She and Trouble end up on the same couch Layla sat on a few minutes ago. Looking around, I notice that Layla is no longer in the room.

Guessing my thoughts, Trouble states, “She’s with Remi in the kitchen.”

I’m glad when Aziah walks into the room. He stops by Mae and bends to kiss her cheek. The action is so unlike him, but it’s Mae, so it doesn’t come as a surprise.

As soon as he takes the cushion at the opposite end of the couch, my anxiety settles some. It’s amazing how a man as quiet and reserved as Aziah can calm me so thoroughly.

There’s a few moments of silence before Trouble begins.

“Donald and Sandra weren’t our real parents. We were placed with them when you were just a couple of months old.”

“What?” I say loudly, reeling back in surprise. “I don’t understand.”

Trouble’s mouth forms a firm line, and the muscles in his jaw twitches.

“Our real parents’ names were Macy and Aiden. They tried escaping Sweet Haven with us, but their attempt failed. Michael Leland stopped them. A couple of days later, they were found dead. Leland killed them both.”

A silent sob breaks free from my lips, and my shoulders hunch.

“Continue,” I say quietly after a moment.

It’s Mae who talks next.

“Leland was obsessed with Macy, despite him being ten years older than her. His obsession started when she was young. He had plans to marry her. The Council approved it, but said he had to wait until she was eighteen. Before that could happen, she became pregnant by your real father, Aiden. I believe that’s why he focused his attention on Trouble during Hell Night. He took out his anger toward your mother and father on him.”

“You knew them?”

Her smile isn’t one of happiness. It’s full of so much pain it’s almost palpable. Her eyes glisten, and frown lines deepen the wrinkles already on her face. Her gaze slides to Trouble for a moment before she looks back at me.

“I knew them.” She clears her throat and swipes the tears from her cheeks. “Macy was my and Dale’s daughter.”

I jerk back, thinking I must have heard her wrong, but the look in her eyes says I didn’t. To say I’m shocked is an understatement.

“W-What? How?” I clamp my lips closed, but open them again seconds later. “You and Dale didn’t have any children.”

“Macy was a surprise we didn’t expect. We had no plans of having children because we knew what would happen to them if we did. We didn’t want that for them.”

I swallow, forcing back the tears wanting to surface.

“So, you’re our grandmother.” I say it as a statement, because there’s really no question about it.

Mae looks worried, biting her lip as she nods.

“Rella,” Trouble starts, “I know this is a shock to you. I was angry at first too, but once you hear—”

I cut him off. “I’m not angry.”

Mae’s eyes widen. “You’re not?”

I shake my head. “No. I don’t care what the reason is. I’m just glad their blood doesn’t run through my veins.” I look at Trouble. “And that our real parents obviously loved us enough to try to take us away.”

“They loved you both so much.”

I look back at Mae. My grandmother. Wow, it’s still hard to comprehend.

“I’m not mad, but I’d still like to know why you never told us.”

She nods, relief replacing her worry.

Tags: Alex Grayson Hell Night Romance
Source: readsnovelonline.net