Contract Marriage With Alpha Snow novel Chapter 53

Chapter 53: Apology

**************

Chapter 53

~Zara’s POV~

How had I missed it? How had I been so blind, so consumed by my anger not to see it?

I turned to Scott, hoping he’d offer some different explanation. But his steady nod confirmed it.

"The master has preferred not to speak about it, ma’am, to protect Young Master Storm. It’s... delicate."

Aira chuckled softly, breaking the tension as she kissed Storm’s cheek, making him giggle.

Storm hugged his mother, wrapping his little arms around her neck. "Mum, will Daddy Snow always be my dad?" the boy asked innocently.

Snow’s face softened as he released me, walked over to them and ruffled his nephew’s hair. "For you, champ, I’ll always be your dad. Anything you want me to be, I’ll be."

Storm cheered, and Aira smiled, but I stood there, frozen, unable to comprehend the emotions that tore through me.

"Come on, love," Aira said to Storm, softly, nodding toward the chauffeur.

"Okay. Let’s give Daddy Snow some time alone with Zara."

They giggled, leaving Snow and me standing silently in the hall.

My mind spun in circles as I stared at Snow, I didn’t know what to think. Why didn’t he tell me? Why keep something so important from me?

"You should have—" My voice trembled as I struggled to find words, the anger and hurt bubbling up uncontrollably. "Why didn’t you tell me? You let me believe she was your... your—"

Snow stepped toward me, his eyes softening as he saw the betrayal in my eyes, which I could no longer keep hidden. "Zara, I didn’t think it mattered."

"Didn’t matter?" I echoed, disbelief thick in my voice. "Of course, it matters! You let me think... I thought you... she was your mistress, first love... all this time—"

"Zara." His words cut through the fog of emotions. "My apologies if I didn’t tell you sooner, Zara. But I didn’t think—"

I shook my head, backing away from him, as Astrid stirred within me. Her aura seeped out, feeding off my swirling emotions.

"You never think," I spat, my chest tightening. "All you do is control. You kept me in the dark, Snow. About something like this. When were you going to tell me? Or did you enjoy seeing me act that way?"

I knew I was stupid. I had no one but myself to blame. After Zoe’s, I assumed Aira was his ex-lover and got angry.

First, I felt disrespected, just as Ivan disrespected me with Clarissa. All the past hurt resurfaced, hence my actions since, and now only to find out what?

"Zara," he stepped forward again and reached for me. "I didn’t mean to hurt you."

But I was already too far gone. "I can’t... I can’t do this," I whispered, turning away from him.

Snow closed the distance between us in two swift steps, his arms wrapping around me, pulling me against his chest. His grip was firm, grounding me even as my mind spiralled out of control. "Listen to me."

I tried to pull away, but his hold tightened, his breath warm against my ear as he murmured, "I’m sorry. I am. But don’t push me away now."

"You should have told me."