Chapter 171 : the strange child

The tension in the room was palpable, the air thick with unsaid words and unresolved history. Dinner had ended, but the conversation still lingered. Sirius, with his relentless persistence, couldn’t help but press for more answers. He had his family in front of him, but they were still distant—physically present, yes, but emotionally unreachable. 

His golden eyes stayed focused on me, searching for something, but also holding a level of confusion and frustration that made my stomach tighten. Aster had excused himself earlier, retreating to his room, unsure of how to process everything that had just happened. But Sirius was relentless, not wanting to leave things unsaid.

"Astra," he began, his voice almost too careful, like he was treading on fragile ground, "What do you think about coming back home with me? To the castle? Aster and I have spent so much time apart. We’ve been through hell, but we’re here now. It’s time to come back."

I could see the pleading in his eyes, and though a part of me wanted to believe in his words, another part of me recoiled. The memories of that castle were too dark, too painful. 

I stood up from the table, unable to sit still any longer. "You don’t understand, Sirius. It’s not that simple. I can’t go back. The castle, the people—everything about that place is full of nothing but nightmares for me. There’s too much there, too much darkness. I can’t live with that again." 

Sirius stepped closer, his eyes narrowing with determination. "I can build you a new castle. We can have a new life. Aster will grow up with everything he deserves." 

But his words fell flat in the air between us. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest, the pain rising as I tried to explain in ways I never could before. "Sirius, you don’t understand. It’s not just the castle—it’s everything that happened there. The things you don’t know. I can’t go back to a place like that. I won’t."

Sirius took a step closer, his jaw tightening. "What is it, Astra? What are you hiding from me? You say you can’t go back, but I know you’re hiding something else. What is it?"

Before I could answer, there was a soft, almost hesitant knock at the door, followed by a faint voice calling out. "Astra?"

We both turned to see Yong enter the room, and my heart skipped a beat when I saw the young girl in his arms. Her silver hair sparkled like moonlight, and her bright blue eyes—just like Aster's—shone with innocent curiosity. My breath caught in my throat as she jumped from his arms, running toward me with excitement, her little feet pattering across the floor. 

"Mommy!" she shouted, her voice full of joy and excitement as she flung herself into my arms.

I froze for a moment, caught between the shock of her presence and the overwhelming tenderness I felt toward this small, familiar child. She was mine, my daughter.

My daughter.

I hugged her tightly, almost afraid that if I let go, she might vanish. She pulled back, her eyes wide with wonder as she gazed up at Aster, who had reappeared in the doorway.

"Big brother!" she exclaimed, her face lighting up as she ran to sit beside him, tugging at his sleeve. "Big brother, can we play?"

Aster’s expression was a mixture of confusion and surprise, but the softness in his gaze was unmistakable as he glanced at me. For a brief moment, the room fell into silence, and I could hear Sirius’s breath catch in his throat as he processed the scene before him.

His face twisted as understanding settled in his chest, a look of disgust, disdain, and pain filling his features. I could see the conflict in his eyes, and for a split second, I regretted not telling him earlier. But the truth had always been too complicated.

Sirius stood motionless for a moment, his face pale, his hands trembling with barely contained rage. He took a step forward, his voice low and dangerous. "What is this, Astra?" His voice cracked with emotion, filled with confusion. "What is this? You—"

He turned toward Yong, his eyes flashing with fury. "You traitor!"

Without warning, Sirius stormed over to Yong, delivering a heavy punch to his face that echoed through the room. The force of the blow sent Yong stumbling back, but he didn’t fall. His hands shot up to steady himself, and his eyes flashed with shock but no anger.

"You knew!" Sirius snarled. "You knew about her, about the child, and you never told me! You’ve been here with her all this time, and you never said a word? Why? Why keep this from me?" His voice was filled with betrayal, and I could hear the crack in his words.

I rushed toward Sirius, my heart pounding as I placed a hand on his arm, trying to calm him. "Sirius, stop," I pleaded, my voice shaking. "It’s not like you think." 

He spun around to face me, his eyes wide, full of hurt and disbelief. "Then what is it, Astra? Tell me. What’s going on here? Why didn’t you tell me I had another child? A daughter?"

I took a deep breath, my heart hammering in my chest as I glanced at the little girl, who was sitting on the floor next to Aster, watching with wide eyes, clearly unsure of what was happening. "Sirius," I whispered, my voice soft but firm, "I didn’t want you to know because I knew you’d come after us. You had to be furious, and you were... *wrong* about everything that happened. But she’s not just any child." 

Sirius turned toward me, his eyes still burning with the same anger, but now a flicker of confusion and grief. "Who is she, Astra?"