The Davidson Family Secret (2)

"No…No way!" Auralia fell back onto the couch her legs too weak to hold her. "This…It isn't possible."

How could her father, someone she knew for her whole life, have such a big secret and never even leave something about it. He wouldn't take such a thing to the grave, would he?

Doubt filled her as the images of her father shattered, breaking into tiny pieces and cutting her heart with every piece. Her emotions boiled over and tears welled in her eyes.

None of what they said could be true. It couldn't!

"Auralia." A voice called out her name, bring her back to reality. "I know this is hard to believe, but it's why I had mother tell you everything."

Auralia looked up to see Jason staring at her with a grieved look. He held out some documents, wanting her to look at them.

"You need to know the truth…" Jason said as she took the papers from him.

Looking down, she found herself holding her father's birth certificate, hospital records and finally a DNA test. For both her and her father.

They were what drove the final nail into the coffin, confirming what she had been wanting to deny. The evidence in her hands was too much to refute what Jason, her uncle, had said. She wasn't the fake granddaughter but the real one.

Taking a deep breath, she tried calming herself down, wanting to process everything properly. She couldn't deny being family but there were still some unanswered questions.

"How did you find out?" Auralia asked, looking at the two sharply.

Mrs. Davidson, who too had calmed down, said in a sad tone, "Like I said, I found out about Issac's whereabouts two years later. I reached out to him, trying to rebuild what I had broken but he didn't want anything to do with me.

"Jason also tried going to talk to him but it didn't work. Eventually, his wife, your mother, got him to talk to us. We explained everything but too much had changed. In the end, he promised to send a letter and picture every few months if I kept my distance from you and promised never to approach you first."

"Then six months ago your father suddenly went radio silent. Worried, I looked into it and we learnt what had happened." Jason continued.

Six months ago, was when her world came crumbling down after her father passed away in a coma. She would never forget the phone call she got from the nurse asking for her immediate presence at the hospital to find out her father had died on the way.

"It's when I asked Maria to help me. I wanted to meet you once but your father's promise kept me from doing so…"

Auralia murmured, putting the pieces of the puzzle together, "So, then the arranged marriage-"

But before she could continue Jason cried out, "Arranged marriage! With that actor!"

"Jason…" Mrs. Davidson sighed.

"No, mother. How could you let her get into an arranged marriage with that man?! You saw exactly what happened to that kid and you want Auralia to be exposed to that."

Jason stood up, rage pouring out of every pore of his body. "No, I've stayed too silent for too long. I will not have Issac's daughter go through that. He decided to leave our world because of the dangers and you want to thrust her into that. And with the worst man possible?!

"I don't care if he's your friend's son. That man is too dangerous and even with Auralia's skills, think of what she'll have to go through. His fans are toxic and the worst ones are going to make her life miserable. They don't need to attack her physically to destroy her. I can't…won't see history repeat itself."

"Jason it was the only way…I couldn't leave this world without meeting her once. The regret would have been too much." Mrs. Davidson sobbed, breaking down. "I lost my baby boy and was never going to see his child…."

Jason however was done. "Mother if this was the only way then you should have let yourself live with the regret. You think I didn't want to meet my brother's child. You're not the only person here who is filled with regret over what had happened. But you shouldn't have endangered his child for your selfish desires."

Jason turned to look at Auralia, his eyes softening. "I know my mother has burdened you with this arranged marriage, but please know that you'll not be forced into. The Davidson Family has enough money to deal with it. And it's about time we fix our mistakes.

"If you wish to go back to your life before all of this happened, then I'll do everything in my power to help you."

A part of Auralia wanted to jump up at the offer and accept it. She would be free to continue running her father's dojo in peace. But she knew it would be a lie. Knowing that she had family had changed everything. She couldn't continue trying to go through her life like before, she knew too much now.

And then there was the contract with Maria to consider. Even with the Davidson Family's help, she would be losing to much. And they'd be taking to much of a hit just to get her out of that contract.

She wouldn't feel right losing a chance to get the dojo back nor destroying a family for her happiness. It was only a year of her life being affected anyway.

Her mind raced back and forth as she debated on whether to accept the offer or not. Finally, exhaustion kicked in and Auralia decided it wasn't the right time to make a decision.

She had so many things to consider and with her emotions going crazy, she knew she would come to regret it if she made a choice now.

"I need to think things over first. Before I decide what to do next." Auralia said, standing up. "I'm going to excuse myself too. I need some time alone."

With those words she left the room where her whole world had been turned upside down.