Chapter 27

“You don’t need to cry, Aunt. I’m fine now,” I comfort her, embracing her warmly. I had always feared revealing the truth to her, but I couldn’t bear the thought of burdening her with my past.

“Oh, it could have been avoided. I feel like I failed my sister,” she says with teary eyes.

“No, you didn’t. You and Uncle Tyler have taken care of me as your own, something John neglected to do for me and for that, I’ll forever be grateful,”I reassure her.

“Why would he do such a despicable thing, marrying you off like that? Is this some sort of medieval times? Why didn’t you call me? I would have come back to stop the madness,” she says with anger.

“There wasn’t enough time, and there was too much at stake. I couldn’t risk it,” I explain. I had feared that if I involved her, it would have only made things worse for Nathan with my father.

“Aunt Maryann, it’s nothing for you to worry about now. I just wanted you to know the truth. Can we not resist the past anymore?” I ask, hoping for a fresh st