Oblivion

41| Last Chapter

Josephine

There was a gentle knock at the door that made me jump. Hastily, I threw a blanket over Ares, who snuggled closer to me, sensing my anxiety. Vito peeked in, his voice soft and cautious. "Can I come in?"

"Of course," I replied quickly, wiping my eyes, hoping he wouldn't notice the remnants of tears still lingering on my face.

"Thank you." He stepped inside, his gaze immediately falling on Ares, curled up beside me. It was a skeptical look, but not entirely disapproving. "Didn't Domenico say no dogs were allowed in your room?" he asked, the hint of a smirk tugging at his lips. "How did you sneak them past security?"

A small grin tugged at the corners of my mouth as I stroked Ares. "Well, technically, this is your house, so it's your room too. I'm just living here." Vito raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "You wouldn't rat me out, would you? It's freezing outside, and it's Christmas."

He chuckled softly, shaking his head in disbelief as he approached, holding a gift and a folder. "Hush, Ares," he said, settling beside me. "There's something important—someone we found." My heart leapt in my chest. "You mentioned my godmother."

"Aunt Aubrey?" I asked, my voice barely more than a whisper. "What about her?"

Vito nodded slowly, his eyes darkening with something I couldn't quite read. "We contacted her. She's been trying to keep in touch with you, but after your parents' death, things got complicated. She fell into a depression and people around her thought she wasn't fit enough to care for you, and she couldn't fight them on it. Once she gotten better, your foster parents told her you didn't want contact anymore. She kept sending birthday cards, but they never reached you." I felt a chill sweep through me as the words settled, like a weight on my chest. The image of Aunt Aubrey, the woman who'd once been so warm and strong, now seemed distant. Vito continued, "But four years ago, she moved to Canada. She lives there now with her husband and their two-year-old daughter."

He pulled a photo from the folder and handed it to me. The image was simple—Aunt Aubrey with a man and a young girl, her smile just as I remembered, but the years were etched into her face. The little girl looked so much like the picture of innocence, and I could almost feel the warmth radiating from the image. I froze, the air thickening around me. "So... she didn't abandon me?"

Vito's eyes softened with compassion, his voice gentle. "No, Josephine. She loves you and always has. She wanted to take you in, but she wasn't in a place to do it at the time. After everything with your parents, she just couldn't manage it. But she's ready now. She wants you to come live with her. She's filled out all the necessary forms."

My heart raced in my chest. A mix of hope and fear overwhelmed me. "You mean I could actually move to Canada?" My voice trembled with uncertainty, the thought of such a huge change almost too much to process.

"Yes," he affirmed softly. "You'd have a chance to start over, to be somewhere safe, somewhere where you could be loved. She's never stopped thinking about you. She loved your parents, and she loves you. And I really think it could help you heal."

I looked down at the papers in my hands, the weight of the decision pressing down on me. I wanted to believe him. I wanted to believe that Aunt Aubrey's love could be the answer. But as those words hung in the air, I felt an uncomfortable knot twist in my stomach. "What about here? What about you? What about all of you?"

Vito smiled gently, his expression understanding. "Canada isn't that far. We could visit. Dr. Bradford has agreed to continue your therapy, and I've looked into it—they have a great school. I know it feels like everything would change, but it doesn't mean we wouldn't be there for you."