Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 80576 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80576 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
“I know.”
Her eyes connect with mine, and I take a few tentative steps toward her.
“Having this baby has now officially made me a Godwin,” she informs. “But I guess you knew that too.”
I nod. “One thing I understand is the twisted vines of this family tree. Extending the bloodline goes far with the Godwins.”
Whatever my sister must have said seems to have calmed Daphne down from when I last saw her. She’s no longer shaking. She’s no longer looking at me as if I’m the devil.
“I came up here because I realized that you wanted something from me when we were downstairs. You kept expecting an apology that I wouldn’t give.” I inhale sharply. “That was wrong. I should have. I’m sorry. You are owed that and more. I am sorry.”
“Godwins don’t apologize,” she replies with a smirk.
“We do if we seriously fucked up and hurt someone. And if our intent was to never actually cause pain. I’m sorry, Daphne. You didn’t deserve to be lied to.”
“Even when the reason you had to lie in order to not go to jail was because of me?” she asks. “Because I understand why you decided to become Apollo. I do. I get it, and frankly it was smart. Why should Apollo die and you go to prison forever? If everyone mistook your identity and… It was really good luck. It’s almost as if Apollo was looking down on you and turning the fates around.” She chuckles. “If anyone could do it, it was him.”
“I’ve never told anyone this,” I begin. “But I think Apollo saved my life.”
Her eyes widen but she doesn’t say anything.
“I don’t remember the crash,” I continue. “And based on the wound on my head, I think I was knocked unconscious. There’s no way I could have undone my seat belt and got out of that helicopter before it sank all the way down. I think Apollo sacrificed himself and unfastened me just in time for me to get out and get to the surface. I think he gave his life for me.”
“Just as you were willing to give your life for him,” she adds.
“I hope I didn’t betray him by doing what I did with you. It eats at me.”
“Our marriage was dead. There wasn’t any love there, and there wasn’t anything between us until…well until the accident,” she confesses.
“I don’t deserve your forgiveness, but—”
“You’re forgiven,” she cuts in. “I understand why you did what you did. I forgive you just as you forgave me.”
“A betrayal for a betrayal,” I say with a grin and a wink. “What all healthy marriages are built on.”
“Are you ever going to let anyone know about you?” she asks. “The real you? If Athena knew, she didn’t let on to me she did.”
I chuckle. “If she knew, you’d be the last to know. That woman holds secrets and information until she can use them to her advantage. But no, I don’t think she knows.”
“I won’t tell her. I won’t tell anyone. I haven’t told you that, and well… after what I did to Apollo and you, I at least owe you this. Your secret is safe with me.”
I nod again, pleased to hear she intends to keep this secret quiet. “Why?” I ask. “Afraid of what I might do? Afraid of what my family would do?”
She shakes her head. “No. It’s ours. Our secret. No one else’s business.” She smirks and crosses her arms. “Plus, you are the father of this baby. And you are still…my husband.”
I return the smirk. “We are married. Until death do us part.”
She breaks my stare and looks down at the ground. “Apollo and Daphne were married.” She looks back up at me. “And death did do us part.”
“So technically you are free, but—”
“I know,” she interrupts as she places her hand on her belly. “I’ll never be free from the Godwin family now.”
I’m relieved that she understands exactly what having my child inside of her means.
“Yes. Breaking away from the Godwins is not possible. Ever.” I take a deep breath. “But my father knows the truth. If you really want to break away from me, we both can make that happen. Because you’re right. You vowed to be with Apollo until death. Not me.”
Her eyes widen. “You’d let me go? Even though I have your baby in me?” She rolls her eyes. “Ha! Stop acting like the valiant, self-sacrificing hero in this story. I know you wouldn’t just let me go. Neither would your father.”
“No.” I laugh, appreciating the fact that this woman can not only see my shit but call me out on it. “You’re right. You aren’t going anywhere. You’re smart to see that, and to know that.”
Her eyes narrow. “What about after I have the baby?”
“You’re still mine,” I answer.
There is stillness between us as I can see she’s processing the information.