The cars arrived without warning. No guards were notified. No calls were returned. No invitations sent.
But Roman knew they'd come the moment he heard the gravel crunch under tires.
The Ashborne estate had long arms, long walls, and longer memories — and none more poisonous than the ones that birthed him.
---
The butler opened the doors.
Roman didn't stand.
He remained seated in the grand hall, swirling dark liquor in a glass carved with the family crest. Lelo sat cross-legged on the velvet rug in front of the fire, tracing the edge of her rabbit's torn ear.
The first to enter was his mother.
Still tall. Still thin. Still dangerous.
Her mouth curled in permanent disgust.
Following her was his father. Thick-browed and sharp-eyed, carrying an aura of arrogance like a second coat.
And last — behind them, trying not to look at the walls — her.
The mistake.
The woman he'd once called his wife.
Lelo's real mother.
---
"Roman." His mother's voice struck like cold silver. "I see you're still living in this museum of sin."
Roman smiled lazily. "Mother. Father. Gloria."
Gloria flinched at her name.
Lelo didn't move. She didn't even blink.
---
"We heard troubling things," the old man said. "Black girl. Stolen child. Possible scandal. We thought it couldn't be true. Thought you'd have sense."
"Imagine our horror," the mother added. "To learn that our son has not only locked away a savage—but that he calls her wife."
Roman sipped his drink.
"She's not locked away. She's out. Stretching her legs."
His mother hissed. "With the bloodline watching? With the press circling? What will people say when they find out your child calls some... creature 'Mama'?"
Gloria stepped forward gently. She hadn't aged well — not because of time, but because of guilt. Her hands were tightly laced, as if afraid they'd betray her again.
"I didn't come to fight," she said. "I came to fix things. I still love you, Roman. And I love Lelo. I left because you didn't love me back. But I can try again."
Roman stood slowly.
Walked toward her. Close enough to kiss her cheek.
But he didn't.
Instead, he whispered,
> "You didn't leave because I didn't love you. You left because I never loved you at all."
Gloria paled.
Lelo looked up now.
And for the first time, her smile stretched wide.
---
Later that night, Serene walked through the front door, exhausted and quiet. The house was unusually lit. Voices echoed faintly from the east wing.
She froze when she saw the new coats at the rack.
The scent of expensive perfume in the air.
And laughter that didn't belong to anyone she knew.
She turned the corner and found them all — sitting in the gold salon, as if nothing was wrong.
Roman. Lelo.
Three strangers.
And every single one of them looked at her like she didn't belong.
---