Chapter 54

KATELYN.

With a firm grip, my Dad held the sunflower he had bought for my Mom. Aunt Kaylie glanced at it, and I knew she also noticed that Dad was always the one bringing flowers for Mom.

"What are you two thinking? And how did you even meet? Didn't I tell you, brother Anthon, that you can't see my sister and niece yet? How did you find Katelyn?" Aunt Kaylie bombarded my Dad with questions, and it was evident from my father's face that he didn't want to argue with Aunt Kaylie. So, I took it upon myself to explain our current situation.

"Aunt, please calm down for a moment. The truth is, I went to Brentwood to see Dad. I went to our old house, and that's where I found him. We've talked, and I know everything now, so please let the two of us talk to Mom." Aunt Kaylie's face revealed surprise and disbelief that I wasn't afraid to confront Dad.

"Are you really okay? I'm concerned that your mother might be shocked. I don't want sister's condition to worsen," she replied, and Dad and I exchanged glances.

"To be honest, Kaylie, I've met Katherina several times. I've visited her multiple times, and she knows that I'm the one bringing her flowers. We don't talk much, and she only sees me from outside her bedroom window," Dad explained, which caught me off guard as well.

"What? Why didn't she tell me or her doctor? And don't you not have a job? How can you travel this far without money?" Aunt Kaylie asked.

"I've been saving up to visit her every month," Dad replied, and Aunt Kaylie fell silent. She took a deep breath and let us do what we wanted.

"I'll talk to her doctor first and see if he allows you to see her. Just wait for me here," Aunt Kaylie said, and Dad nodded. We waited in the hospital lobby, and Dad's face showed his nervousness because he would finally face Mom after years of not speaking.

I was also nervous for them, fearing Mom's condition might worsen. Our decision, Dad's and mine might be wrong, but we had to face this problem. We needed to solve and fix it.

We couldn't run away anymore. This event had already affected and damaged so many things.

Moreover, I needed to know the truth about Eli, whether he was really the man Mom saw or if he was another incubus like him. Honestly, when I saw their photo together, with the man I didn't know, I felt hopeful that Eligor had nothing to do with what happened to us and Mom's trauma.

I hoped they were different and he wasn't the one who tore our family apart. That's what I wished and wanted to know so that this thorn in my heart preventing me from loving Eligor would finally disappear.

"Katelyn," Aunt Kaylie called me, and I turned to her. I briefly excused myself from Dad because it seemed like Aunt Kaylie had something to tell me that she didn't want Dad to know.

"What is it, Aunt?" I asked, and she sighed, placing her hand on her forehead.

"Your Mom's doctor agreed to let you see her, but under one condition. If she shows any signs of anxiety, you have to leave and call us, okay? If you bring up anything from her past, it might trigger her trauma, but the doctor said it could also provide closure and help Katherina heal," Aunt Kaylie explained, and I nodded.

"I'll be careful, Aunt. Can you leave the three of us alone for now? We just need to have a personal conversation," I replied to her, as I didn't want her to think that Dad and I were going crazy when she heard our conversation.

"Sure, I'll just be outside waiting, okay? You guys are crazy. I had no idea you would still meet that annoying father of yours," Aunt Kaylie replied, but I didn't judge her for thinking that way about Dad, especially since I knew how much she loved just the two of us, Mom and me.

I didn't know why Aunt Kaylie chose to hide from me Dad's desire to see me. I didn't know her reasons, but for now, I had to focus on the problem at hand.

I returned to Dad's spot and called him. We headed to Mom's room, and I was the first to enter after knocking twice on the door.

"Mom, you have a visitor," I called out to her, but she just stared out the window at the blue sky.

"Mom?" I called again, and this time she turned to look at me. Anxiety slowly rose in my chest. Honestly, I didn't feel well yet, as I still had a slight fever and had just recovered from being sick.

But the anxiety within me was overpowering now. I was nervous about her reaction when she saw Dad.

"Katherina," Dad called softly as he entered Mom's room. Their gazes met, and we didn't expect the tears to start rolling down Mom's right eye while her face remained silent and emotionless.

We wouldn't have felt what she was feeling if we hadn't seen her tears.

Dad approached her and handed her the sunflower he brought as a gift. He knelt in front of Mom, crying on her lap. I couldn't bear to look at the two of them because I felt like I would cry again.

I heard Dad apologizing, explaining, and begging.

And unexpectedly, I saw Mom's hand touching Dad's hair. She lovingly stroked his head while tears streamed down her face and smiled.

Something I hadn't seen in years.

I thought I had erased the memory of Mom's smile, those smiles that only Dad could bring out.

I couldn't help but cry, so I left the room. Aunt Kaylie saw me and immediately asked what had happened.

