None of them did.
Xander, Michael and she had been schooled thoroughly in the Heinrickson School of Proper Behavior where acting out in grief was heavily frowned upon. Of course, Lena was the prototype of abandoned last child – she’d been acting out in grief for years now. Had it down to a fine art.
Michael, as Crown Prince, had gone the other extreme and become perfect. Perfect husband, perfect ruler, perfect father.
Xander had become a soldier and warrior. Preferring to spend the next decade protecting everyone in war-torn regions when he hadn’t been able to save his own mother. The guilt was strong with the middle Heinrickson.
And, it was worse now, she thought morosely. With what had happened to Sasha. The American Xander loved beyond distraction.
Her most recent example of acting out had been to drive a permanent wedge between Sasha and Xander, when the woman was barely recovered from a life-threatening situation.
An action she regretted deeply and one she didn’t know how to resolve. And one she was ashamed to share with anyone. Even Michael, and Michael knew all the ugly things in her skeleton. He’d been there for the last decade when Xander had disappeared.
About The Author
Aarti V Raman aka #WriterGal is the author of over ten novels, most of which have hit the Amazon India and US bestseller lists in various categories.
These novels include the indie-published contemporary romance ‘Geeks of Caltech’ series, the action romance ‘Royals of Stellangård’ trilogy as well as standalone romances Kingdom Come, More Than You Want and The Perfect Fake.
Aarti also has three traditionally published novels with prestigious publishing houses such as Fingerprint! & Harlequin from 2014-2016, with the next release slated for 2019 with Rupa & Co. India.
Appearing as a panelist at various lit fests across India since 2014 and as a motivational speaker during college fests, she also conducts writing workshops and dabbles in poetry in her spare time.
An incurable romantic who has taken up the task of bringing Happily Ever After to life for the characters in her head, Aarti currently writes and self-publishes steamy contemporary romance for metropolitan millennials with a global twist. Sometimes, there are guns and car chases in them too.
Before turning to writing romances full-time, Mumbai-based Aarti spent over a decade being a commercial editor and business journalist for prominent media houses in India and Southeast Asia.
To learn more about Aarti’s writing journey, follow her on Instagram and Facebook where she eagerly interacts with avid reader friends.
Against All Odds Page 22
