TIFFIN 4

24

So sorry for the wait on chapters. It's been hard getting back to this but I've returned now 😭😄

TW: INCEST

Remember y'all to stay safe

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Suddenly everything began to make sense; Kylie's insistence at keeping Hero close. Attempting to dissuade me years ago. Her worries that she'd never find another man like him. Before Ezekiel.

Holy. Wasn't because she was selfish in the slightest. No. My current husband and the fragile raven haired student were more alike than ever.

Ugh. Relax. She doesn't want him anymore. In fact you don't want him anymore. Why should you? He made his choice.

Didn't know how to approach this kind of issue so opted for subtlety.

"Honey. Why didn't you say anything. We've buried the hatchet and I have no ill will..."

Tears instantly ran down her tan face making the woman even more beautiful.

"Do you know how often this past of mine made me feel dirty. Unworthy? God. Even when Hero called me a slut-"

That hurt. Hearing he treated her so callously for so long made me feel guilty. Especially since I knew in the beginning how he'd referred to his rare hook up. Was I just as terrible?

Staring at Kylie's small frame shaking erratically both hands enveloped her, attempting to soothe.

"I'm sorry. Never knew... You should hate me for even associating with him."

She yanked pulling out of my embrace.

"No. Never. He had every woman fooled. Never forget that."

I nodded, still feeling the undeniable pull between us, even while remembering Diedre had her nasty claws in her grandson.

"Well. Hero must have had some idea what you went through-"

Kylie interrupted, seeming more determined than ever. Her eyes turned glassy. As if reminiscing.

"Oh, he knew. Upon first meeting we had long discussions about it. Though he never quite opened up about what he endured. He's always been one sided like that."

Wanted to point out it hadn't been like that for us, but held back. Not the time. When she noticed there wouldn't be a response she went on.

"My step-father. That's where me and Ellie share commonalities; our fathers took pleasure in hurting us. At a stage where we couldn't fight for ourselves. Don't know her exact situation but my mother allowed it to happen. For money."

What? Was she saying-? Stuttering over my own words I asked the one thing no one wanted to.

"Did- did they pimp you out-?"

Uncomfortable silence ensued for what felt like eons.

"No... No. Steven just... Had a secret infatuation with minors and imagined that's how Amy looked at my age..."

Dear God. Her parents. The individuals that seemed so worried after her capture.

"Kylie. They came off so caring-"

"Fuck. No!"

Waving both hands through the air she scrunched that usually fair face unattractively.

"Not them. Will always refer to my actual guardians as such but legally they are foster parents."

Oh. Now that cleared things up.

"Where are... The other ones?" 

"Don't know. Don't care. Probably lost in drugs. So... Was there a point to all this?"

I noticed she still vibrated from the earlier panic attack. Okay. Take it easy Kristina. Girl could only handle so much in one evening.

"Yeah. Clearly bad blood exists between all three of us but can be resolved. I only want to protect my daughter... Something you two were unjustly denied. Annie refused to unearth what more Hero has on me which could be pertinent to our court case. Help me in this. So that sicko Diedre can go away for good. I just know she's guilty of something."

I paused.

"Then maybe my lawyer can do away with Ellie's father. And your non-existent donors."