"What happened? Why did you leave them there?" she asked, but when she approached the door, she also saw the scene I witnessed. Aunt Kaylie quietly sat beside me, and I closed the door, sitting in the chairs facing the hospital hallway.

We gave them time for themselves. We let them discuss the hurtful things and heal their hearts.

After a while, Dad came out of the room and called me. I looked at Aunt Kaylie before leaving; she just nodded and gave me a thumbs-up.

As soon as I entered the room, I hugged Mom. That's where I poured out my heart and slowly asked the questions I needed to know.

At first, she was shocked by what I was saying, and the trauma returned to her face. Especially when she saw the photo I found among her hidden belongings.

"Do you really believe us, Anthon?" Mom asked, and Dad nodded while holding her hand.

"I will believe everything my family tells me. I won't turn my back on you anymore, and I'll stand by your side through this," Dad explained, giving Mom the courage to tell me what had truly happened to her.

"I was in high school when I met Ethan. At first, he seemed like an ordinary guy to me, until he started visiting me in my dreams every night. At first, I thought it was just my imagination, but every night he would force himself on me, and it hurt because I didn't want to do what he wanted," Mom explained, and Dad and I listened quietly, though anger and frustration were evident on Dad's face because he couldn't do anything about it.

"Whenever I saw him in person, he seemed normal. He courted me until college, and for years, he tormented me every night until one morning, I grew tired of what was happening to me, especially when I noticed that things were no longer normal. I started getting sick and having bruises on my body from his forceful actions. I wondered how it was happening until I met you, Anthon. Since we've been together, his actions in my dreams have worsened, and that's when I confronted him in person." Mom looked at the necklace in her hand and continued her explanation.

"I discovered the truth and told him to stay away from me. Then he gave me this necklace and explained that if he wasn't the one to choose me, there would be someone else like him who would approach me. He warned me to be cautious and always wear this necklace. I know he loves me and does these things for me, but I don't like his way of showing affection. Besides, we made a promise to each other, Anthon," Mom replied, wearing the necklace she held.

"When Ethan disappeared, my life became quiet, but after we got married, Anthon, different shadows started appearing one by one in my dreams. They often told me that I had killed Ethan and needed to pay the price. They threatened to harm not only me but also our daughter, Katelyn," Mom explained, and that's when I realized the constant presence of those dark figures watching me in my dreams.

"But because I wear this necklace, they can't get close to me. However, they still disturb my mind frequently, which is why I'm here now," Mom replied, and Dad embraced her.

Now I know for sure that the incubus Ethan's heart has stopped beating because it's confirmed that Mom is now owned by someone else since she married Dad.

When an incubus falls for a mortal, their heart starts to stop beating unless the mortal returns the love they gave.

"Even now, I still feel their presence around me, but I rarely see them anymore. I don't know why, but ever since I gave birth to you, Katelyn, their visits to my dreams seem to have diminished, so I'm worried they might target you instead. I'm afraid they'll trouble you," Mom explained, and how can I tell her that Eligor is not that kind of incubus?

Because if he had intentions of hurting me, he would have had the freedom to do so—but he didn't.

He protected me, and if my suspicions were correct, he was also the reason why the other dark figures stopped visiting my dreams.

I looked at Dad. Earlier on the journey, I told him not to tell Mom about Eligor because I wanted to talk to Eli before revealing everything to Mom.

"Don't worry, Mom, they don't trouble me in my dreams. I'm fine now, and there's no problem. Maybe they thought it was enough to torment you, so they let you be. They let us be," I replied to her and hugged her too.

"Mom, from now on, our lives will be peaceful. I promise you that," I told her, kissing her cheek with a smile.

"Katherina, Katelyn needs to go somewhere. Let's let your daughter leave first," Dad said, smiling at me.

"Why? Where are you going?" Mom asked, concerned.

"She just needs to find someone important," Dad replied to her, and she nodded at me.

I hugged both of them and quickly ran out the door. Aunt Kaylie looked at me with utter surprise.

"Katelyn! Where are you going? Wait!" she shouted after me, and I turned to look at her.

"To Eligor, Aunt!" I yelled, and her forehead furrowed as she took out the keys from her pocket.

"Tsk! Come on, I'll drive you!" she exclaimed, so I stopped and ran towards her.

"Yes, a free ride!" I replied, and she gave me an annoyed look, then whispered to me.

"Are you crazy? Running inside the hospital is not allowed! What are you thinking? Besides, I've been thinking since earlier that you have a fever and you're going all over the place. Tsk, you crazy child," I just laughed and got into her car.

"Give me the address," She said, and I handed her my address.

"Thanks, Aunt. You're the best," I replied, handing her my address.