Tasting 251

251–Hiding From The Crowd

Nora:

I watched them one by one, gulping as the situation grew more serious.

“How could she—his face was disfigured a few years ago, and he had plastic surgery,” Lord Atwood

said. I don’t know why they were talking about the whistler now.

“Oh, come on. I checked all the information on his background, and it’s indeed true. He is her father

—the same man whose wife–” Ford trailed off as he reminded Lord Atwood of my mother.

My heart sank the moment the topic was raised. All eyes turned to me. I covered my mouth in

shock, realizing the weight of my words.

“My father is a whistler?” I stuttered, stepping back from them.

“Did you know it was your father?” Nash asked, his eyes welling with

tears.

“How would she? If Dad couldn’t recognize him, how the hell would she? Dammit! She was just a

child when he–” Ryker intervened, stepping forward. Even though the revelation that the whistler

was my father left me stunned, it did little to calm the rising tension.

I began to wonder what I should say now. Should I claim I’m not his daughter? But I had already

told them about my mother.

They would call me a liar and never accept me into their lives again. But even if he was my father, it

shouldn’t mean I’d be punished too.

0.00%

His crimes should not define me.

“Nora! Is it true that you are also a monster like your father claims you are?” Lord Atwood’s gaze

was fixed on me, tears nearly spilling from

his eyes.

I shook my head, my throat going dry. They wanted to know if I was a monster. I didn’t have an

answer. How could I look them in the eye and admit, I am the worst kind‘—the kind that, if

discovered, would lead them to demand my execution without hesitation?

I fled back to my room as their scrutinizing eyes bore into me. I knew it wasn’t the wisest decision,

but what else could I do?

“What have we done?” I asked Akira, pacing anxiously and not opening the door for anyone.

They had only knocked twice before leaving me alone, but I knew it wouldn’t be that simple to

escape this mess. Closing the door wouldn’t change the topic. They might still be discussing it

outside, even planning their next move.

“How were we supposed to know things would be exposed this way? We were just going along,”

she paused, recalling the day Lord Atwood had asked us to join the family.

I should have been more careful.

“I can’t believe we walked into this home without realizing that, one way or another, they would

discover my truth. My true identity—what then? What did I think I would say? They’ll hate me for

lying and hiding so much either way,” I felt as if my throat was closing in on me.

All the lies and secrets I thought were safe with me were going to be revealed sooner or later. It was

just a matter of which lie I’d have to

20.46%

251 Hiding From The Crowd

choose—or which path, I should say.

“Whichever path makes us look less guilty,” Akira suggested, and tears began streaming down my

face.

“But we are innocent, Akira. We’ve been abused; we didn’t want to be part of this war between

them. We never hated the Alpha King or his sons, so why are we in this situation?” I knew very

soon the door would be knocked on again, and it happened just after I spoke to Akira.

This time, the knock was harder, and I could hear voices outside the door.

“Akira! Should I tell them the truth?” I stammered.

“No! They’ll kill us. The Whistler being our father should be the only truth they know, not the kind of

monster we really are. Our father’s crimes can’t be the reason we get punished,” she repeated,

choosing the safest of the two options for me.

This feeling was eerily familiar like the times I’d felt at home. I would lock myself in my room, crying

and hoping everyone would forget about me.

But did they?

No! They would break down the door, drag me out, and punish me.

“If you don’t open the door, we’ll break it down. And remember, that will only make you look guiltier,”

the old man named Yuki called out. I had seen him before, but he had never spoken so much until

now.

This was a serious matter.

I nodded, trying to steady my nerves. I had to open the door and face

251–Hiding From The Crowd

them. I reached for the handle, and unlocked it, and Yuki immediately pushed it open, followed

closely by Mr. Ford, who had hated me ever since the breakup between Daphne and Nash.