Page 67 of Protecting Little Phoebe

Wait. Hadn’t she said that he had a brother called Joseph? And one called Paul?

Holy. Shit.

This didn’t make sense, though.

“Sister? Phoebe isn’t your sister. Your sister’s name is Persephone Lancaster.”

“Worse name ever,” Phoebe said grimly. “I changed it to Phoebe years ago. Well, not legally. And I was using my mom’s maiden name because?—”

“She’s been hiding from us,” Zane said. “And doing quite a good job.”

“Who would have thought you’d all turn up here.”

“What… what’s going on here?” Krystal asked.

Right. He had something to do.

“Krystal, get out,” he said tiredly. “And you’re not welcome back.”

“But… but… you love me! I wanted to talk to you about a reconciliation. And I don’t understand… she told Freida she’s only with you for your money!”

“That’s not what I said!” Phoebe cried.

He hated that this was happening publicly, but Krystal had brought this on herself.

“Krystal, we’re not reconciling and frankly, I did love you, but I don’t anymore. I mourned the loss of our relationship for a long time, but what I realized was that it wasn’t you I was missing in my life. It was the idea of us. I wasn’t happy and neither were you. That’s no way for either of us to live.”

“But you’re happy now? With her?” Krystal gestured to Phoebe.

Barren held out his arm and thankfully, Phoebe flew into his embrace. Leaning down, he kissed her head, grateful that Krystal hadn’t sent her running. Although she did have a bit ofexplaining to do. She knew how he felt about secrets and lies. And it seemed she’d kept something very big from him.

Someone wasn’t going to be sitting comfortably tomorrow. Even if he was sure that she had her reasons.

“I do. I love Phoebe. She’s my world. I’m sorry if that hurts you to hear, but you moved on a long time ago, Krystal. You were the one who chose to break our marriage. Although I can see now that it was the best thing for both of us. Go back to Rand.”

“But… but he broke things off with me. He found a younger girlfriend.”

“Then be by yourself for a while. Find out who you are. Maybe think about who you have become.”

“I don’t need this!” Krystal screeched as she stomped out of the room. “And I don’t need you! This is it! You will never hear from me again.”

Frankly, that would be a relief if it was true.

“Well, I think I need to go speak to Linda,” Melly said, leaving them all alone.

“Are you all right?” he asked Phoebe, drawing her away from his chest so he could study her.

“Y-yes. But I need you to know that those things I said to Freida, it wasn’t… I wasn’t… I was just going along with what she said. She was being so condescending and rude and I?—”

He stopped her with a kiss, pulling her closer again. “Shh, baby,” he whispered in her ear. “I know what Freida is like. It’s okay. You can tell me all about it. Right after you explain how you’re actually Persephone Lancaster.”

Sooo, this was awkward. She wrapped her hands around the glass of water that Barren had poured for her as she stared at her brothers.

“You ran from us,” Darin said.

“Not cool, Phoebe,” Tony added.

“Totally irresponsible,” Paul scolded as he paced up and down the room. “We’ve been searching for you.”

---