Chapter Thirty-Nine
Annie
Aston and I spend the night curled up in bed. Since we missed dinner, we ordered room service and ate in the hotel room instead. Neither of us was really in the mood to go anywhere after everything that happened.
It’s a day I don’t want to relive.
Finding out all that stuff about Loretta, hearing her say she loves me… it shook something deep inside me to my foundations. And then Amber showing up, pregnant? That shit pushed me right over the edge.
I guess I don’t handle stress as well as I like to think.
But Aston was there through all of it.
After our shower, he barely let me out of his sight. He hovered, fussed, held me, reminded me over and over how much I meant to him.
He was exactly what I needed.
And I liked it.
A lot.
Three days later, the maternity results are in, and we’re heading to the lawyer’s office to hear them together.
Aston hasn’t left my side since that night. Not once. He knows how big this is for me. How much hangs in the balance of whatever we’re about to hear.
If Loretta really is my birth mother… that changes everything. And if she is, then I have to decide whether I want this woman in my life.
That’s not something I can face alone.
We pull up outside the lawyer’s office, and the moment the car stops, my stomach twists. I’m already sweating, nerves crawling under my skin.
Aston notices immediately. He wraps his arm around my shoulders, pulling me into his side and pressing a kiss to my head. “It’ll be okay, baby,” he murmurs. “No matter what happens.”
I nod, even though I’m not sure I believe that.
If she isn’t my mother… then nothing really changes.
But if she is…
My life won’t be the same again.
Mum stays close to me as we walk inside.
Loretta is already there, sitting in the waiting area. She stands the second she sees me, her face lighting up as she walks over. “Afternoon, Annie,” she says brightly. “How are you feeling?”
“Nervous,” I admit.
“Well, don’t be. By the end of this, we’ll know for sure.” She smiles wider. “Even though I already know you’re mine.”
Mum doesn’t even look at her.
I glance at Loretta again, taking in her outfit. A blue skirt, white blouse, and matching jacket.
She’s made an effort.
She almost looks… normal.
Almost.
We sit along the wall, waiting.
I take a seat between Mum and Aston, while Dad sits beside Loretta. Ella drifts off to a nearby table, picking up a magazine. A second later, she grins and turns it toward me.
It’s Aston and me.
Outside the restaurant.
The headline reads…
Staked’s Power Couple:
Can Fame & Rhythm Keep Them in Sync?
Below is a photo of me running out in tears.
I roll my eyes.
Of course.
I don’t read that stuff. It’s always twisted, exaggerated, or completely made up. And the photographs are never flattering.
Ella drops into the seat beside Aston and shows him the spread.
He shakes his head. “Why do you even read that trash?” he asks.
“So I can tease Annie about it later,” she says with a giggle.
I scowl at her.
Little bitch.
Despite everything, I let out a small laugh because it’s exactly the distraction I need.
“Slade,” the receptionist calls.
Everything inside me tightens instantly.
Aston takes my hand, and the nerves come rushing back, stronger than before. I stand with everyone else, my legs feeling heavier with each step as we follow her into the office.
Jeremy Kline sits behind his desk, a file open in front of him. He looks up as we enter. “Good afternoon, everyone. Please, take a seat.”
There are four chairs in front of his desk and a couch behind them.
Loretta moves first, sitting down without hesitation. I glance at the remaining seats, then at my family.
“It’s okay,” Aston says quietly. “Ella and I will take the couch.”
I nod as they move away. Dad sits beside Loretta, and I take the seat next to him. Mum sits on my other side, immediately reaching for my hand.
“What an exciting day,” Jeremy says.
I force a small smile.
Mum huffs beside me.
“Shall we get straight to it?”
My stomach drops, so I grip Mum’s hand tighter, and Dad takes my other. For a moment, I focus on that, on them, on the fact that no matter what happens, I already have a family. But it doesn’t stop the nausea creeping up my throat.
“Loretta,” Jeremy says, glancing at the file. “The test results came back at 99.97% probability.”
He looks up.
“You are Annie’s biological mother.”
The words hit like a shockwave.
Tears spill instantly, mine mixing with Mum’s… and Loretta’s.
“I knew it!” Loretta exclaims, laughing through her tears.
The sound feels… off.
Too much.
But I push that aside.
Mum’s reaction hits harder, her face pale, eyes wide with something close to horror.
“What does this mean legally?” Loretta asks quickly.
I glance at Jeremy, wondering the same thing.
“Technically, it doesn’t change anything,” he explains. “Annie is an adult. She can decide what she wants to do with this information. You have no legal rights over her.” He smiles lightly. “I assume you’re just looking to build a relationship, not pursue anything legal.”
Loretta’s laughter stops abruptly, and her expression tightens.
