"Excuse me?"

"I didn't stutter"

Sarah was baffled. What on earth was Benedict talking about?!

"I don't think i understand....me? abuse someone's child? Why would i do that? And how dare you think I'm capable of such horrendous things!"

Benedict flinched when she yelled at him. Sarah never yelled except for when her feelings were hurt.

"Mom...i"

"No.....just....i think I should head to bed" she says stomping her way up the stairs. Before she could take the last step she turned to him.

"Never in my life have i raised a hand to you or your brothers, when your dead beat father walked out on us what did i do? I worked 7 jobs so you could finish school and pay your medical expenses when you had asthma attacks, never have i said you owe me because you know what? Your happiness was my payment, seeing all my kids happy was the only payment i could get to feel validated that every choice and sacrifice i made was a good thing. And now you acuse me of this..."

Benedict's eyes turned blurry as tears brimmed in his eyes.

"Mom..." he weakly called out but then Sarah says something that knocked the wind out of his lungs.

"The person who used to babysit was your aunt, not me"

═════ ♢.✰.♢ ═════

The next morning....

"This is a safe place, i want you to close your eyes and take me to the scene. Tell me what you remember"

He took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

"I remember going upstairs to call him....we were having brunch with my boyfriend's family so i figured my brother should also be there"

"Good, then what"

"I.....opened the door and he was there.....he looked different"

"Different how? Body language? Or his physical appearance"

"His demeanor was just....different. like he knew what he was going to do"

"What happened next"

"I.....We talked about mom barging in to drag him out so he said he'd pick a sweater to wear and then.....i see my underwear on his bed"

The lady stopped writing on her notepad and looked up at the Prince.

"Your underwear?.....how did he get them?"

"Something about the maids mixing up our laundry, I don't know.....he had two of them, he was wearing the other pair"

"Okay i think that's enough"

He opened his eyes and sat up. The therapist sighed taking her glasses off.

"I think it's best we do it step by step because what you just told me makes me feel like your brother was obsessed with you, i wouldn't be surprised if he had a plan to replace your current partner with himself"

Prince sighed. At this rate He'd be going to therapy for the next few years.

"But on the other hand i suggest you move out of that wing if that's possible, you shouldn't be anywhere near the scene to avoid you slipping into depression or even worse"

He nodded and smiled.

"Thank you...see you next session?"

"Yes your highness"

Skye smiled when the therapist walked out of the room. He went inside and joined Prince in bed.

"How did it go?"

Prince hugged him tightly.

"Better than i thought"

Skye smiled and stood up.

"Do you want to take a walk?"

"Not now, i have something to discuss with my father"

"Okay, I'll be downstairs"

═════ ♢.✰.♢ ═════

Benedict sighed as he ate breakfast alone. Jonathan was back at his apartment and Sarah was avoiding him it seems.

He admits that he shouldn't have suspected his mother, especially when she had so many jobs, he remembers her leaving early in the morning and return late in the night. He should've known that the person he remained at home with also babysat Xavier, was his aunt.

"What have I done"

The kitchen door opened as Sarah came inside the house. The two locked eyes.

"Mom....I'm so sorry"

Sarah sighed and placed the grocery bags on the counter before hugging him.

"It's okay, i think i also overreacted a bit....your aunt was not a good person honey, she was a devil in disguise"

Benedict frowned.

"Was? She....she passed?"

"She died eighteen years ago....she died in labor"

He shuddered.

"Where is her child?"

"I honestly don't know, I've tried to locate the doctor who delivered the baby but i failed"

They sighed.

"The boy I'm dating was Aunt Vivian's victim"

"God.....what a small world"

He sighed. Would Xavier feel any remorse for dating the nephew of his abuser? He hopes that Xavier doesn't make him pay for his aunt's evil deeds.

"I think i should talk to him....to see how he feels about us after telling him"

Sarah nodded and gently patted his head.

"My special little boy.....i love you so much"

They hugged again.

"I love you too mom"

═════ ♢.✰.♢ ═════

Prince opened the door to the throne room. His father was there with a few military officers.

"Father, a word?"

Luke nodded and they walked out of the room.

"Anything wrong?" He asks.

Prince shook his head.

"I think it's time Skye and I move out....the palace isn't the same for me anymore"

Luke sighed. He was expecting this. He nodded and smiled at his son.

"You have my support but....choose a place where a royal like you can feel comfortable"

He chuckled.

"Don't worry about that"

He patted his son's shoulder. Although Luke doesn't know how to comfort his hurting son, he vowed to support him in finding his way to happiness again.

"I love you son"

"Love you too dad"

═════ ♢.✰.♢ ═════

Xavier was in his apartment playing video games. He didn't work on Thursdays so he was spending the day indoors.

Knock.knock

He paused the game and went to open the door. A smile formed on his face when he saw Benedict.

"Missed me?"

"We have to talk"

"Uh oh....are we breaking up?"

Benedict sighed and pushed him back inside, he closed the door as Xavier sat back down.

"About what happened to you.....your abuser?.....she's related to me"

Xavier frowned. What?!

"Wait.....you know the person who abused me?"

Benedict nodded.

"She was my aunt"

Xavier felt like he had been splashed with cold water. All this time....he had been dating the person related to that evil woman?

"I think you should go"

Benedict looked up at him in shock.

"W-What?"

"Go! just.....leave, i don't know want to see you right now"

He got to his feet. He had expected Xavier to react like this, what he didn't expect was how much it was going to hurt.

"I'll leave.....goodbye Xavier"

He didn't get a response as Xavier was holding his head in his hands as he took deep breaths. He closed the door with a sad sigh.

"It's been a day but.....why am I hurting this much?"