I wake up the next morning with fear coursing through my veins. Something's wrong. As quietly as I can, I get dressed and walk to town. I keep a close eye out for my mom as I walk through town. I hear footsteps behind me and whirl around, grabbing her by the wrist. "That's no way to treat your mother."

I take ragged breaths, my teeth clenched. "Don't speak to me like you know what's best for me." Anger flows through me like lava as the words leave my mouth.

Her brows furrow in confusion. "I know everything. How you and Drake's father had a forbidden romance. You lied to me for years."

She shakes her head. "I simply withheld the truth. You had never asked about your father, so I figured you had no interest. But yes, I will admit, I was attracted to Isaiah. We met when we were in high school, much like you and Drake did. After we fell in love, we agreed to keep it a secret. But, despite all our efforts, the truth came out."

She takes a breath, then continues. "I was banished from the city and forced to flee. I went to a neighboring city and found a family that took me in. A few years after that, I learned that I was pregnant. Try as I might, I couldn't get back to the city to tell Isaiah. I had you in secret, worried that you would be taken from me. Many years later, I hadn't heard from Isaiah, so I assumed it was okay for me to come back. But when I came back, he had already married another."

I nod, Drake's mom's face flashing through my head. "Kelli Andrews." She nods, her eyes darkening.

Shock flows through me. "I have to get to school." I rush home, grab my bag, and head to school.

As soon as I walk inside, I see Drake. He meets my gaze and walks over to me, putting a hand on my arm. "You're shaking."

I exhale. "My mom told me everything. I just can't believe it."

Drake nods. "It's a lot to take in, huh?"

I nod. "When did you find out?"

He exhales, looking at the ceiling. "When I was 12. I'd found some old photo albums and noticed a woman in the pictures with my dad. Curiosity got the better of me, so I asked him and he explained everything."

The bell rings and I blink. He grabs his books before following me to class. I sleepwalk through my classes. After school, I walk home, my head spinning.

Hearing footsteps behind me, I whirl around, a snarl on my face. "Not in the mood, Ross."

A cruel smile appears on his face. "I just wanted to let you know that word of your mother's... confession has spread. Watch your back." He walks away, leaving me visibly shaken. I run the rest of the way home, slamming the door behind me. Later that night, I lay awake, Ross's voice haunting my mind. I finally doze off around midnight.

Read and review!