Chapter 383
Chapter 383
83%
I shrug. “Family tradition. My father swears by it. His father did the same. And his father before him. My great–grandfather, Roger, started it. So now my father thinks it’s a legacy that must continue p>
Her eyebrows shoot up. “Hold up… You all have the same initials p>
“Unfortunately,” I mutter. “Thank God my mom insisted on diverse middle names. If she didn’t, it’d be a
total disaster p>
She bursts into laughter–loud, unfiltered, real laughter “I actually think it’s kind of cool. It’s… unique p>
“It’s not cool if you remember who my father is and what he represents.” My jaw tightens as I crush the can slightly. “I want my kids to have normal names with no tradition. No expectations. Nothing tying them
back to him. ”
She looks at me quietly, studying the tension in my shoulders. “What if I want the R–names tradition?” she
teases softly.
“No.” I say it immediately, without thinking, and her playful expression fades for a second. I soften my
voice. “Sav, that tradition isn’t cute for me. It’s a chain.
She nods slowly, understanding.
“But your late aunt,” she tries again, “Felicia… why wasn’t she an R p>
“She was. Her real name was Rachel. She chose Felicia instead because she didn’t want anything tying her
to the family. Felicia was her way out. Her ticket to normal life.” I swallow. “Sadly, it was cut short p>
Savannah’s face falls. “Oh. I’m sorry p>
“It’s fine, ” I say, a little too quickly. It isn’t fine. It never will be. But I don’t want to sink the day.
She clears her throat gently, switching topics. “What about the other women? Did your mom know about
them? Before she died p>
“She knew,” I say. “She knew about the other children too. She even met some of them. But it was after her
death that our father opened the doors of Blackwood Manor and brought everyone under one roof p>
“Was he aware that she knew?” she asks. “Maybe that’s why he waited. He might have been scared of her
finding out p>
1/4
12:48 Sat, Dec 27 D DG.
Chapter 383
83%
I actually laugh–a dry sound. “Reginald Blackwood fears no one. Not even my mom. He knew she knew. As for why he waited?” I shrug. “Only he knows p>
“Your father gives me goosebumps,” she murmurs. “The bad kind p>
I smile. “Welcome to the club p>
She smiles faintly, then glances at her phone again. “Back to the question. Who’s your favourite sibling p>
“Ah, yes. The impossible one.” I stretch out on the towel. “As much as they annoy the hell out of me, I do love them. Not all of them though. But I love my siblings in their own disastrous ways. So it’s hard to pick one. But p>
“But…?” she prods.
“But I’ll answer honestly p>
“Deal p>
“Growing up, it was Reese.” I pause. “And at some point. Rhys. You’ll like him. He’s… soft where the rest of
us are jagged. Alyssa reminds me a little of him p>
Savannah smiles softly, probably imagining it.
“Then it was Ryan for a while,” I continue. “Before my mom died.” The memory twists something bitter in my chest. I push through it. “And now… it’s Reese again I guess p>
She frowns. “Why the uncertainty? ”
I take a breath that feels heavier than the others. “I haven’t talked to the others since I left the Manor.
They probably hate me now p>
She sits up completely and cups my cheek with her warm hand. “No. They don’t. They’re your siblings. I’m
sure they understand p>
I scoff. “Maybe. Or maybe they think I abandoned them
“Roman.” Her thumb brushes my cheek. “You needed space. Anyone with half a conscience would
understand that p>
I look at her, all sun–kissed skin, messy bun, and soft, gentle eyes that somehow see everything I don’t say.
2/4
12:48 Sat, Dec 27 DDG
Chapter 383
“We’ll find out soon,” I say quietly. “Either way p>
She lowers herself beside me again, resting her head on her arms. “Either way,” she echoes.
83%
The sun glows against her skin. The waves crash softly gainst the shore. For the first time in a long time,
the world feels still.
Peaceful. Temporary. But perfect.
I stretch out my arm, and she shifts until her head rests on my chest. Her weight settles over me like gravity finally decided to do something right.
She breathes, slow and deep. And I breathe with her just for a moment because God knows moments like
this never last for us.
But right now–her laughter, her warmth, her questions the sun, the sand–all of it feels like something carved out of a life I’m not supposed to have.
A life I want anyway.
A life with her.
And for today, at least, that’s enough.
“Least favourite sibling?” She asks quietly. “I’ll go first. Mine is Chloe. Obviously p>
I laugh a little, staring off at the water. “I don’t know p>
“Why don’t you know p>
I take a deep breath. “If I begin counting offences, I’ll list all eight of them. People wrong people. Even siblings. At some point, I’m sure I’ve been their worst sibling as well. I’ve also offended them too p>
“And your point is p>
I smile. “It’s not that easy, Sav. We all can’t have a Chlo p>
“Okay. Let me change that a little.” She clears her throat. “Who is the least pleasant to be around p>
That’s easier to answer. Only one name came to mind immediately.
“Randall p>
3/4
12:48 Sat, Dec 27 D
Sara Lili
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.