Chapter 221

"What?!" I gasped, my eye snapping open, and I gaped at him. "I can... You will..."

"I know I usually said my heart is dark, but I never expected you to take it seriously," Gordon joked.

"No, I never did. It's just that she is um... she is the granddaughter of your enemy. I never expected you to have a soft spot for her," I confessed.

"Ahh, you think of me as a monster who hates babies," he gasped, clasping his chest.

"No! Never!" I exclaimed, placing my hand over his. "You're the sweetest, nicest, and kindest man ever with a huge heart. It's... it's just that... that... you're not just agreeing to take care of the granddaughter of the two people that made your life miserable, but saying you'll adopt her is... is..."

"Crazy?"

"I think 'crazy' is such a strong word, but let's go with that. Thomas and Victor were literal devils to you. I can't believe you want to adopt their flesh and blood." I replied.

"I married you thinking that you were Paul's daughter, and did I ever maltreat or abuse you?" He asked.

"Ah... um... no," I replied, shaking my head. "In fact you treated me with more kindness than anyone ever did."

"Because I knew you were nothing like Victor. Just like this child is nothing like her parents or grandparents. She's innocent and doesn't deserve to be punished for their wickedness," he replied, brushing my hair out of my face. "And I understand why you feel drawn to protect her because I know what it means to grow up in a home that doesn't want you. I... I understand what it means to be rejected by one's birthgiver."

His voice cracked and my stomach tightened.

"Oh Gordon," I breathed, cupping his cheeks. "She didn't deserve you. Just like Blair doesn't deserve her baby."

"I know. At least Blair was kind enough to give up hers. It could have been worse for the little one. Can you imagine her growing up with a mother like Blair that loathes her?" He murmured, and I winced.

Horrible couldn't even begin to describe how life would be for her. Maybe tragic would be the better word. If Blair could loudly and boldly say she hated her while she was still a baby, then the emotional abuse would be far worse than anything I have ever gone through in Victor's home.

"Blair might have been selfish, but this is like the most selfless thing she has ever done. With this her mindset, she would have ruined her life," I agreed.

"But now, she has the chance to grow up with a father and mother that would love her as their own," he smiled, interlocking his fingers with mine, and he kissed my knuckles. "We won't be like those who raised us. She will grow up right beside our children, not as a slave or an outcast, but as an equal. We'll give and show her the love we needed but never had. She'll call us 'Mommy' and 'Daddy' with affection and not fear. And she'll grow up to be a kind, beautiful soul with a heart of gold. We'll change her terrible fate together."

Together...

A warm fuzzy feeling danced in my stomach, and moisture gathered in my eyes. Yes, together. We would be together. As a family. And I won't be like Victor or Monica; neither was Gordon going to be like his father or Paul.

We weren't going to be perfect, but we were going to be built on love.

"Gordon!" I cried and threw my arms around him, giving him a tight hug. "I'd love that. I'd love that so much."

"I'm glad you do," he replied as he rubbed my back.

"So I can start the paperwork now, right?" I asked as I let go of him.

"Of course, I'll get my lawyer so it can be easier for you." He nodded and touched his breast pocket. "Oh, and before I forget..."

He pulled out something from it, and my eyes grew wide.

Willow's locket!

"How... how do you have it?" I gasped, my fingers trembling as I reached out to it, but my hand couldn't dare

It was so close that it was almost like a dream.

"Thomas' house was raided to find evidence, and they stumbled on it." He said, taking my hand and placing it in my palm. The cool metal tickled my skin, and I sucked in air. It was real.

"I assumed Thomas threw it away because of our previous conversation, but..." I whispered, squeezing it and soaking in the feel. "Why did you bring it here? Isn't it supposed to contain all Willow and Jerald's evidence?"

"Because there’s something else. Can I have Jerald's necklace back?" He asked, brushing his finger against the necklace around my neck, tickling my skin.

"Sure, but what does it have to do with it?" I asked as he unhooked the necklace.

"Have you tried to open the locket before?" He asked as he fiddled with the gear centrepiece.

"Yes, but it was— hey! What are you doing?!" I exclaimed as it spilt into tiny fragments.

"When Jerald and Willow wanted to make this set, they wanted something that would be uniquely theirs. Can you open your hand for me?" He asked and I did so. He placed the fragments on my palm and took the locket. "They wanted something that couldn't be copied by others. So as the big nerds of puzzles, they channeled that love it into their creation."

He continued, picking up one of the fragments and sliding it into the small slit at the bottom of the locket. It made a small click, and another slit opened at the other side.

"Oh," I awed, bringing my face closer to the locket. "So the necklace was the key all along?! No wonder I couldn't open it!"

My parents were geniuses!

"Exactly. They made sure you could only use the necklace, and if you mess up the sequence, it will jam the mechanisms permanently. I'm really lucky they taught me this before they died," he replied, picking another fragment and slipping it into the groove. Another opened immediately.

I held my breath as he continued fitting the pieces into the locket. He slid the last into place and it popped open, a small thin metal falling out.

"Uh? What's that?" I asked as he picked it up and squinted his eyes.

"There are numbers and letters engraved on it. E? N? Four two— Coordinates!" He grinned as he held it closer to his face. "They're coordinates!"

~•~•~•~•

Chapter 29 of my new book has been updated. Please check it out.

Name: Married To The Cursed Alpha

Author: Lumi Lite.