Chapter 14 - On the Anniversary of the Massacre, I Finally Told My Family Why I Had Become the Man Everyone Feared—and Why I No Longer Wanted That ReputationThe anniversary was quiet.
I stood before the memorial.
My father beside me.
Marina.
Bella.
The house staff.
Friends.
People who had survived.
I spoke.
“For fifteen years, I believed fear kept us alive.”
I looked at Bella.
“It didn't.”
“Love did.”
“My family survived because one woman ran into a burning house.”
Marina cried.
“She didn't care who I was going to become.”
“She only cared that I lived.”
I looked at my father.
“We were wrong to believe power protected us.”
“Power only protects when used for someone else.”
The memorial was silent.
Then Bella stepped forward.
She placed a small flower at the base of the stone.
“Family protects.”
May you like
I smiled.
“Yes.”
