sorry to hear that," I said, sincerely saddened that he was at death's door. "I don't want to sound rude but, what does this have to do with Asche? My question still remains unanswered. Why did you not take him in when he was but a child? What will it benefit him as an adult? He's already standing strong on his own. A dying father probably won't change that. I can't speak for Asche but this doesn't make any sense. What happened to his mother?" I asked, curious.

A heavy pause lingered before she gave me a response, "She passed away."

"No, no. You misunderstood my question, what actually was her cause of death? She had to die when Asche was a child."

Asche refused to talk about his past and it really itched me that I still didn’t know much about him. I intended to marry him and my wish is to learn him every day. If we had to go on many dates even though we were married, then so be it. We had all the time to get to know each other. Right now, I needed this woman to come clean. I felt like she was hiding something.

“I..” She started and I listened in anticipation. “I slept with my twin sister’s husband.” Her confession had me removing my feet from the top of the desk, my mouth gaping.

“Come again?” My face contorted in disbelief. “That’s…that’s absolutely atrocious!” I exclaimed, enraged. “How could you live on knowing you slept with your sister’s husband? You are a horrible person!” I found myself standing up and pacing the room, heated, baffled, and soaking in disbelief.

This woman has to stay far away from my Asche. FAR, FAR AWAY.

The question still lingered unanswered.

“I'm a horrible sister and aunt. I couldn’t face Asche knowing what I did, especially knowing that I was pregnant at the time. Eventually, when the baby was born and he grew older, I thought what if he finds out? What if he does what Estelia did?” Her voice shook.

I ran a hand through my hair and snarled out, “What a lame-ass excuse! It wasn’t Asche’s fault that you fucked his father. It also wasn’t his fault that you conceived after having a continuous affair with him. Don’t blame it on his dead mother and you damn well better not blame it on him! You’re fit for a gunshot to your head. People like you are snakes. Nefarious and selfish. Blaming others besides yourself. I think I have an idea of how his mother died. She killed herself, didn’t she? After discovering her husband banging her sister, it was a catastrophic mental blow. You make me sick. Why did you come here? What are your motives!?” I roared.

“Please, just listen,” She begged. “It’s not about me. I know I did terrible things and I deserve to punish for it. But please, just let him see his father again. One last time, before Deon slips away.” I heard the tears in her voice and curled my lips in a scowl.

“That’s not up to me to decide,” I said flatly. “Asche should make that decision.”

I swallowed bile and tried to even out my breathing. Why did my mate have to be related to this vile woman?

“Can you look past my faults and allow him to see his father? It's his dying wish. I just want him to have closure. I want them both to have closure.” She explained an I sighed, trying to keep my anger at a controllable level.

She had the opportunity to raise her nephew but she decided against it because of her guilty conscience? What a deplorable woman. Cowardly and plain ass pathetic.

“I can’t make any promises. I have to go now.” I told her, getting ready to end the call.

“Please.” She reasoned.

"I'm not doing it for you,” I clarified, glancing out the window at the crowd of people breezing through on the sidewalk. “I’m also not doing it for his father. I’m doing it for Asche. He needs closure, not you, and certainly not his father. I'll get back to you in a few days time. Cross your fingers because if Asche’s in a bad mood, I can't guarantee that he'll agree.”

“Thank you,” She said in much gratitude.

I cared less to spare her another word and rudely ended the call. I gritted my teeth as I stared out the spotless glass.

There's no wonder my mate had no trust in others. His own father and aunt turned their backs on him when he was as his weakest point to satiate their selfish desires. I hung my head in my hands and shook it. Through our mating bond, I felt Asche's anguish now. He was hurting deep and my heart throbbed for him.

It was time to head home and finally get to the bottom of this mess.

***

I got home just in time. Asche awoke, calling out for our child as soon as I stepped into the living room. Stephon came out of the nursery, holding Zyaire in his arms. I gently scooped her into my arms and took her to him, with Stephon offering to cook in the meantime. I thanked him for being a huge help.

As I stepped in the dark room with the curtains drawn, his head whipped my way, his hands stretching out for Zyaire. I came over and sat down beside him, placing our child in his welcoming arms. He snuggled her and sighed in relief, gently rocking her in his arms.

"Daddy loves you," He whispered, brushing a finger down her cheek as she slept soundly.

I reached over and wrapped my arms around him, kissing his temple. He leaned into me, closing his eyes. "Bad dream?"

"Something like that. I'm so tired," He confessed. "Emotionally and mentally."

"I know you are, love." I kissed him on the same spot. "I'm so sorry I wasn't there to be with you when you were hurting so much. I wish we'd met sooner."

He looked up at me in surprise. "Did Stephon tell you?"

I shook my head sadly. "No. He was against telling me. He said I should let you tell me yourself. He looked highly upset."

Confusion settled on his face. "So how did you find out?"

I stroked Zyaire's little foot and it twitched. So cute. My eyes met his, "Your aunt called me the day you went in labor. She asked for you but I wasn't allowing her to get near you without your consent. She may have wanted to harm you. I can't trust anyone. But then, I realized she found you when you and Stephon went out grocery shopping and she even went as far as to show up at my company. She's a desperate woman. How do you feel about the situation, talk to me, baby."

His hazel eyes flicked on me through long lashes and he bit his lips. "I don't know. Honestly, I don't want to see my father. He abandoned me before my mother died. He showed me boldly that he cared less about my wellbeing. It's been fourteen years, Drakos. Fourteen long-ass years that I lived being mistreated by strangers. I turned to prostitution not just for the cash but for love in all the wrong places. I was starved for affection, for a place to belong and they didn't supply that. Now that man is dying and they want to choke me with the guilt trip? I don't want to see him. They're dead to me. She probably told you how mom died and it's all their fault. She would have been alive and doting over Zyaire but they stole her from me and I hate them for it." He bit his lower lip as he fought with his emotions.

My heart cried for my mate. Agony took hold of his features and I loathed to see it. His beautiful face should be alight with joy and contentment.

If that's how he feels, I must respect his desire.

"You don't have to search for love any longer because you've found it in me and we've created a beautiful child that we can give our love to." I kissed his forehead as a tear slid down his cheek.

"Please, don't let her find out where we live," He begged, clutching Zyaire tighter to him. "I don't want her near our child."

"I will keep you both safe," I promised, holding him closer and comforting him. "I'll tell her what you told me and she has to respect what you want. They had all the time to find you but they didn't. I only care about you and our daughter's wellbeing."

"Thank you," He said through teary eyes. "I love you so much for understanding." He cupped my chin with one hand as he held Zyaire with the other.

"I love you no matter what," I declared, lowering my head and kissing him.

***