There was silence for the next few days that went by. It wasn’t the usual silence; it had more to do with readjusting. Since discovering Lionel’s painful breakup, Zera has divided her time between him, work, and home. He didn’t have many friends. Sesi was his all, and she was his sister, and the Harts were the only friends or family he had, so with all the recent heartbreak, he had kept to himself. Knowing his history with substance abuse, she didn’t want to give him any reason to relapse. His art has become a source of escape for him, and he spends most of his hours painting and going for submission.
She disclosed Aaron and Ivan’s plan to unmark him and also wipe his memory of Sesi away. When she asked him if he wanted that, he answered yes without hesitation. It felt almost as if he had been thinking about it himself. He told her he would take anything that would make him think less of his mistake. She didn’t want to believe it was a mistake; they shared so many happy times, some of which she witnessed. But who was she to speak?
Aaron understood her need to stay with Lionel and also supported her when he could. She and Zion visited as often as they could, and Aaron had also visited. He had a full house two days ago, but today she was the only one visiting.
Lionel asked how Sesi was, but Zera hadn’t seen her. She didn’t ask Aaron why she wasn’t at the estate. It wasn’t because she didn’t care; it was because she knew that was better. She knew how nasty she would get when she saw her, especially if she was in a better emotional state compared to her brother. Since she broke up with Lionel, she hasn’t shown her face at the estate. Which meant she had stayed somewhere else-with someone else. It seemed she was more resentful of the thought of Sesi than Lionel was.
Aaron told her: Sesi’s mate was an Alpha of the Hallow pack in France,. This pack was the pack their mother, Scarlett, belonged to before meeting and marrying their father, Dwayne Hart. His name was Manon Rock, and she met him while she was on vacation in Paris a few weeks ago with Lionel. According to what Sesi told Aaron, the connection was there and was unbelievable when she first saw him, and though she hated it, she couldn’t deny it.
Staying and listening while Aaron told her Sesi’s story took a lot of effort because she wanted to cuss at every chance she got. However, she knew Aaron wouldn’t feel happy about that. She wasn’t a hater of good things; she just wasn’t a fan of this one.
She didn’t know if Sesi had gone to be with Manon, but she suspected it. She was his mate and wouldn’t feel complete without him, after all. Zera didn’t tell Lionel the details she knew about Sesi’s mate; she didn’t know if he already knew, but if he didn’t, she wasn’t the one who would tell him. It was enough of the pain he was in; she couldn’t add to it.
“How long do you think it would take before the unmarking?” He asked, looking up at her from the countertop, where he had been painting in silence for the last few minutes.
“I don’t know, Lionel.” She mumbled, “I think Ivan would want to know all the effects, and if there are any, he’d want to see a way out before proceeding.”
He nodded. “That’s fair enough.”
“How do you feel?” she asked, and he looked away, as if avoiding her gaze. She had tried to avoid asking and instead find the truth for herself, but the more she did, the less she knew. Lionel was good at hiding. Growing up, he didn’t like his problems being others’ problems, and even now, it shows.
“The days go by faster now.” He answered, running his brush over the painting. “I didn’t see this day coming. If I did, I would have done things differently.”
“Talking about doing things differently, Diya and Greg are celebrating their twin’s one year tonight. You should come with me,” she suggested, changing the topic and also the atmosphere to a lively one.
“I’m busy,” came his quick response.
She frowned. “With art?” She got down from the stool and approached him, saying, “You told me you could not put a time on art, or did you lie when you said that?”
He sighed and set his paintbrush down on the counter. “I didn’t lie. I just don’t know if I’m ready for social interaction yet.”
She rolled her eyes and said, “Nonsense, Lionel. I’m asking you to come along. You, me, and Zion.”
His eyes lit up. “Zion will be there, too?”
“The twins are one-year-old; Zion has more right to be there than we do,” she answered, and that made him laugh, and this was the happiest she’d seen him in days. “So will you come?”
“I have a feeling you will not forgive me if I refuse.” He said.
Oh, he knew her so well.
She got Zion ready first, then got herself ready, and she didn’t miss Aaron’s eyes on her all the while she did. He said nothing; he seems to enjoy watching her go from naked to dressed. She had on a red sundress and a golden pair of sandals, and her hair was in a neat ponytail. Aaron watched with scrutiny.
He asked if there was someone she hoped to impress. She grinned and flashed him the ring on her finger, hinting at her married status. She wasn’t taking it off, which meant she wasn’t intending to impress anyone other than her husband.
He grinned and asked her to do a spin around so he could see how she looked, and she did that. He smacked her butt and told her to be his good girl. She kissed him and promised that she would.