Something about that… feels strange.
But again… I push it aside.
Loretta is my mother.
“Thank you, Jeremy,” Dad says, standing. “We appreciate your help.”
We all rise, and the room feels smaller somehow as we make our way out. In the foyer, Jeremy shakes Dad’s hand again before we head out to the car park.
We stop just outside.
No one speaks for a moment.
“Well…” Dad says, breaking the silence, “… this is good news… right?”
Mum scoffs, and I roll my eyes at her while Loretta smiles at me. “It’s wonderful news,” she says. “I knew you were my baby, Annie.” She steps forward and opens her arms.
I hesitate.
Mum’s hand tightens around mine, like she doesn’t want to let go.
But… I feel like I should do this.
For her.
So I take a step forward and let Loretta wrap her arms around me.
I don’t hug her back.
I can’t.
One hand is still locked with Mum’s, and the other hangs at my side as Loretta clings to me, crying softly into my shoulder.
I thought this moment would feel different.
Bigger.
Better.
But instead…
I feel absolutely nothing.
Just… empty.
Like I’ve waited my whole life for this, and now it’s here, and all I want…
… is my Mum.
The one holding my hand like I might disappear.
The one who never left.
I lift my free hand and awkwardly pat Loretta’s back, trying to give something back, even if it’s small.
She pulls away, mascara smudged, hands still gripping my shoulders. “I’m so proud of you, my daughter,” she says.
I manage a small smile.
But inside…
I’m still not sure what I’m supposed to feel.
“Thanks, Loretta.”
“Call me Mum… if you want to.”
I stiffen instantly.
Beside me, Mum almost chokes on air.
“I think she can stick to Loretta for now,” Mum says through gritted teeth.
And for once, I’m grateful for her reaction. Because if there’s one thing Loretta is not, it’s my mum. She might be my birth mother, but that does not give her the right to that title.
I already have a mum.
And that’s not going to change.
“Of course,” Loretta says quickly, though her smile tightens slightly. “Whatever you’re comfortable with, Annie.”
She still looks like she’s on top of the world.
“How about you come back to the manor for some afternoon tea?” Dad suggests. “We can all talk a bit more there.”
I shift closer to Mum, and her grip on my hand loosens just a fraction.
“That sounds lovely,” Loretta replies. “I’d really like to get to know you all better.”
I nod slowly.
“All right, we’ll see you back there,” Dad says, already turning toward the car.
I follow, but… “Annie!” I glance back over my shoulder. “Thank you,” Loretta says, her voice softer now. “For giving me a chance.”
I give her a small smile, then turn away and keep walking.
Aston catches up to me just as I reach the car. Before I can open the door, he pulls me into a tight hug. “I’m proud of you, Lennox,” he murmurs. “I know that wasn’t easy. You didn’t want to hug her, but you did it anyway.”
“Thanks,” I say quietly, resting my forehead against his chest. “I just… feel weird. Like I should be feeling more than this. I’ve waited my whole life for this moment, and now it’s here… I feel nothing. Just numb.”
“What you’re feeling is normal,” he says gently. “There’s no rulebook for this. No right way to react. And let’s be honest, Loretta is… a lot. Maybe you need time to get to know her before you let yourself feel anything more.”
I nod slowly.
He’s right.
I don’t know the woman.
And what I do know isn’t exactly comforting.
We all pile back into the car and head home.
Ella doesn’t say a word the entire drive. I glance over at her a few times, and each time she looks worse. Quieter, smaller, like she’s retreating into herself.
And I hate that this might be because of me.
We pull into the driveway, and Loretta’s car follows close behind.
We all get out and head inside, Loretta trailing after us, her gaze sweeping over everything like she’s taking it all in for the first time.
“Welcome back to our home, Loretta,” Dad says as we step inside.
She looks around, wide-eyed. “It’s beautiful,” she murmurs.
I don’t say anything, but I know what she’s thinking.
This place… this life…
It’s nothing like hers.
We move into the kitchen and take our usual places at the table. Mum busies herself at the kettle, probably needing something to do with her hands.
“I’ll make some tea and grab something to eat,” she says.
I sit down with Dad on one side and Aston on the other. Loretta takes the seat opposite me.
“So, Loretta,” Dad begins. “Tell us about where you’re living now.”
She starts talking.
But I’m not listening.
My attention drifts across the room to Mum and Ella. Mum says something quietly, and Ella nods before slipping out of the kitchen without a word.
And she doesn’t come back.
I look at Mum, frowning slightly, but she gives me a small, knowing look.
That’s all I need.
Ella’s not okay.
“Excuse me,” I say, pushing my chair back.
“Everything all right?” Aston asks.
“Yeah. I just want to check on Ella. I’ll be back.”