Page 42 of The Arrogant's Surrender

I check all her vital signs, as I’ve been doing for the past year, and mentally review the tests and surgeries she’s undergone to reassure myself that everything that could be done has been.

I move closer to the bed, trying to catch any sign of awareness on her face, but nothing happens.

A year ago, I found her after searching nearly my entire adult life.

No one knows who she is. I admitted her here under a false identity.

Until I track down every single one of those who left her in this state, I’ll never reveal the truth. I need to protect her.

"I’ll never give up on you, Mom. I’m your champion. Invincible. I’ll be your superhero."

Brooklyn

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

"Zeus saidAthanasios is now responsible for the security guards watching over us," I say.

The kids just left for daycare, and I sit at the kitchen table while Eleanor prepares our breakfast.

After my comment, though, she stops and looks at me. "Why?"

I hide a smile. "Maybe because of what he said: that he’s going to start pursuing me."

She shakes her head, but I notice she hides a smile as well. "Is that what you want, my dear?"

"I don’t know. I’ve never been pursued before, so I can’t say."

"Brooklyn Foster, you know exactly what I’m asking!"

"I do, of course, but I don’t really know how to answer. When I got involved with Moses . . . or whatever his real name is, it all happened so fast. I barely had time to be courted. We only went on one date, and I think my loneliness steamrolled everything in its path. I gave myself to him too quickly, and looking back, I don’t think I was ever in love with him, Mom."

"I don’t think you were, either."

"Why didn’t you tell me?"

"I thought you were happy, Brooklyn. I’ll never forgive myself for being so wrong about that scoundrel. Me, of all people, who lived with one for so long."

She’s referring to my father, and I can’t even defend him because, honestly, Eleanor is being generous. Out of love for me and Madison, she endured much more than any other woman could have.

"When I found out I was pregnant, I was terrified, and then Moses . . . that bastard . . . told me it was the best news in the world. I thought I’d finally recover everything I’d missed in the past."

"But you didn’t?"

"No. Not even the initial physical attraction lasted. I didn’t like him touching me anymore. Now I see that even if he had been the most honest man in the world, I still would never have loved him."

"I can’t forgive myself for not seeing through him, Brooklyn."

"Don’t blame yourself. By the time I got involved with him, I was already an adult."

"Yes, but there was a significant age gap between you two."

"There’s an even bigger gap between me and Athanasios."

"I know, but he’s a friend of the Kostanidis family. Zeus would never let him get close to you if he weren’t sure his intentions were serious."

"Wow, this sounds like a conversation from another century, talking about 'serious intentions.'"

"The truth is, my dear, we’re all afraid of you getting hurt again. I think it will take time for us to relax."

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