Köhler (Book 9 of the Köhler Series)

𝐗𝐋

Xerxes knew Victor wasn't about to be happy with the result he was about to give him. The man was sure that Layna was his father's child, knowing they were sleeping with the woman. It could have come out either way, but he was the one that won the battle. Both Victor and Layna deserve the truth, but with Scarlett dead, they would never know why she gave her away.

"I told Vic she was his child. She and Vince look too much alike... they both have those eyes. I'm happy to know the truth now we can protect her as she needs to be. Has she revealed how she got to the states?"

"Ja, she moved there a little over four years ago. Atlanta, Georgia, to start her music career that never went anywhere. The night her adopted mother died, she told her about her birth father, which was supposed to be Dad. I'd guess that's who Scarlett thought she belonged to." Xerxes spoke as Adele shook her head.

"Scarlett lied because she didn't want her to be Saxon's child. She was sleeping with the man, which is probably why she gave her up for adoption to keep Mila from finding out. It's in the past, where it should stay. Either way, she's a Köhler, and we are lucky that Maddison didn't learn about her." Adele sighed, heading back in her seat as she thought.

"I don't understand what's all of this about. What did we even do to Maddi to make her turn against us? I loved that girl like she was my own... she was my own. I never looked at any of you differently."

"Something in Maddi isn't right, Ma. You did nothing wrong. I always thought that she was a little off in the head. She was good at hiding it. Emmanuel probably said the right things, or she always had the desire to hate us. Only she can answer that question. Please don't beat yourself up over it."

Adele smiled at her son as he gave her one of his father's famous smirks causing her to laugh. Sometimes it was hard for him to smile when it wasn't one of his children causing him to do so or his wife and his parents understood. Especially his mother because his father was the same.

"How is Zavier adjusting to his new school?"

"Good, I don't think he likes doing it online, but he has his sister, cousins, and Shanice learning right along with him... I worry about him, Ma. Xavier has always shut himself off when things start to bother him, and for the past few weeks, he's been a little distant. I asked dad and the twins to speak with him, but they all said the same. He's fine, but I know my son is in pain. The boy blames himself for what happened to his mother and Jasira's death. I only can help him if he opens up to me about it, but I can't get him to do it." He spoke as Adele hummed, nodding her head.

"He's like you. When you got like that, only two people could bring you out of it. Maybe it's time to let the girl he's choosing to marry crack through his layers. If they are going to get married X, they need to learn each other. Hmm... tell me why did you, Riley, and the Parkers agree with them?"

"It was their choice. If I had refused, Xavier would have done some crazy shit. This is my son we are talking about, Ma. Look at what happened when you and dad told me I couldn't be with Riley or choose the life I wanted. I don't want my son doing the same shit I did. Doing dumb shit for nothing because I was a spoiled brat."

His mom stared at him. It was the first time in over nineteen years that he had admitted that what he did was dumb. Xerxes did shit that he regretted hurting Riley, among other things causing the trust between the two of them to break. He wasn't happy with himself or the choices he made back then, but he could say it was a mistake now.

"I like that answer," Luca spoke, walking in with Victor, Nova, and Violet. Nova, Xerxes understood, but why he needed his sister? However, Nova smirked over at him as she quickly made her way into his lap.