Page 174 of His Cursed Heart

But again, I didn't do anything about it. Hanibal

wanted me dead, my Mamma didn't want to be in my life, or so I thought before Everette told me the truth. Why would my biological father want me?

"Il mio fiore," Mamma whispers and lowers on the chair Everette was in.

My eyes wander all over her face and an urge to cry takes control of my body. For six years I begged my Mamma to see me, to recognize me. She and Keres were

the only people that gave a damn about me and she left me into the unknown, suffering and tearing me apart.

"Forgive me, my flower. All I ever wanted was for you to be strong without me."

I look over at my father, making sure that what I'm about to say isn't new to him.

"To become the Empress? Since you know, Keres died." I focus on her again.

Since I got married, I couldn't take her place occasionally because I was watched 24/7. The only time I dressed myself in her clothes and mask in this two month of marriage was when Everette told me he was going to tear down apart my rapists.

And while I love the power I feel when I'm the Empress, I hate the fact that I can put Vincent in danger.

"Your sister was never supposed to take the throne. You two were so different, it still amazes me. You were always honest and powerful, but now?" Mamma murmurs and takes my hand in hers.

I look in the other direction at Everette, desperate for his touch. He caresses my leg, but his eyes are hardening at the sight of the man in front of him.

"Now, you grew into this unstoppable, fearless woman who would die for the ones you love. I never

wanted to take that from you; I thought I would hold you back."

"It was the opposite." I finally say, making my parents look at me with surprise. "Every time you tore up my heart, I had to come back in the hope you'll remember me at some point because I though what kind of mother can forget about her daughters? How can my mother look me dead in the eyes and say that I was never her daughter. You crushed me at every meeting, every contact until I had to live with the fact that you will never be the same.

"And I was okay with it as long as you were by my side. I was okay telling you stories about me and the new family I have, until you ruined that part too."

Throughout my speech, I felt my throat closing in a tight fist, but I didn't stop. I don't know when I will have a chance to tell her all these things, so I rather do it now.

Her tears are affecting me too, but I don't tell her that. I don't tell her how much I hate myself for forgiving her even when I want to be selfish and make her feel a small piece of the pain that I felt when she rejected me. I don't hate her for forcing me live with Hanibal, when she could've giving me to my father. He doesn't show emotions beside that twisted, evil smile, but he would've never done the things Hanibal did to me.

I don't tell her anything about how my body is tired of living in the past. I consumed myself my whole life for things that happened. I just want to forget everything and be happy with my boys.

I promised Keres I would live my life the way I deserve.

"What do you mean by Keres never had the throne?

For years, the first-born daughter is the rightful heir of the legacy." I need to know this before I let everything in the past.

Mamma raises her head and I see another apology coming. "She was my first born with Hanibal, and you," She sighs. "You are my first born with-"

"Me." Makhim speaks for the first time in his thick Russian accent.

I feel Everette's hand squeezing my leg, his growl making Makhim take his eyes off me.

The two alpha males stare at each other, almost ripping themself in pieces.

"Enough." I say and they both stop.

Makhim, my father, comes near my mother and looks at me with his brown eyes. He seems stressed, like he wants to say something but he can't.

Beside the eyes, I can see my nose and lips on his face. His face has a frown that makes me think I'm looking at a man version of me.

Makhim Romanov is my father, and I am his only daughter.

---