Chapter 61 Dalia's Blessing
"If the enemy has been working beside them all along, who else in their inner circle can they trust?"
Morning brings security team. Urgent. Focused.
They've traced the email. Or tried to.
"Dead end." The head of security says. Frustrated. "Routed through multiple servers. VPN layers. Untraceable."
Kairo's jaw clenches. "What does that mean?"
"Whoever sent it knows what they are doing." The security chief explains. "Professional. Careful. This wasn't amateur."
Zephyra sits frozen. Someone that skilled. That determined.
"We need to hire investigators." Kairo says. "Find them before they act."
"Or we remove their power." Zephyra says quietly.
Everyone turns. Looking at her.
"What do you mean?" Kairo asks.
"We come clean." Her voice is steady despite fear. "About Gerald. About everything. Before the blackmailer can."
"Zee—" Kairo starts.
"If we control the narrative, they have nothing." She continues. "No leverage. No threat. Just our truth. On our terms."
Kairo studies her face. Sees the determination. The fear underneath.
"You're sure?" He asks gently.
"No." She admits. "But I'm tired of hiding. Tired of being afraid."
She touches her stomach. Where their twins grow.
"They deserve a mother who's honest." She says. "Not one living in fear of exposure."
The decision is made. But first.
"I need to tell your mother." Zephyra says to Kairo. "Before we go public. She deserves to hear it from me.
Kairo nods. Understanding. Supportive.
They call Dalia. Prepares to meet.
Dalia's estate. Familiar. Beautiful. Intimidating.
She greets them warmly. But sees their faces. Sense something is wrong.
"What is the problem?" She asks.
They settle. Zephyra's hands shaking. Kairo beside her. Anchoring.
"I need to tell you something." Zephyra begins. Voice trembling. "About my past. About who I really am."
Dalia leans forward. Attentive.
Zephyra takes a breath. Then speaks.
"My father is Gerald Lione." She says.
He was imprisoned for corporate funds, but that is not the worst of it"
The words pour out. Years of silence breaking.
Gerald's abuse. The violence. Her mother's suffering. The terror.
Growing up in that house. Never safe. Never loved.
Her mother's death. Her escape. The shame she's carried.
Dalia is quiet. Face unreadable. Listening.
"Someone knows." Zephyra's voice breaks. "They're threatening to expose everything. To tell Gerald about the twins. To destroy what we've built."
She looks at Dalia. Desperate. Afraid.
"I'm sorry I am just telling you." She whispers. "Afraid you'd see me differently. As damaged. As unworthy of Kairo."
Silence settles. Heavy. Suffocating.
Zephyra can't breathe. Waiting for judgment. For rejection.
Then Dalia stands. Walks to her
Pulls Zephyra into a fierce embrace.
"You survived." Dalia's voice is thick with emotion. "That's not damage. That's strength."
She pulls back. Cups Zephyra's face. Eyes wet.
"You are exactly who I want for my son." She says firmly. "Exactly who should mother my grandchildren."
Tears stream down Zephyra's face. Relief. Gratitude. Love.
"Your past doesn't define you." Dalia continues. "Your choices do. And you chose to become extraordinary."
She cleans Zephyra's tears gently.
Zephyra collapses into Dalia's arms. Sobbing.
Years of shame. Years of fear. Washing away.
"I was so afraid." She cries. "That you'd hate me.
"Never." Dalia holds her tighter. "You're more than good enough. You're perfect for us. For this family."
Kairo wraps arms around both of them. Three-way embrace.
His mother accepting his wife. Validating her. Loving her.
The moment heals something deep. Something broken. Something that's ached for years.
When they finally pull apart, Zephyra feels lighter. Freer.
"What do you intend to do?" Dalia asks. Practical now. Protective.
"Public statement." Kairo explains. "About Zephyra's past. Gerald. Everything."
"Before the blackmailer can act." Zephyra adds. "Control the narrative."
Dalia nods. Approving. "Smart. When?"
"Tomorrow." Zephyra says. "We are drafting the statement this night
"I'll be there." Dalia says firmly. "Standing beside you. Showing the world you have family support."
Fresh tears fill Zephyra's eyes. So overwhelmed
"Thank you." She manages. "For everything. For understanding. For loving me anyway."
"Not anyway." Dalia corrects gently. "Because. I love you because of who you are. All of it. Past included."
They spend another hour together. Strategizing. Supporting.
By the time they leave, Zephyra feels stronger. Dalia's acceptance gave her something she didn't know she needed. Validation. Worth. Belonging.
That evening, they work on the statement.
Simple. Honest. Powerful.
Acknowledging Gerald. The abuse. Her escape. Her choice to live differently.
"I am not my father." The statement reads. "I survived him. And I chose to become better. To build instead of destroy. To love instead of hurt."
It's perfect. True. Healing.
They schedule release for morning. Press conference. Their terms.
That night, lying in bed, Zephyra feels peace.
Tomorrow will be hard. Public exposure. Judgment. Questions.
But she won't be alone. She has Kairo. Dalia. Family.
And she has truth. Her truth. No more hiding.
Sleep comes. Restful. Deep.
Then. 3 AM. Kairo's phone rings.
He fumbles for it. Groggy. Confused.
"Hey?" His voice is rough with sleep.
He listens. His face goes faded.
"What?" He sits up. "whilst? Why?"
Zephyra wakes completely. Alarmed. "what's wrong?"
He's listening. Face developing tougher. Darker.
"I need to think about it." He says. "I will call again."
He ends the decision. Sits frozen.
"Kairo." Zephyra touches his arm. "Who was that?"
He turns to her. Eyes haunted.
"The jail." His voice is hole. "Gerald wants to talk with me."
Her blood runs bloodless. "What?"
"He requested a call." Kairo says. "Just me. About family matters"
Family matters?" Zephyra's hand moves to her stomach. Protective. "What does that imply?"
"I don't know." Kairo's jaw clenches. "However, it can not be coincidence. Right before we go public."
"He knows." Zephyra whispers. Worry creeping back. "The blackmailer informed him. About the About everything."
"We don't know that." Kairo attempts to reassure. But his voice shakes.
"What did you tell them?" She asks.
"That I want to think about it." He says. "That i will call back."
They take a seat in darkness. Processing. Afraid.
Gerald reaching out. Right now. After years of silence.
"You can't speak to him." Zephyra says. "anything he does, it is manipulation."
"I understand." Kairo has the same opinion. "However, what if ignoring him makes matters worse?"
"How could it be worse?" She asks.
He doesn't know.
Because they both know. Gerald is dangerous. Strategic. Calculating.
And now he wants to talk. About family matters. About their babies.
"We stick to the plan." Zephyra decides. Voice shaking but firm. "Public statement tomorrow. Before he can act."
"And the call?" Kairo asks.
"Ignore it." She says. "Don't give him power. Don't give him access."
Kairo pulls her close. Both trembling. Both afraid.
"Together." He whispers. "Whatever happens. Together."
"Together." She echoes.
But sleep doesn't return. Just worry. Fear. Dread.
Gerald reaching from prison. Trying to reclaim control. To destroy what they've built.
The blackmailer feeding him information. Weaponizing their secrets.
Tomorrow they go public. Own their truth. Fight back.
But as Zephyra lies awake counting down the hours until dawn, one question torments her—what does Gerald know that made him reach out now, and if he's been in contact with the blackmailer, what other weapons has he been given to use against them?