Chapter 24: "Shattered Bonds"
"We were going to name my baby sister… but I killed her.....I killed you both. I'm sorry, Mommy…"
Gael whispered to the photo frame in his hands, his thumb brushing gently over the smiling face of his mother. Her features mirrored his own—jet-black hair, fair skin, and deep brown eyes that once held all the warmth in the world. But that warmth had vanished. Everything had.
Tears slid silently down his cheeks.
"I should've told Dad back then. I should've told him about my baby sister… Maybe if I confess now, at least I'll have a sound mind."
He kissed the picture softly, placed it on the nightstand, and stood up. He had been living with his father in this apartment ever since the fire. Though the Alexandro mansion had been renovated, his father insisted on staying away, hoping time would erase the scars.
Only Gael knew that was impossible.
Today, he would finally come clean. He didn't care if his father hated him, screamed at him, or disowned him. Anything would be better than silence.Standing in the middle of the quiet hallway, he straightened his back the moment he heard the low purr of a familiar engine.
Dad was home.
Moments later, Alexandro stepped into view, his coat draped over one arm, briefcase in hand.
"Gael," he greeted.
"Welcome home, Dad," Gael replied, walking forward to take the coat and bag.
Normally, the maids would handle this, but Gael had insisted on being self-sufficient. His obsessive cleaning tendencies something his doctors labeled OCD—had worsened since the fire. A defense mechanism born from trauma and guilt.
"I'll drop these in your room," Gael said, turning to leave.
"Wait," his father called.
Gael paused and turned back.
Alexandro looked at him seriously. "I know you've never truly been the same since your mother died. And I know you blame yourself. But Gael… it wasn't your fault. It was bound to happen the moment the fire started."
"No," Gael snapped, voice rising. "If I had just kept those damn papers away, it wouldn't have spread! I started it!"
He was done pretending.
"Dad… I need to tell you something."
He placed the coat and bag on the nearest chair and took a breath.
"Before Mom left the room to check what was happening… we had a conversation. She told me that she was…"
"Honey!"The voice cut through the air like a blade. Both men turned sharply toward the door.
A woman stood there,tall, elegant, her dark hair tied into a neat ponytail. She wore a loose-knit off-shoulder dress and held a suitcase by her side. Beside her stood a girl, no older than twelve, with striking blue eyes, black hair, and a calm expression. Her small pink suitcase rested beside her.
"What are you doing here?" Alexandro asked in a tense voice. "I told you to wait in the car."
But the woman walked in anyway, smiling.
"Well, since we're already here… aren't you going to welcome your wife and daughter?"
Gael froze.
His hands clenched into fists.
"Mel, come in," the woman said sweetly.
The girl followed, quiet and poised.
"You must be Gael," the woman said brightly. "So handsome, just like your father. I bet you look more like your mother."
Gael stared at her, eyes narrowing.
"I've never seen your mom," she continued casually. "Not even a photo. But judging from your father's features… yeah, you must take after her."
"Shut up, Isabel," Alexandro snapped.
She ignored him.
Gael's eyes shifted to the girl—Melanie. Her expression was unreadable, but something about her made Gael's stomach turn. He didn't care if she was innocent. She would never be his sister.Leo turned to him. "Gael, I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier. I… I brought them here today because you needed to know."
Gael said nothing, but the red in his eyes betrayed the storm brewing inside.
"This woman is Isabel… my wife. And this is Melanie—your…" Leo hesitated.
"Your daughter?" Gael's voice was cold.
He scoffed.
"I have one sister. Her name was Nelly Kayla Alexandro. And she's dead. No one will ever replace her."He said inwardly.
He stared at his father for a beat, then at the woman and the girl, before turning and walking toward his room.
"Gael!" Alexandro called after him.
But Gael didn't stop.
BAM. BAM. BAM.
Three knocks echoed at his bedroom door. Alexandro stepped in slowly. Gael sat on his bed, back turned, head bowed.
"Kyle, I'm sorry," Alexandro began. "I didn't mean for you to find out like this."
"Say that name again and I swear—" Gael snapped, spinning to face him, eyes blazing.
Alexandro flinched. "Okay. I'm sorry."
Gael stood. "What did Mom ever do to deserve this, huh? You couldn't even wait before replacing her?"
"It's not what you think—"
"No? Then explain how you have a twelve-year-old daughter when Mom died only seven years ago. You do the math!"
Alexandro looked away.
"I can't live here if they stay," Gael said coldly. "You decide. Them, or me."Alexandro's face twisted with regret. "Gael…"
But his son was already packing.
"You know what? Stay. I'll go," Alexandro finally said, voice low. "We'll move back to the mansion. You can have the apartment."
Gael said nothing. Just zipped his bag and shoved it aside.
"What did you want to tell me earlier?" Alexandro asked.
"You don't deserve to know," Gael replied quietly.
Alexandro stood in silence, pain in his eyes.
"I'll send some of the maids to assist for now," he said. "And Gael… I didn't cheat on your mother. I swear. When you're ready to hear the truth, I'll explain everything."
The door clicked shut behind him.
Gael stood still, fists clenched. Then he collapsed onto the bed, pulling the blanket over himself.
"Mom…" he whispered. "He did this to you."
Tears flowed freely, soaking into the pillow.
"I'll never forgive him."
RB