Braelyn’s POV
The car grew quiet again after Margaret finished speaking. The hum of the engine filled the space between us as the vehicle turned off the highway and onto a quieter road lined with tall trees and dim streetlights.
For a long mont, neither of us said anything. I leaned my head back slightly against the seat, staring out the window while everything she had told slowly settled inside my mind.
Elliot Voss was my cousin. The chairman of the biggest dical empire. The thought alone felt surreal.
All my life I had believed my father was simply Dominic Alderheim, a quiet businessman who preferred to stay away from high society. I had never imagined he ca from one of the most powerful families in the country.
The Voss family.
Margaret broke the silence again. "Douglas then beca the new heir," she continued calmly. "And Elliot is his son."
I swallowed slowly. "So Elliot... is my cousin," I murmured, almost to myself.
Margaret nodded once. "Yes. You are the Voss blood. That fact doesn’t change. Dominic did everything out of spite" she paused then carefully added.."and foolishness. He loved Avelina with everything even when she lost her mind too.."
My mind still struggled to process it.. Margaret continued speaking, her tone thoughtful. "Dominic’s parents believed until their dying day that he would return. Even after Avelina died, they waited for him."
A heaviness settled in my chest. "He never did," Margaret added quietly. "Instead he focused on helping Gregor expand their business. Over ti he quietly acquired more shares."
I stared down at my hands.
My father had never ntioned any of this. Not the family he left behind, not the empire he had walked away from, not even the brother who had taken his place.
Margaret’s voice softened slightly. "A week before Dominic died, he called ."
My head snapped toward her. "You spoke to him?" I asked in surprise.
Margaret nodded slowly. "Yes," she answered.
"What did he say?" I asked carefully.
"He apologised," she replied.
I hesitated before asking the obvious question. "For leaving you?" The words slipped from my lips before I could stop them.
Margaret shook her head. "No," she answered. My brows furrowed at her answer. Her gaze drifted out the window for a mont before returning to .
"He apologised because he knew I was close to Yelena," she explained. Confusion crept across my face. "What does Yelena have to do with this?"
Margaret studied quietly. "He knew you might end up in her hands one day," she said softly.
A chill ran down my spine. Dad knew the Volkovs might not be able to keep safe. "He told that if sothing ever happened to you, I might be the only one who could save you from the Orlovs."
I stared at her in disbelief. "My father said that?" I blurted out and Margaret nodded.
"He believed his life with Avelina was his fate," she continued. "But he also believed you were innocent in everything that happened between our families."
My chest tightened painfully. All this ti I had seen my parents as victims of fate. Now I was beginning to realise that in soone else’s story, they had been the villains
"Can I ask a question?" I carefully requested.
"Of course." Margaret bead..
I released a breath before my lips slowly parted to ask. "Did you really forgive him for what he did?" The car went silent after that question. The thought of being abandoned on her wedding day must have been terrifying.
"It was hard. It hurt for a while but I healed and moved on. We weren’t ant to be." She answered then added after a pause. "To be honest I hated your mother for a while. I saw her as the one who destroyed Dominic but life is unpredictable. I can’t hold a grudge against the dead."
The car slowly began to decelerate. Her words lingered in my mind. In life, there is no absolute good or bad.
I looked outside the window and noticed the tall iron gates ahead of us. The gates slid open smoothly as the car approached, revealing a long driveway that led toward a massive villa illuminated by warm golden lights.
The mansion was elegant but not as intimidating as Yelena’s gothic fortress. It looked more like a place where a family had truly lived for decades.
The car eventually ca to a stop near the entrance. Margaret remained seated for a mont before turning toward again.
"I forgave Dominic a long ti ago," she said quietly. "Douglas treated well and I truly fell in love with him."
Her expression softened at the ntion of her husband.
" That’s why several tis I even tried to reach Dominic and convince him to return to the family," she continued. "If he had never betrayed that day, I might never have married Douglas."
She gave a small shrug. "So when Dominic made that request during his final call, I accepted."
I looked at her quietly. "You helped because of him?" I asked.
Margaret shook her head gently. "Not entirely." Her gaze softened. "I helped you because once upon a ti Dominic Voss was still my good friend."
The driver stepped out and opened the car door. Margaret carefully pushed herself up using her cane before stepping outside. I followed her a mont later.
The cool evening air brushed against my skin as I stepped onto the stone driveway. A tall figure was already waiting near the entrance. I recognised his figure Elliot Voss. It was funny I had a cousin in his Fifties, double my age.
He stood straight with his hands tucked casually in his coat pockets. The soft lights from the entrance illuminated his face as his eyes briefly settled on . Margaret walked toward him slowly.
"Call the butler," she said calmly. Elliot nodded once and signalled toward the entrance..A middle-aged man in a formal suit stepped forward almost imdiately.
"Take Miss Braelyn to the guest room," Margaret instructed him. "Make sure she is comfortable."
"Yes, madam," the butler replied respectfully.
Elliot gave a respectful nod and walked up to his mother. Margaret then turned to Elliot tearing her gaze from "We need to talk," I faintly heard her say to .
The butler gestured for to follow him. "This way, miss," he said politely. I followed him inside the mansion. Elliot’s and Margaret’s conversation faded in my ears as we proceeded inside.
I could faintly hear them say sothing about introducing to the family.
Reviews
All reviews (0)