Page 27 of Illicit Games

The sight of him distraught and shaken is killing me.

“Talk to me, love.”

His eyes clash with mine as he hurls a series of questions. “How could you possibly know her? Since when have you known? When were you gonna tell me?”

“I found her diary in your room at your father’s house. Nathan had invited me to his parents’ anniversary, where he introduced me as his girlfriend. I accidentally entered your bedroom.” My cheeks heat as I reveal, “I started going through your things, and the little notebook fell from a shelf in your closet. At first, I thought it was yours. I was tempted to take it, but I moved to put it back. I panicked when I heard footsteps and put it in my purse.”

“You kept it.”

“I couldn’t resist the temptation, knowing it could be yours, so I decided to read it. Except, it belonged to some woman. There was no name. She talked about the affair, how she worked as your father’s assistant. The pages where she wrote about being pregnant were torn. Rakesh blackmailed her into skipping town, leaving you behind.”

Kian becomes livid, his whole body vibrating with it. We both know his father is powerful enough to do it. Heck, he did the same to Kian.

“It’s not too late to look for her,” I cautiously suggest. “You’ll have the proof to convince Nathan you had no choice in staying away from him.”

“Do you still have the diary?”

“Yes. At the apartment.”

“I want to see it.”

“Of course.” Inching closer, I dare to ask, “Are you mad at me? I figured it out after you told me Nathan is your half-brother.”

“God, no, Iris,” he exhales, hugging me with an arm around my shoulders. “I’m fuming at my father. Of course he’d do something like this.”

“He’s a despicable man.” He alienated Kian from every person he ever loved. His mother. His brother. He needs to pay for his crimes. “What are you going to do?”

“Nothing for now.” His hand massages my back. “My priority is making Nathan back off and finding the man who attacked you.”

Shit. It slipped my mind in the whirlwind of the past two days.

This isn’t the right time to tell him about this, nor do I have the energy.

However, Nathan can’t know that Kian and I are still together.

Leaning back, I meet his gaze and shock him by saying, “I want to take you to my house.”

“Now?”

“Yes.”

“Are you sure?”

“You’ll have to meet the rest of my family at some point.” Circling his waist, I rasp, “I may not be able to introduce you as my boyfriend yet, but I still want them to know you.”

“Yet, huh?” he smirks.

I playfully hit his chest, loving that his mood has lifted. At least, until we have to face our demons head-on tomorrow. It was cathartic sharing about my past.

“Isn’t it late?”

“No one goes to bed at my house until eleven.”

“I’d love to come. I want to see where you grew up.” Kissing my temple, he orders, “Stay right here while I bring the car around.”

“Okay.”

As he saunters away, I gaze around at the park that holds so many memories. The man I daydreamed about, watched for hours, has become mine.