❝I feel shattered and broken
because
the only time I gave
love a chance, I end up feeling heartbroken,
I'm scared and sad because
I don't think
I'll ever recover from this pain.❞

∼Aurora∼

Numb. That's all I feel right now. When a husband cheats on his wife, see feels betrayed. When it's your boyfriend, who breaksup with you for another woman, you feel heart broken but, what did I have with them to feel so devastated when they talked about bringing another woman in their life, like it's not a big deal. I mean, even though its not for them, its a fucking big deal for me. But, why do I feel cheated and betrayed at all, when there was nothing between us, that I can even call a relationship?

Am I jealous of Anastasia because she will have something, I always dreamed of? Or I'm just territorial because, I don't want to share my men with her. Rage. That's all I feel all the time, other then numbness. But my men? Really? Do I even have the right to call them mine? They don't belong to me. They never were to begin with nor ever will. It was just a dream. A painful but beautiful dream, that will never come true because, I'm finally awake.

I had my crush on people. I have also tried to date them but, I never felt so connected with anyone the way I was with them. Maybe that's why, I feel so humiliated and broken. I still can't believe, they played me. Was everything they ever told me, a lie? Did I never mean anything to them, at all? Was I just a piece of meat for all of them, just like Titus said? I have never felt so broken in my life. Nobody has ever given me hope and took it away, at the same time. For the first time in life, I feel disgusted with myself for getting played by them.

How could I be so naive? It's not their fault that they toyed with my feelings but, it my stupidity, that let them have their ways with me. How would dad and mom feel about all this? I'm sure, my parents and Aunt Maya's relationship will be tainted just like ours. If I can ever call it one, that is. Whatever it was among us, it's over. It's not over because, Anastasia came back with their kid but, it's over because it was never meant to be. They will never give away their way of living for a girl like me, nor I would sell my dignity to those selfish, spoil, emotionless and arrogant bastards.

"Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me."

Xander's pov ( Surprise !!)

I sat in the waiting room with Titus, Anastasia and her daughter, Megan, waiting for the DNA reports to come. Although I know, this woman has come back with a plan, I can't deny the fact that, the kid is my granddaughter. You might ask me, why I'm here, when I already know the truth? Well first, my other four sons are pissed with my first born and they straighly denied to sit with him throughout the test. Secondly, I came because, I want to try and find out, why this woman is back suddenly? I'm sure, I would get some clue, if I have a "talk" with her.

"So, Anastasia? Where were you these three years? I thought you kind of moved on after the breakup with my son." she gave me a polite smile, which Im much aware of, how fake it is. "Well Mr. Osborne, I was completely devastated by the breakup and went to California to live with my mom for a while. But after a month I found out about the pregnancy and I was not sure, how to deal with the news and, kind of tried to....Abort it." I'm shocked, she didn't lie. Titus's head snapped her way.

"Why didn't you come to us directly then? What was stopping you? You literally threatened us to take you back, when we dumped you and being pregnant means, you could have used her against us. Why didn't you try it?" I put a hand on his shoulder to calm him down because, he needs to be patient with her, if we want to hear the truth. "Well...I wasn't sure, who's kid it was." there she's right again but, partially. "You mean, not sure, if one of us have fathered the child or not sure if it was ours to begin with?" Spat Titus.

She flinched with regret. "Trust me Titus when I tell you this. I never wanted a kid to begin with, let alone with you guys. I just wanted to move on but then there was some complications in my pregnancy and I couldn't abort the child." I exchanged looks with Titus. Her statement is not false yet. Why is she not lying? I mean, I want to pull the truth out of her but, I can't believe, she's giving it to me so easily. Something is off. "Why come back after three years? Why not after you delivered the kid?" I was dying to know the answer.

"Because, I went into depression after losing my second baby. I mean, Megan had a twin, who..died of mal nutrition. I wasn't producing enough Brest milk to feed them both." Titus stood up from his seat, not able to take it anymore. I'm not sure, he's frustrated about her telling the truth or feeling remourse because, he wasn't there to save his son. I know, how painful it could be to lose a baby, even if it was unplanned. But, why is it not sitting well with me the fact that, she went into depression.

