ROBERT'S POV I was scared. I could not remember a time in my life that I felt this way. I was curious about that diary but I knew that nothing on God's green earth would make me read it. I didn't want to know anything more than I knew.Flora had obviously been mentally tortured for her to go to the extreme of killing herself and I did not want to blame myself for her death. I had pleaded with Flora and begged her to understand that marriage between us would not work. And I had never known about her pregnancy. Why should I be blamed?I was preparing to go home and join Ariana but I needed to have a conversation with Nate.He was still so little and I knew he would not really understand everything going on around him but I needed him to be abreast with happenings. I wasn't ready, however , to tell him I was a father. Admitting that would be accepting the responsibility of being his father. And it scared me shitless. Ariana was still rebuffing me and I was scared that she would run i

ARIANA'S POVI couldn't believe the audacity of Robert. Accusing me of being callous and cheating with Joshua? How dare he! The sting of his words still lingered, like an open wound. I slapped him hard, the sound echoing through the silent room like a crack of thunder. Margaret and Richard gasped, shocked by my outburst, their eyes wide with concern. My father had been stopped in his tracks on his way up the stairs and was looking down at me with eyes of disapproval.  "How dare you, Robert!" I spat, my anger boiling over like a pot about to overflow. "You have no right to question me after what you've done!"The words tumbled out of my mouth like a torrent, each

ROBERT'S POV I trudged through the dense woods, my eyes scanning the terrain for any sign of Nate. We were all yelling his name at the top of our voices. I could not believe this was where Ariana had run into the other day. The place was damn creepy. I couldn't imagine anyone being here alone. It felt like it could be home to all creeping and crawling things and I shivered at the thought that Nate had got lost here. Where on earth could he be?The police officers and search dogs combed through the underbrush, their voices and barks echoing through the silence. Richard walked beside me, his face set in a determined expression. I knew he was scared but could not show it. He had to be strong for Margaret. Even though Nate was my son, this man was more a father to him tha

ARIANA'S POV As I stood on the balcony with Robert, the weight of my decision pressed down on me like a heavy cloak, suffocating me with its burden."Ari…please even if not for me, for Nate's sake. He worships you. God!" He threw up his hands in the air frustrated and I wished I could just hug him and tell him that I was going to stay with him. I wanted to. But I couldn't. His words hung in the air, thick with desperation and longing, but I knew I couldn't falter now. Not after everything that had happened.I instead moved past him and walked away from him, my heart heavy with emotion. I knew I had to leave, for my own sake and for Nate's. We couldn't continue with this toxic pattern, not when a child was involved. As I packed my few things into a carry on bag, I felt a sense of liberation wash over me. I was finally taking control of my life, finally standing up for myself. This entire experience had been a lesson for me and I knew it wouldn't be easy, but I was ready to face wha

ARIANA'S POV “Yes! And I mean it!” Rob said firmly.I stood there staring at him, my box on the bed, open with clothes spilling out of it. And then I turned and left the bedroom and began to descend the stairs rapidly.It must have taken Rob a significant amount of time to recover from my abrupt departure because I was almost out the main door when I heard his footsteps descending the stairs.He could keep the clothes and I dare him to keep me away from my Nephew and step-son, I was leaving.