CHAPTER 29

MIA POV.
Time went by far too quickly for my liking as the evening arrived and I was to have dinner with him. I'm escorted to my father's house, my heart racing with anticipation and fear. I have only met him that one time at the party and the uncertainty of what to expect makes my stomach twist into knots. Dominic's intentions are unclear, and I wonder if this is some kind of setup or test. I also found it strange that he did not come with me, instead he sent two of his best bodyguards to "protect" me. Are they here to ensure my safety or to monitor the meeting? I wondered as I felt like I was being pulled into a web of intrigue, with no control over the outcome.
As we approach the house, I can't shake off the feeling of apprehension. Something didn’t feel right, and I had a feeling that this night was not going to go at all the way it was supposed to. The car stops in front of a grand mansion and as soon as one of the guards helps me out of the car, a sense of unease washes over me. This is my father's house, yet I feel like a stranger. Dominic’s wolf guards walked me to the door, and just as I wondered if I should ring the doorbell or knock on the door, one of the guards rang the bell for me. I found it ironic that I must ring the doorbell to enter my supposedly destined home. It was a stark reminder that I have not been part of their lives for a very long time. The maid answers, her expression neutral, and steps aside to let us in. I'm taken aback by the familiarity of the foyer. I looked up and found myself mesmerized by the chandelier and when I looked down, the marble floors seemed to welcome the lights of the house as they shined for all to see.
I glance around, taking in the expensive décor that they seemed to like as the maids led us through to another room.
As we enter the extravagant room, I see my father standing by the fireplace. He was standing with his hands behind his back, facing the fire, gazing into it as though seeking the answers to the questions that he wanted. When I entered, he turned around, and our gazes met. “Mia. I’m so glad that you made it.” He says as a smile graces his lips. He immediately comes towards me with a smile on his face. It really looked like he was happy to see me and for a moment, I thought he was going to hug me. “Thank you for inviting me, Alpha Ryker.” I say and my father scoffs dismissively when I address him by his title. “I will have none of that.” He spoke. “Come, let me introduce you.” He said and indicated with his hand to a woman sitting on the couch.
“Mia, this is my wife, Sofia.” He says, introducing me. I feel a jolt of familiarity, realizing she's the same woman I saw him with at the party. I try to process this new information, wondering how long they've been married. “Hi, it is nice to meet you.” I said to the woman sitting on the sofa, sipping a glass of wine. She had this look on her face that made it clear that she did not want me here. “Sofia!” A growling voice in warning came from my father and it was directed at his wife. I got the feeling that there were many fights held between the two of them about the daughter that turned up alive and well.
Just then, saving Sofia from greeting me back, the sound of footsteps echoes from the staircase from just outside of the room we were in. To my surprise, two children came into view. A boy and a girl of around pre-teen years. The boy had a kind smile as he looked at me, but I noticed the girl merely looking at me out of curiosity. “Ah, the twins.” My father exclaimed as he invited them to come over. The boy moved immediately to our side, but the girl was hesitant and instead walked over slowly the woman on the couch.
“Mia, this is Ace.” My father introduced me, and the boy beamed at me. “And that is Alice.” My father said and indicated to the girl standing close to his wife and I knew who they were to him. Who they were to me. My half brother and sister! I am taken aback by this revelation. I had no idea I had younger siblings. As we exchange awkward hellos, I notice the way Sofia looked at me, a mixture of curiosity and wariness.
I shift uncomfortably in my feet, feeling like an outsider in this new family dynamic. My father's wife, Sofia, glares at me with a strong resentment that makes my skin crawl. I can sense her hostility, her dislike for me palpable.
I turn to my father, searching for answers. "Is this how you honor Mom's memory?" I ask, my voice shaking with emotion. "By moving on and finding love with someone else? Creating a new family?" I said angrily and I could see that I had just knocked the wind right out of him.
Before my father can respond, Sofia interrupts, her voice sharp and sarcastic, her words dripping with venom. "You ungrateful brat!" She sneers at me, and I my head turns to her sharply. She rose to her feet. Resentment and loathing in every part of her body was directed at me as she spoke next. "Your father plans to leave everything to you, and still, you have the nerve to question him?" She asks and my lips part in shock at what she had just said to me. “Tel me what make you so damn special that my children will be without a home because their father had a fleeting infatuation with some human!” Sofia blurted out angrily and my father gasped in shock before anger overtook him.