"Im sorry to hear that...How long you were under depression, if you don't mind me asking? Were you under some kind of treatment or care?" that is the only information I'm missing about her. "No, my mom didn't let me go for any treatment, instead...She hooked me up with a doctor to get over all this. I did for a while. He helped me too...A lot. And I kind of moved on with him too but..." There, she will give me the hint, I'm looking for.

"But what?" asked Titus, eagerly. "But, he wanted me to leave Megan behind and start over, which I couldn't do." Gotta you! Cunning bitch just like her mother. She actually left the kid behind in someone's care, not bothering, if she was dead or alive. She was fucking some big shots and didn't bother to come see her daughter. Not until now. What changed all of sudden? "Oh, so you came back and took the kid with you?" I asked her with a smile, which she bought easily.

"Yes, I love her with everything I have. She's the only thing left with me, which reminds me of you guys." And the Oscar goes to... "You still had time to come back though but you choose not to. Don't you think, it's a little late? I'm not sure, how Aurora would feel about all this..." I could see Titus's act falling for a sec, after hearing her name but he quickly masked it. That's my boy. "Dad? She's not in the picture anymore nor she has a say in it. It's one of ours kid and we'll decide, who stays and who goes, not her." I'm so proud of him right now.

From the corner of my eyes, I could see Anastasia's lips curved a little, then it was back to her 'pity me' act. "Im so sorry, Titus. I didn't mean you guys to push Aurora away because of me. I just wanted Megan to have a family, like every kid in the world. I may have done wrong but, I don't want her to get punished for my doing. I'm also ready to accept her in your lives, if she means so much for you guys." Can she be any more slick. Bitch.

"Shut up, Anastasia. Just because, she's not part of our life anymore and you being Megan's mom, doesn't give you a free pass in our lives. Remember that. I'm doing it for Megan." Just like that, her confidence fluttered. Take it darling. "Why not Titus? Why can't I come back in your lives, when you were not quite abstinence youself this whole time? You guys had your fair share of women didn't you?" Before Titus could give her a piece of mind, we're interrupted by another voice.

"Yes we had. Do you have a problem with that?" I smiled when I saw, Turner approaching us. One down three more to go. When I narrowed my eyes at him amused, he just gave me look. "Not now dad" I took a deep breath and released it. "You guys keep talking. I'll check, what is taking the doctors so long." I looked to the side and saw Megan busy playing with her toys, oblivious to thing happening around her.

"Megan darling? You want to come with me?" I saw Anastasia getting uncomfortable in her seat. Bingo! I was hitting the nail in the wrong place till now. So, Megan is the link, I need to work on. Megan smiled brightly at me and stood up with her doll in hands. She waved at Titus and Turner with a smile but didn't bother to wave at her mom? OK? I offered my hand for her to take, which she happily took and before we walked out of the room.

I don't know, what kind of question I could ask a little girl. Let's start with warming up with her. "So sweetheart, how old are you?" she looked up at me, which reminds me a lot about my kids. She doesn't resemble a bit like her mother but, I could relate her with my son. How fucked this situation actually is? "Im fow." I smiled but, my smiled fell when I realized what she just said. I crouch down to her height. "No sweety. You're 3, not four. You sure about that?" She nod her head vigorously. "Who taught you, how to calculate your age?" I asked her.

"My Nana. She say, I be a bwig girl nest year, when I tuwn 5." I'm confused. If she's 4, then how could she be Titus's daughter. I digged deep. "Nana...As in, your mom's mom?" She nod her head at that. "And what's her name?" her face lit up when I spoke about her grandmother. "Glowia". But, isn't that slut Kathy, Anastasia's mom? So, the woman who I though was Anastasia's aunt, she turned out to be Megan's grany. "Gloria?" I made sure. She nodded happily. What am I missing here? I guess, I have to meet this woman.

She could be the last link to this puzzle.

∼Turner∼

I turned my head towards this slut, who is the reason, our life is full of chaos right now. I lost the only woman, I fell in love with. I so much wanted to strangle her to death right now but, I couldn't do it because I'm even disgusted to touch her. When Roman dad told us all about the plan why Titus acted the way he did, even though I know my twin, I kind of was relieved. I know why dad has chosen him to do the act because, he's good at hiding his emotions.

