Chapter 46 Chapter 0046

Chapter 46 Chapter 0046
•ANEIRA•

Narra tried to talk reason into me and stop me from seeing Rafael, but I didn't listen. I almost regretted it when I arrived at his house.

I crossed my fingers and hoped he would let me leave once we were done talking.

The guards outside the front door let me inside and I walked straight to Rafael’s study. I didn't want to take any turns and bump into his sister or worse, Amari.

The door was slightly open, and when I pushed it wider and stepped inside, I saw him sitting behind his large desk with a glass of whiskey in his hand.

He looked up the moment he noticed me standing in the doorway, and he sighed, placing his glass aside.

“You were supposed to stay in the hospital,” he said, sounding disappointed to see me. "What are you doing here, Aneira?"

“I left,” I replied as I stepped inside and closed the door behind me. “We have to talk. I have some questions for you.”

He exhaled as he leaned back on his chair and looked at me. He studied me for a moment before he answered.

“You are not strong enough to be walking around,” he said. “You should still be in bed.”

“I am strong enough to hear the truth,” I answered, leaning toward his desk. “I want you to tell me about what happened to my mother.”

His jaw tightened and he stood up from the chair. “Who told you something about her?”

“Does it matter who told me?” I demanded, my voice trembling. “Did you kill her, Rafael? Did you kill Emma? Why are you taking everything from me, Rafael? What have I done wrong to you?”

"No, I didn’t kill your mother."

My heart began beating faster in my chest, and I rolled my eyes. “Then who did?”

Rafael’s gaze darkened as he answered. “Your sister.”

“What?” I gasped. Narra was everything like my mother, but she loved her and would've never killed her for anything or for anyone.

Narra killed your mother," he repeated. "She admitted the truth when I asked her and said she deserved it for keeping her hidden."

“That’s a lie,” I replied, shaking my head. “Narra would never do that.”

Rafael walked around the desk until he was standing only a few feet away from me.

“Your mother hid Narra for months,” he replied. “She forced her to stay hidden so she could send you into this marriage instead.”

“I know that,” I said sharply. “Narra told me everything.”

“Did she also tell you what happened after I took you to the hospital?” Rafael asked.

I didn’t answer. I swallowed because she never told me anything, other than that she heard everything from Rafael’s men.

"Polly and Amari brought her to the house and thought she could convince me that Emma played both of us, but instead of waiting for me to return, she killed your mother."

My stomach tightened.

"She told me to nullify our marriage and be with her," he continued. "She said her mother was now dead and no one would stand in our way."

I shook my head. It wasn't possible. Narra and my mother were close my entire life. They were inseparable.

It was hard to believe that Narra could have killed her after everything they had been through together.

"My sister loved my mother, Rafael," I said as I closed the small gap between us. "She wouldn't kill for anything or anyone. She loved her more than me," I scoffed, leaning back. "She never cared for me or that we ever shared the same womb. Why would she kill her now?!"

"Because she wants me to take her in your place!" He snapped. "Can't you see that I let you go because I can't stand myself after everything I put you through? Your sister could never undo what you did in my heart."

My lips parted and I wanted to say something, but no words came out.

I never thought he felt anything for me. He killed my father in front of me, burned Chris, and made me listen to his screams until he was silent.

He said nothing and never apologized to me.

How could a man like that love me after all that? He hated me from the very first day we met and told me he would kill everyone I knew.

"I love you, Aneira," he continued. "I have loved the very first day we met, and I thought if I hurt you and made you hate me, I would eventually stop loving you. But I can't look at myself in the mirror anymore for hurting the one person who means everything to me."

"You love me?"

"You must leave," he said after a long moment. "You shouldn't be here with me, Aneira. I will nullify the marriage contract as I have promised you. You're free from me."

"Free?" I scoffed, leaning closer to him. "Free?!" I snapped, smacking his chest. "I can never be free from you, and you know that. I have been in your bed and carried your son!"

Tears streamed down my face as he looked at me, blinking.

"You hurt me more than anyone has, but I can never be free from you because—" I paused and shook my head as I turned to the door and before I could reach the doorknob, Rafael grabbed my wrist and held me back.

He pulled me toward him and slammed his lips against mine before I could stop him.