Family Event
I curled into myself, hands pressed against my face, and cried harder than I had in years.
Family.
It could build you or break you.
And sometimes, it did both at once.
I wiped my face with the sleeves of my hoodie, trying to pull myself together. Crying wasn’t going to fix anything. It never had.
After a few deep breaths, I got up and dragged myself toward the living room.
The TV was already on—some random action movie flashing across the screen. I curled up on the couch, tucking a blanket over my legs, pretending I was fine. Pretending everything inside me wasn’t cracked and raw.
A few minutes later, I heard soft footsteps on the stairs.
I glanced over my shoulder.
Rowan was coming down, casual in dark slacks and a plain white T-shirt, his hair still slightly messy from sleep. His face was shadowed with concern the moment he spotted me curled up there.
He didn’t say anything right away.
Just leaned against the doorway, arms folded, watching me with that steady, unshakable gaze of his. Like he was giving me space to speak if I wanted, but ready to catch me if I fell apart again.
I hated how much that almost made me cry all over again.
"Hey," I said first, my voice hoarse.
"Hey," he said back, pushing off the doorway and walking slowly toward the couch.
He sat down next to me, careful, close but not crowding. His knee brushed mine, just a quiet reminder that he was there. That I wasn’t alone.
We sat in silence for a while, the movie flashing colors across the room.
Finally, I spoke, my voice quiet. "I called Jules. We talked for a while."
He nodded, not pushing, just listening.
"It’s a mess," I added, feeling the words spill out of me because keeping them inside hurt too much. "Everything. My family... it’s so broken."
Rowan leaned back against the couch, his hand brushing lightly against mine for a second, grounding me.
"You don’t have to fix them," he said quietly. "That’s not your burden."
I swallowed hard, blinking at the screen without really seeing it. "Yeah. I know."
More silence.
Then Rowan spoke again, his voice a little firmer this time. "Tomorrow, my investigator’s coming over. He has news about Davenport. I told him to prioritize digging up everything—whatever connections he has to you, to your family."
I turned to him, surprised.
"You didn’t have to—"
"I wanted to," Rowan interrupted gently. "You’re not fighting this alone anymore, Remi. Not with me around."
The lump in my throat swelled again, but this time it wasn’t just grief. It was gratitude too, heavy and unexpected.
Rowan must have seen it on my face, because he leaned in without warning and pulled me into a hug.
I stiffened at first—old instincts—but then melted into him without meaning to, letting his warmth and steady heartbeat calm the storm inside me.
"You don’t have to be strong all the time," he murmured against my hair.
I closed my eyes, breathing him in.
For a few long seconds, it felt like maybe the ground wasn’t crumbling under my feet after all.
Then Rowan pulled back slightly, smiling at me in that boyish, dangerous way he did when he was about to say something I wouldn’t like.
"Oh," he said casually, like he was talking about the weather. "There’s a Vaughn family event next weekend."
I blinked at him, instantly suspicious. "Okay..."
He smiled wider, way too innocent. "I want you to come with me."
I gaped at him. "What?!"
Rowan leaned back, all casual and comfortable like he hadn’t just dropped a grenade between us. His arm stretched across the back of the couch, fingers tapping lightly like he was waiting for my inevitable meltdown.
And honestly? It was coming fast.
"I’m not going," I said instantly, shaking my head. "Absolutely not. No way."
"Remi—"
"No!" I said again, already getting up from the couch like distance would somehow make the idea less ridiculous. "The Vaughns are like witches, Rowan. They hate me. They always have, and nothing’s changed."
He stood too, hands in his pockets, watching me pace. "They won't touch you."
I laughed, short and sharp. "Right. Because they’ve all been so welcoming and sweet lately?"
His eyes darkened slightly, but he kept his voice calm. "Not on my watch. I promise."
I crossed my arms, glaring at him. "Why even bother? Why do you even want me there?"
Rowan shrugged like it was obvious. "Because you’re the mother to the Vaughn family heirs."
I blinked at him, stunned. "Excuse me?"
"You heard me," he said, dead serious now. "Larry and Laura are Vaughns. They have a right to be acknowledged. And you—" he pointed at me, "—deserve to be acknowledged too."
My jaw dropped. "Who said Larry and Laura are going to be heirs? Who decided that?"
Rowan raised an eyebrow. "They’re my children. They’re Vaughns by blood."
"You don’t get to make that decision for them," I snapped, my voice rising. "They’re not pawns in some family power game."
"I’m not making them anything," Rowan said sharply. "I’m just giving them the choice."
I stared at him, furious and hurt and so overwhelmed I didn’t know which emotion to tackle first.
"You’re dragging them into the same toxic mess you grew up in," I said bitterly. "The same mess that almost destroyed you."
Rowan flinched like I’d slapped him. For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then he exhaled slowly, stepping closer, lowering his voice. "I’m not trying to hurt them, Remi. Or you. I just want to show them—and you—that we don’t have to hide anymore. That we belong there as much as anyone."
I looked away, breathing hard.
He reached out carefully, touching my arm. "Please come with me. Just once. For them. For us."
I clenched my jaw, hating how much I wanted to believe him.
How much I wanted to believe we could walk into that event without the whole world burning down.
"And if they come after me?" I asked quietly.
Rowan’s fingers tightened slightly on my arm, his eyes steady, fierce. "They’ll have to go through me first."
I closed my eyes, battling myself.
When I opened them again, he was still there. Still waiting.
Still choosing me.
I sighed heavily, feeling the last of my resistance crumble.
"Fine," I muttered. "I’ll go."
Rowan s
miled then, slow and relieved, like I'd just agreed to something much bigger than one night at a family event.
Maybe I had.
God help me.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
