Page 120 of All for her Forgiveness

"Yes. And I changed my name and documents too. That's why, when you first researched me, Greek, it only said that I was Balantine's driver. Beau, however, figured it all out."

"But he didn't tell me about you changing your face or name."

"I'm sure he knew. Maybe he didn't bring it up because he understands that we all have secrets to keep. The fact is, I would never have come near Kennedy as a teenager if I hadn't been sure I'd covered all my tracks. To the world, I'm just a harmless old man." He runs his hand over his head, looking sad. "I'll understand if, now that you know everything, you want me to leave."

I get off Hades' lap and kneel in front of Ernest, resting my head on his legs. "Don't leave us. I need you with me. King needs you."

"I won't go anywhere, if that's what you want."

"Weallwant that, Ernest. You’re family," Hades says.

Hades

"How is your head after everything you’ve discovered about the past?" I have her on my body, we are both naked, and only the black silk sheet covers her from the waist down.

When we went upstairs, Kennedy took the initiative for the first time to undress me and demand sex, commanding me to tell her all the time that I loved her.

I don't know what it did to her inside to know that that son of a bitch never wanted to recognize her and only helped her because he was forced to, but she seems stronger now, like she's reached rock bottom and nothing can hurt her anymore.

"I feel contempt for that man. I know it might be selfish of me not to allow King to live with his grandfather, if Balantine ever wanted that, but I hate him and I don't want him anywhere near our son."

"We can tell King the whole truth when he grows up. I don't think it's selfish of you. The man has proven himself to be despicable, and as long as we can protect our boy from bastards like him, we will."

Kennedy

CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR

Hades and Kennedy's Wedding Day

Yesterday I wentto the Massachusetts prison to see Delores for her weekly visit.

I went there happy, eager to tell her the news about the developments in my case. We talked for an hour, but in the end, when I said goodbye, I was devastated by her request that I don't visit her there again. Her justification was that every time I returned to the prison, I would remember the suffering I had experienced since that night at the beach house.

Having to hide in a cabin in Missouri with Ernest, pregnant and with no memory.

Discovering that I was being accused of a crime.

Being in a coma, and finally, that entire month I was in prison before the judge allowed me to respond to the case while out on bail.

I cried as she told me that it was time to let go of the past, that we would always be in each other's hearts and prayers, but that I had to start over from scratch.

I insisted that she was wrong, that we could make it work, but she was adamant, and in the end, I had no choice but to agree.

"What are you thinking about?" Elina, Odin Lykaios's wife, asks as soon as the hairdresser they hired has put the finishing touches on my bun and left, leaving us alone.

Even though I didn't agree to a big party, I got all the traditions, like the bridal shower and a beautiful white dress. Instead of getting married at the registry office, a justice of the peace will come to the garden of our house. Few people will be present, just the closest family.

Afterwards we will celebrate with an outdoor lunch in tents set up on the lawn, with a band performing, and the children will be able to play to their heart's content.

Only a few minutes ago, my sisters-in-law and Zoe left the room, but as if sensing that I needed to talk, Odin's wife stayed.

“About the past,” I reply. "I never had anything, Elina, and suddenly, I'm with my family and about to marry . . .”

"The man you love?"

"Yes."

"Is it that painful to admit?"

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