America's POV

I grab the document so I can see it closely.

"Oh my gosh…" I say.

"What America?" Maxon asks.

"No…No!" I start to breath heavily and I can feel tears in my eyes.

On the paper is a picture of a pretty young girl smiling brightly. The girl's dark hair and bright green eyes look all too familiar. It becomes clearer when I see her name.

Valerie Ledger.

I start to list the possibilities. It might be Aspen's daughter, but there is also another chance it could be Aspen's sisters.

Yes it must be! They are beautiful girls and would no doubt have gotten married. So I settle it as Aspen's sisters daughters, not Aspen's. That is until I see her family members.

Father: Mr. Aspen Ledger

Caste: 2

Job: Former Palace Soldier

I can't even look at who he has married because I throw the application to the floor and run out of Maxon's office.

I can hear Maxon calling my name as I run through the hall, but I ignore it and run to wherever I am going.

Where am I going?

My feet take me down the last flight of stairs and out into the gardens. I'm surprised I can still run this fast.

I slow down as I reach the bench in the gardens and don't even bother sitting on it. I land on the ground and rest my arms on the bench and lay my head down in it.

I know Maxon will be here soon. And I know he will comfort me. I also know he would have looked at the application and understand why I am so upset.

I had told Maxon about Aspen before we were married.

"Officer Ledger, he has to go." I had said.

"What? But why?" Maxon asked.

"Do you remember my boyfriend from home?" Maxon nodded and I was pretty sure he knew what was coming next. "Officer Ledger was-is him." I had looked away, embarrassed.

I think Maxon was trying to hide his anger and I was pretty sure I had ruined our relationship.

Maxon asked many questions and we worked it all out, slowly. He let Aspen return home and then we were married, and pretended it never happened.

"America," Maxon was here now, back in reality. "America, we don't have to select her." He said. I looked up and shook my head.

"No, it's not up to me. And I don't want to get involved in Astin's love life. She could be the love of his life, or maybe she won't. But she has just as much a choice as everyone else." Maxon rubbed my back and nodded. Although I secretly hoped no one would select her.

"I'm proud of you." He said before kissing my forehead.

We stay there for a while, just holding each other when it is clearly dinnertime. I cannot face my kids just yet so I take it in my bedroom so I can prepare for 'story time' tonight.

After I had eaten and was looking out my window a knock came to my door.

"America?" Maxon poked his head in. "The kids are ready." I smiled as brightly as I could and followed him to Astin's room where they were all sitting.

Astin was sitting back in one of his chairs in the corner, Aria was sitting ladylike on the end of the bed and Brooks had made himself comfortable under Astin's covers.

Maxon took a seat in a chair opposite Astin and I decided to sit on the bed.

"Ok kiddos!" I say. "Once upon a time I lived in Carolina, Illea. I had four siblings. Kota, Kenna, May and Gerard. We lived a harsh life, but managed. Kota was an artist and he had a big break on one of his sculptures and left us in hope to move up the castes. All the money he earned he kept and didn't share with his suffering family, but once I was chosen for the Selection, he suddenly came to wish me off. He wanted me to suggest his sculptures to the Royal family.

Once I won and married Maxon, he had come to celebrate the wedding and weaseled his way into staying in the palace for weeks. But while he was staying he kept taking things. He was very…sneaky. Kota was always found snooping around unauthorized rooms and sometimes taking things. Once, someone caught him trying on your dad's crown."

All of my kids gasped at once. They each had a crown or tiara and were told by us to keep them very safe, as they were very valuable.

"Anyway, another thing he did was leave his artwork around the place. Unknown sculptures were left in every room for everyone to see and everyone knew they were Kota's." I sighed. "He was getting out of control."

"Not only that," Maxon interrupted. "Kota continuously asked your mom for money and goods. He was very greedy."

I look around the room at my kids, searching for their reactions.

Astin had his eyebrows furrowed in anger and concentration, Aria was looking intensely with shock, but Brooks however, looked a little confused.

"Kota used to be my brother, my friend, someone I trusted. But as soon as he had his big break it was like I didn't know who he was anymore. It had to stop at one of Maxon's birthday parties." I said.

"Oh yes, I remember," Maxon said.

"Your father had opened one present from the royals in Italy." I continued. "It was a wolf made out of glass. A wolf is a very symbolic creature for Italians and your father loved it." I glanced at Maxon who nodded in agreement. "But soon after it was opened it was found missing."

All three kids gasped in shock.

"Soldiers searched the palace and eventually found it. In-"

"Kota's room?" Astin interrupted. I nodded solemnly.

"So that's why we don't like to talk about him. Okay kids? And I'm sure my other siblings don't like to either, so when they come…"

"We don't mention it." Aria finished and I nodded.

"Yes, no get to bed you lot." Maxon said, rising.

I kissed them all goodnight and then followed Aria and Brooks out of Astin's room. We walked them to their rooms and left back into our room.

"America," Maxon said as soon as he closed the door. "There's something I need to talk to you about."