Chapter 12
· Aubrey ·
I spend the day wrestling with the burden of my secrets, the truth of my identity weighing me down. Should I tell him? I imagine the moment I finally confess—Soren’s face lighting up with understanding, or perhaps darkening with betrayal.
The possibilities spiral in my mind, each scenario more daunting than the last. Confessing could bring us closer, allowing Soren to finally understand my actions and the choices I’ve made.
However, there’s also the risk it could fracture the trust we’ve built, leaving him feeling deceived and unsure of our future. The uncertainty of his reaction keeps me in this limbo, unsure whether revealing my true self will lead to acceptance or rejection.
Later that afternoon, as the sun dips below the horizon, I hear footsteps approaching. Turning, I see Soren entering the courtyard, his expression weary. Summoning my courage, I make my way over to him. “Finally, you’re home. Where have you been?”
“In the city dealing with the human council, and a shipping container that washed ashore,” he tells me, looking tired.
“Okay, I need to talk to you about something important,” I begin, my voice steady but my heart pounding. Just then, Vanessa rushes over, her face flushed with urgency.
“Soren, I’m sorry to interrupt, there’s been a breach on the patrols today. Gregor needs to speak with you immediately,” she informs us breathlessly. Soren glances at me, regret etched in his features.
“I have to handle this, Bree. I promise we’ll talk right after,” he assures me before hurrying off with Vanessa. I watch him go, my confession once again delayed by everyone else’s demands.
Hours slip by and Soren hasn’t returned.
I’m once again tucking Max into bed alone, reading him a story as I find comfort in his innocent laughter.
Once Max is safely tucked into bed and asleep, I head back to our room and decide to turn my phone back on.
The screen lights up with missed calls from my mother.
A wave of anxiety hits as I dial her number. “Mom?” I say, my voice trembling.
“Bree,” she answers. It feels strange to hear her voice after so long.
“Yes, it’s me, is everything alright?”
She immediately bursts into tears.
“Mom?”
“Your father is in the hospital.” My heart sinks as memories flood back of our last argument, the harsh words exchanged in anger.
I remember the look in his eyes, a mix of disappointment and frustration, the way he turned away without another word.
Regret gnaws at me now, wishing I had reached out.
If only I had listened when they told me not to go with Rhett.
“Is he alright?” I ask, swallowing down the guilt as she continues to sob softly into the phone. She hiccups, and panic surges within me.
“They aren’t sure if he will make it, Aubrey. You need to come home.”
“What happened?”
“He collapsed at work. The doctors are doing everything possible… it doesn’t look good, though.
They said he had a heart attack.” I’m torn, a mix of urgency and dread swirling inside me.
Despite everything that’s happened, I know I need to be there to face whatever awaits, I know if he died and I remained, I would struggle to live with the guilt.
“Are you there?” Mom asks.
“I’ll pack a bag and head out tonight,” I promise, my voice steadying. “I’ll be there as soon as I can, Mom.”
I quickly start packing a bag as Soren walks in.
“Bree, what’s going on?” he asks, noticing my frantic movements.
“My father is in the hospital,” I reply, shoving clothes into my bag. “I need to go home.”
“Wait, how do you know this?” Soren asks before his eyes dart to the bed where my phone sits.
Grabbing it, I hold it up. “She called me.”
“I didn’t even know you had a phone, that is the first time I’ve seen it.” I chew my lip nervously and he pinches his brow in frustration letting out a heavy sigh.
“So your mother called you?” he asks and I know I’ve fucked up, considering he thinks I don’t speak with her. I just hope he doesn’t push for more answers.
“I turned it off when I left my ex, I only just turned it back on and saw a heap of recent missed calls from her. When I called her, she said my father is in hospital, and that I have to get there. They aren’t sure he’ll make it.”
“It’s late,” he protests gently. “You shouldn’t be leaving in the middle of the night.”
“I know.” I pause for a moment as doubt creeps in. Part of me wants to stay, to avoid reopening old wounds and facing the past, but the thought of not being there if the worst happens outweighs my fear.
“I can’t just sit here, Soren. I need to see him, to try and make things right; besides, I promised my mother I would come.”
“Come where? I thought they shunned you.”
“It’s my father. I won’t be far, just a few hours away, in Blackwood Pack,” I say, avoiding giving any more details. “I need to do this, Soren.”
“You can’t just go by yourself, Bree!” Soren snaps.
Finding my old car keys, I sigh in relief, glad I won’t have to try to catch a train there. It would take far longer. I turn away, “I have to go; I’m sorry. I promise I’ll be back soon. I’ll call you once I get to the hospital.”
Soren follows me, grabbing my arm. He snatches my car keys, looking at them. “You have a car?” he asks.
“It’s in the barn behind grandma’s old place.”
He shakes his head in disbelief before gritting his teeth.
“You are not walking to your grandmother’s place in the middle of the night,” Soren insists, his grip on my arm firm but gentle.
“Take one of my cars. Just promise me you’ll call as soon as you get there so I know you’re safe.
” He leads me to his garage, where an impressive lineup of about twenty different cars awaits.
“Pick one,” he says, gesturing to the vehicles with a resigned smile, knowing he can’t stop me but wanting to help in the only way he can. I step into the garage, my eyes widening at the sight before me.
The polished marble floors gleam under the soft overhead lights, and the walls are lined with tools and equipment.
Each car more expensive than the last, from a stunning red Ferrari to a sleek black Lamborghini and a classic silver Aston Martin.
I hesitate, the thought of taking one of these fills me with anxiety.
What if I scratch it or, worse, crash it?
The cost of even a minor repair on one of these could be astronomical, far beyond anything I could afford.
Yet, the urgency of seeing my father pushes me forward, and I find myself moving toward a more understated but equally elegant electric Audi, figuring it’s the least conspicuous choice and hopefully the least expensive.
Sliding into the driver’s seat, I’m enveloped by the smell of fine leather and the subtle hum of the advanced electronics.
The interior is immaculate, with every button and screen within easy reach.