CHAPTER 26 - Flower

"A billion dollars," Bianca said, just as she heard Brynn lock the bedroom door behind him.

"The earrings were the only ones of their kind. The gemologists who found the stone had offered to sell the stone to us at a billion dollars, because they knew that only Brynn's family could offer you good money for the right value." Bianca continued, with her back still turned to Brynn and her front facing the window.

"We had the stone made into a beautiful set of earrings by the renowned Lapidary to give to Azalea on her eighth birthday. Unfortunately, it didn't work out because a day of celebration suddenly turned to a day of mourning." Bianca caressed the little clothes she held, which belonged to a child. "The earrings were put away, given back to the gemologist, who kept them. Rumor has it that no one was able to buy it, because of the insane price he placed on it."

Her head fell, "So I put a call through to the gemologist to get me the earrings, and what was told was that it had been sent out, taken by my husband."

Brynn stood still, listening to all that she had to say.

"Today, I see my husband put that set of earrings in the hands of a stranger. Why?" She said.

"Do you not think that we should move past this?" Brynn said, "For how long do I have to sound it to you that I take Aurora to be like a daughter…"

"She can never be our daughter," Bianca sharply turned, her voice was loud and filled with rage.

Brynn saw this and, for once in a long time, allowed her to pour out her emotions. He swallowed hard when he saw the clothes she held. It was the last clothes his daughter had worn; it still had claw marks on it.

"She can never be Azalea. The thought that a mere human could take her place should make your stomach churn, yet you embrace her without shame." Bianca opened her mouth, but decided to close it last minute.

"You aren't the only one feeling the guilt; I still do. It is as much my fault as it's yours, but I don't go around tainting her title." Bianca said, "I never expected any of this from you."

She walked towards the door and close to Brynn, "She could be your daughter for all I care, but she can never be my Azalea." She left the room and shut the door behind her.

Brynn breathed in and slowly walked towards his bed and sat down.

He looked up at the ceiling as the memory of the night Azalea was born came rushing back to his mind.

A long time ago...

"Luke, how's my wife doing? Any word from the nurses yet?" Brynn asked Luke with a panicked look.

Bianca had gone into labour in the middle of the night when everyone was asleep.

Brynn had to buzz the emergency alarm to awaken the household. Bianca was taken to the mansion's clinic, while the nurses who had been in the house for months, awaiting the delivery date, rushed in. It was time for delivery.

Brynn heard Bianca's screams and twitched whenever the screaming became intense.

That night, Brynn looked disorganized.

"Not a word, master," Luke answered.

"It's been 2 hours already."

"I believe it would soon end in celebration."

"You've been saying that for 2 hours now, Luke. Why not go in there and tell them to hurry up?"

"I was told that I wasn't allowed," Luke answered.

A few minutes later, the voices of babies could be heard, as a nurse ran down to the long-awaited Brynn.

"Good news, master Brynn," She bowed, "You are now a father of not one but two children."

"Two?" Brynn's eyes widened.

"Yes, master, a boy and a girl."

"C…can I see them?"

"Yes, master."

Brynn breezed past the nurse and headed straight to the clinic, with Luke following behind him.

He barged in on Bianca, smiling at the children crying beside her in a cradle, while she lay on the delivery bed, seemingly exhausted.

He was stiffened by the glorious sight before him, the moon goddess had given him not one but two children, and he felt on top of the world.

"Come, honey, meet our children," Bianca said, looking at Brynn.

Brynn slowly walked to the children, who were still crying, and he carried one of them.

"That's your son, the first child," Bianca said.

Brynn smiled and slowly dropped the still-crying baby.

Then he picked up the other crying baby, who became quiet upon coming in contact with Brynn's arm.

Brynn smiled joyfully, watching the baby coo sweetly,

"And that's your daughter, the second child."

"She is going to bloom beautifully, like a flower." Brynn said, "Azalea, that's what you're going to be called." The baby cooed, as though she agreed with Brynn.

"I will have a flower garden planted in the mansion's compound for you, Azalea." Brynn said, "And we would play in the garden, while you bloom sweetly under my protection and love."

Bianca smiled at her husband, satisfied by the beautiful scenery before her.

Thinking about that night right now brought a little smile to Brynn's face, and it faded as quickly as it came.

Two days later, Northern California.

Lucius was on all fours, in front of his father in the living room, while Graham sat in a throne-like chair.

"You can't do that, Father." He cried out.

"You are a disgrace and a stain on my legacy, and the Ironfangs Pack. Just when I thought that you had disgraced me enough, you did it once more in the presence of the entire spectator at Brynn's mansion and the elders." Graham said.

"You brought a weapon to a fist fight, do you even know how to fight fair?"

"I didn't mean to, I am sorry." Lucius pleaded.

"But you did it anyway," Graham said. "My decision is final. Only your henchmen are yours to keep. And this is me being nice."

Lucius looked at his father, and for once, didn't recognize the man before him.