Page 227 of Hateful Games

He hates my father.

“Why do you hate my dad, Nova?” I emotionlessly ask. Inwardly taking Bianca’s advice.

Nova turns to me. Expression cold and impassive. “Do you really want to discuss this now when we’re finally getting along?”

“Color me curious.”

“Why do you want to know?”

“Because I’m your wife. Don’t you think I have the right to know?”

I feel bereft and brushed off when Nova drops my hand. The warm breeze suddenly feeling cold because of his loss of touch, especially when he glances away. Rubbing at his smooth jaw in frustration, his gaze whips back to mine.

“If you don’t trust me, then just say it.”

My words veneering as a test of whether or not his actions have been real isn’t lost on him. He can’t claim to make our marriage work then not trust me. I deserve all of him or nothing. I won’t live a double life.

I’m about to walk away when he speaks.

His revelation harsh and gutting.

“Mihir has been actively attempting to ruin my father’s career. In his quest for power forged by archaic beliefs, he went to lengths only a monster would. Despite my family’s hard-earned wealth, my peers made me feel like an outsider. Like my money was less than theirs. Our name is still dragged through the mud behind our backs. People fear us, they don’t respect us.” His face twisted in wrath, he spits out, “It was all your father’s doing. His crafted lies made my life hell. You call me manipulative but I’ve only been trying to survive. Being morally virtuous doesn’t get you anywhere in life.”

Sympathy and empathy arise in my chest at hearing his confession.

Nova watches me like I’m naïve or won’t understand.

But I do.

Because like him, I never saw the world in black and white.

There’s only morally gray.

Stepping closer, I rise to my toes and cup his cheek. His arm winds around my waist, anchoring me to him. He exhales roughly when I stroke his cheek. “Nothing will change the truth, but I am sorry for what my father did. He believes there can only be one king.”

“My family is guilty of shady crimes but we’ve never hurt anybody. My dad wasn’t always rich and did what he had to, to survive his circumstances. If he hadn’t, I wouldn’t be where I am.”

“I understand, Nova. Sometimes good people do bad things. While the evil ones hide behind a mask.” Hearing him reveal his vulnerability and trusting me, I want to show him a hidden part of me too. A truth for a truth. “It was my uncle.”

His brow furrows before understanding dawns. Through gritted teeth, he states, “He burnt you.”

“Yeah,” I whisper.

“Where. Is. He?”

“In a grave. Exactly where he belongs.”

The violence in his eyes doesn’t disappear. Neither does the bloodthirst. “He better have been punished for what he did to you, Rose. Tell me he was in pain before he took his last breath.”

I give a broken smile. “Sadly, no. He died young from a heart attack.”

His quick and easy death has eaten away at me for years. However, I’ve made my peace with it.

“Fuck, Rose.” Nova’s body thrums with frustration. “What exactly happened? Tell me everything. Why was he alone with you in the first place?”

“My mom was always traveling. Even the memories I have with her are of us being on vacation somewhere. Usually wherever her next gala or charity was happening. Hardly ever at home. But it was impractical to carry a child everywhere she went. My father convinced her I would become clingy or needy. So, she stopped. Except, I had always been a wild child. I loved to explore. I was loud and demanding.”

Bile rises as I relive the memory all over again.

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