I hadn’t thought about that until she mentioned it. “It makes sense,” I said.
She had to brace herself again. “So …” she began at the bottom of another breath. “Your mother was held against her will and sexually violated, repeatedly and in unimaginable ways. You can’t imagine how severe abuse changes a human being forever. And truly, only the very strong can survive it.”
I closed my eyes and pressed my lips together, trying to keep myself from crying. All I could picture was my mom as a little girl being hurt in such a horrible manner. I wanted to use my scalpel to operate on her past and remove the cancer of her experience.
Christine was a blur through my tear-filled eyes. “Is she very strong?”
Her pressed lips answered the question for me. She hadn’t considered my mother durable enough to cope with her past.
“Sweetheart,” Christine said in a gentle tone.
Unstoppable waterworks streamed down my face, but I was able to open my eyes enough to take the tissues Christine handed to me. I wiped the tears out of my eyes, blew my nose enough to clear my sinuses, and braced myself to hear more.
“Are you ready to continue?” she asked.
Unable to speak, I nodded.
“Your father could be one of two men—Arthur Valentine or Randolph Christmas.”
My eyes grew so wide that I thought they would pop out. “What?”
“I’m sorry, Pen. We should find out which of those men fathered you.”
Embrace, the final novel of The Secret Billionaire Asher Christmas Duet, releases on May 17, 2020!
LEARN MORE
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Also By Z.L. Arkadie
The Secret Billionaire Asher Christmas Duet
Seduction (Book 1)
Embrace (Book 2)
The Dark Billionaire Jasper Christmas Trilogy
Intrigued (Book 1)
Desire (Book 2)
Claimed (Book 3)
The Freed Billionaire Spencer Christmas Trilogy
Enthrall (Book 1)
Impulse (Book 2)
Bliss (Book 3)
Bonus Book!
Exposed, Boss Billionaire Spencer Christmas
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LOVE in the USA (The Lords)
Find Her, Keep Her - A Martha’s Vineyard Love Story, Book 1
There’s Something About Her, A Manhattan Love Story, Book 2
Say You Love Her, An LA Love Story, Book 3
Know Her, Love Her (Daisy & Jack, #1), Book 4
Still In Love With Her (Maggie & Vince, #1), Book 5
He’s So Bad: A San Francisco Love Story, Book 6
Made To Love Her (Maggie & Vince, #2) Book 7
He’s So Good (Robert & Carter) Book 8
Say You Love Me (Charlie & Angel) Book 9
Adore Her, More of Her (Daisy & Jack, #2) Book 10
The Sterlings Romantic Suspense
Secrets and Lies, Book 1 (2nd Edition)
Secrets That See The Light, Book 2 (2nd Edition)
The Secret Keeper, Book 3
About the Author
Z.L. has been writing romance full-time since 2011, which has allowed her to amass quite a catalog of romance novels. She loves what she does, and as she's evolved, so have her stories. Now, she's focused on writing brooding, boss billionaire heroes, and the smart, plucky heroines they can’t live without. She has always loved writing great, intense heroes that readers can't help but fall in love with.
For more information:
zlarkadiebooks.com
[email protected]
Seduction (The Secret Billionaire Asher Christmas Duet Book 1) Page 20