The only worst part is, Aurora is hurting and we couldn't do anything to help her. It's for the best, until we find out who else is involved in Anastasia's evil plan. I just prey that, we're not too late to clear the misunderstanding with her. "Turner and Titus." she said, in a slutry voice. "Are you here to have some fun while we wait?" Fucking whore. She's not changed a bit. "Why not. If you're ready to take, whatever I have to offer." I rolled with the play, smirking. Her look taken aback. "You know, I'll take anything you guys give me. I always enjoyed being yours."

If it was not for the fact that, I'm not the old me anymore and there is only one girl constantly in my mind, I might have took her on that offer but, I can't now, never. The only woman ruling my world is Aurora. And even if she hates me just like she claimed yesterday, I'll never stop loving her. One day I'll make her see that. We just need more time. Just wait for us, Aurora. Just wait. "We'll think about your suggestion but, in return you have to do something for me." her face lit up. "Anything" she said, standing up and walking slowly towards me.

Titus rolled his eyes at that. I know what he's thinking. 'Typical' I chuckled, which made Anastasia smile at me confused. "What's so funny?" I shaked my head at that. I sighed and moved closer to her, making her breath hitched. She gulped making my smirk grow. "I want you to be my slave and do exactly what I asked of you. Can you do that?" she smirked back. "Deal" she said, without even thinking. She looked me up and down, making me puke. Lust was clear in her eyes. I won't be surprised if she is working for some adult studio.

Just when I was about to take a seat, the door to the room opened, revealing my other brothers. Aryan still loath Anastasia and he didn't bother to hide it. Duke's face was black and Rihan? I'm not sure, what his ass was thinking. "Wow! You guys started without us? No invitation, I'm hurt." Like I said. Shit, straight from his ass. This is the time he chooses to be sarcastic? I noticed Anastasia and Duke locking eyes with each other for a while before he averted it. Her constant facade was dropping. Can't handle a real man? Bitch.

"We need to talk" was all he said to me and Titus, before walking out of the room, followed by Aryan and Rihan. I turned to Titus, only for him to pass me and Anastasia in a rush and out of the door. "Laters baby." I said, making her bit her lips in anticipation. "Can't wait" she said, pushing her fake boobs out, making me roll my eyes internally.

As soon as I went out of the room, my fake smirk fell and I walked towards my brothers panicked. They all know about the plan so, I'm sure they got some kind of update. When I reached them, they looked terrified. "What's going on?" I asked, making Duke to turn my way. Trust me, this is what I was afraid of. This is what, I prayed not to happen. "Aurora...didn't return home since she left." What? "What do you mean, didn't return. Where did she go?" I asked him. He sighed running his hands through his hair, making it messy.

"After dad revealed the plan, Aryan and me left immediately to talk with Aurora but, there was no one home. When I called Aaron, he blasted me with curses saying, if his sister is in some kind of trouble, he'll file a case on us all. I'm fucking scared, this bitch might have something to do with it. Her phone is out of reach aswell." said Rihan, pacing the floor.

Titus took out his phone and checked when he received a forwarded voice message from Aaron. But, that's not what we're ready to hear. He put the speaker on for all of us to hear. "Hey...umm Aaron? I'm leaving the town...to clear my mind. Don't worry about me. i'll call you guys, when I'm ready...hopefully..I love you." followed by a sniffing sound and then the message was over. Colour drained from our faces. "What does that supposed to mean?" asked Rihan, even though we know what that means.

"It means, we are too late to reach her. It means, we fucking lost her. It means, She was serious when she said, she doesn't want to see our faces ever again. We did a great job, crushing her heart. Now she's gone." Said Aryan, making me close my eyes in defeat. What have we done? I opened my eyes, when I heard a loud crash. I snap opened them only to find Titus, punching the wall, with a bloodied hand. I know he's blaming himself but, we all are equally responsible to let her go. We should have followed her. But we didn't.

What are we gonna do now? I never knew, a small act would send her so far away from us. Will we see her again? Will she let us explain ourselves? How long we have to wait for her to come back? So many questions but, the person who has the answers to it was gone.We are so gonna regret this. I know that. She was right. We took advantage of her trust. We played with her emotions. We made her start dreaming and we're the reason, her life has become a nightmare.

I hope, you have it in your heart to forgive us and come back princess because, if you don't...You would bring the dark side of all of us, that nobody is willing to witness.

Please come back.