205-Swallowing Pain

205-Swallowing Pain
Denzel:

It had been a little difficult for me to sit and watch Kedron with Yuna.

I could not understand what this feeling was, but I suddenly sensed once again that I had made the wrong decision.

This time it felt worse because I had tried to convince Kedron to let go of Yuna, claiming she was dangerous.

I wondered if he had already told her what I had said. I could not expect anything else from him.

He must have used it to his advantage to create an even wider distance between Yuna and me.

And then there was Sharlin. Both of us had stayed silent. Neither of us reacted to the other’s presence in the room.

It had not been a long time yet, but I assumed she would soon question me again.

I had noticed her observing me whenever Yuna was around, and it was becoming annoying.

Still, I already knew what I planned to do when she asked me anything.

I would ask her who she had slept with, when it happened, and how it happened, only to make her uncomfortable enough to drop the idea of bringing Yuna into the conversation to challenge me.

All those worries were set aside when my father chose to confront us with news strong enough to change everything for us.

“Come again?” Kedron questioned my father, sounding as if he warned him to take his words back.

But my father appeared fully content with his response.

And then there was Violet. She stepped out looking fully prepared, with two maids beside her as if she had taken over the role of a queen.

“I said what I said. Violet is my queen from now on. I will be holding a grand mating ceremony for her since it is her first time, and she deserves to be cherished too,”

our father declared without shame.

He did not even notice that one of his mat was still alive, the other was dead, and the woman he introduced as his mate carried partial blame.

Kedron struck his hand against the table, rose from his seat, and pulled Yuna with him as he strolled toward their room.

“Kedron, I am not done yet,” Father called after him, but Kedron had already finished listening.

I wanted to get up and leave too, but I had to stay for my mother since she had not moved.

“How could you do this to me?” my mother uttered softly, finally expressing herself.

She had endured too much, and now that Jane was gone, my father had chosen to bring in a vampire instead.

“But I did nothing. You should know that I have already replaced you long before,”

my father responded with no concern for her.

I noticed Violet keeping her head lowered, though she lifted her eyes every now and then to study everyone’s reactions.

She reacted strongly when she saw Kedron stand up.

Violet wore a branded grey silk dress with diamantes shining across it.

A flower crown rested on her head for the moment before being replaced with something expensive.

“This is unacceptable. You did not allow a vampire to marry your son, yet you are bringing one for yourself, and the same one accused of being accused of being part of the reason your lover is gone,”

my mother remarked, finally giving sound arguments instead of silently obeying him.

She had tried many times to be kind and stay on his good side, hoping he would someday realize his mistake and take her back.

Now that my father had gone as far as choosing a vampire like Violet, my mother understood that there was no chance left for her.

“That is different. I have now realized that maybe vampires are not so bad,” my father muttered while lifting his shoulders.

I had never said it aloud, but my father was a liar, an opportunist, and a selfish man.

He changed rules whenever it suited him, and accepting Violet was another example of his selfishness.

“I have waited patiently for you, my king, but you just proved that you would rather choose someone new than return to your fated mate,” my mother’s voice tightened, and I felt genuinely bad.

I wanted to react at once, but I had larger goals to focus on than responding out of emotion and damaging everything.

I was not like Kedron, careless enough to always act on feelings. I saw another opportunity to be close to my father.

“Well then, keep waiting. Maybe your time will come,” my father laughed.

A small laugh slipped from Violet as well before she covered her mouth, pretending to calm herself.

Even that laugh was fake. She simply wanted my mother to know she was laughing at her.

My mother’s eyes filled with tears. She looked at me, probably expecting and hoping I would say something.

When I did not, she rose from her seat.

“I will go,” she uttered.

“I don’t think I am needed here,” she added.

I felt terrible. She gave me one more look, maybe waiting for a response. When I stayed silent, she walked back to her room.

That was when Sharlin stood. I expected her to stay with me, but she stepped away and followed my mother.

It made sense.

As they left, I looked at my father and noticed how sad he appeared.

It was selfish, though, because he immediately pulled out the seat that belonged to my mother for Violet instead, not the one he had kept for Lady Jane.

Even in death, Jane still seemed more important than my mother. Still, I could never be sure of my father’s idea of love.

“Are you not going to leave?” my father asked me, his voice showing a trace of hope that I would stay.

“No, Father. I wish I could because of the accusations against this woman, but for me, your happiness is more important. I will overlook it,” As soon as I finished speaking, I noticed the shock in my father’s expression before a smile formed in his eyes.

“I am proud of you. I love you, son,” my father told me.

I had been waiting to hear those words for a long time. He had no idea what I planned to do to him once I earned his full trust.