Page 69 of Tainted Rose

“She exploded. Like I said, I saw her over the summer—she came to see me at my home.” He glances to the side where June is standing quietly. “June was there.”

“I overheard a few things that I shouldn’t have.” She gives me an apologetic smile.

My head swivels back to Sebastian. “But what I don’t understand is why did you turn her away then?”

“Your mother was so upset with me when she mentioned the note, and I told her I didn’t know what she was talking about. There she was at my home, screaming at me, where my family might hear her. I shut her down. I accused her of lying. I’m embarrassed to say I also told her I thought she’d been sleeping around. That maybe you weren’t mine.” He drops his gaze, and his face flushes. When he continues, his voice is barely more than a whisper. “I’m afraid I was so panicked that I threatened her. I didn’t want her to start talking about it. Swore I’d make her life hell if she told anyone I was the father.”

Xander squeezes my hand, and I squeeze right back. Thank goodness he’s here with me. “My mother was no liar. By all accounts, she was a sweet, shy girl who thought she was in love.” I swallow, afraid the rising bile in my throat will make it impossible to finish. “Sebastian, a lot of time has passed, and I can’t ask my mother for the truth … so I’m asking it of you right now.” My eyes flicker to Isabella’s. “I’m really sorry if this is painful for you.”

She waves her hand. “This happened well before my time. You have a right to know anything you want, honey. I’m pretty sure I already know what you want to ask him.”

I inhale, then blow the air out through pursed lips. “How did you really feel about my mother? What really happened between you? Why was your relationship such a secret?”

Boom.It’s like an explosive has gone off in the room. The aftermath is a deafening silence.

Isabella reaches out to Sebastian and grabs his hand, nodding at him that he should answer. He lets out a shaky breath. “I’m embarrassed to say that it was a status thing. I fell for a girl who was not a Rose. Back then it was a huge deal. But I was head over heels crazy in love with her.” He chuckles softly. “She agreed to see me in secret. She didn’t want to be on display any more than I did. And I couldn’t believe she’d have me. She was so smart. So gorgeous. Such a sweet soul. And, yep, we did things that teenagers are bound to eventually do. I think she was scared when she found out about you. And she probably thought I was a jerk for not coming and talking to her when she left me the note. I had no idea why she was pushing me away. I know now she was protecting her heart. Worried that I didn’t feel for her what she felt for me. Everything got really messed up.” He shakes his head harshly. “Scarlett, I’m so sorry for how things happened… but I can’t take it back, can’t change things. I can only try to make it up to her by doing right by you now.” He pauses to swallow. “If you’ll allow me to.”

“You loved her.”

“I did. So much.” He lets out a long sigh, scrubbing both hands through his hair. “By the time you were born, everything had gone so wrong between us, there was no going back. But she wanted me to know you were definitely mine.” He hesitates, looking into my eyes. “The honest truth is that I knew she wouldn’t lie. She sent me the photo Xander found about a week after you were born.”

“What did you think when you saw it?”

“That I’d been stupid.” He stops to take a long swallow of his water. “I went to see her … and you. I held you.” He rubs a hand over his jaw. “We decided that day that we were better off apart. There was too much between us and every time I tried to apologize it came out wrong.”

“My aunt said my mother was hoping you’d come back for her.”

“By the time I finally got my ass in gear, the damage was done. I should have tried harder.” His gaze narrows, and he points at my wrist. I look down at it, confused. His voice hitches. “Is there a sun charm on that bracelet?”

My eyes widen. “Yes.”

“She must have added the other charms later.”

“What do you mean?” I’ve asked the question, but I already know the answer. I feel it deep down in all the twisted-up knots of my stomach.

“I gave that bracelet to her when we were dating. I used to call her my sunshine.”

I blink. I’ve been wearing this for nine months without ever realizing that it was a gift from my father to my mother—when they were in love. My heart melts a little. If she gave it to me, he had to have been important to her, even after their unfortunate history. Slowly, I rise from my seat and walk around the table to him so he can look at it. “She gave it to me last Christmas, shortly before she passed. When she did, she said that she’d been collecting charms for years. Reminders of all of the most important moments in her life. I do think she meant to include you.”

Sebastian stands up facing me, then cautiously takes my hand, giving it a squeeze. “I’m so proud of everything you are, Scarlett.” He sucks in a breath, looks quickly at Isabella, who gives him a teary-eyed smile. “I don’t know if it’s too soon, but I’d love it if you’d call me Dad.”

I drop his hand and walk right into his arms.

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