This was originally going to be a one-shot, but I got some encouragement to continue the story. I can't tell you how much reviews matter and excite an author. Thank you.


The mansion moaned and creaked in the early hours of the morning. It constantly sounded like someone was making their way down the hall, but so far, he kept coming up empty.

Elena wasn't in her room. After the weird way she had acted that day, Jeremy had checked on her earlier. He didn't know what exactly had tipped him off in her expression, but he was sure something was wrong. And once he found her room empty, he got a sinking feeling of dread.

Suddenly the noise in the house changed, and he realized that now was the moment. As Elena rounded the corner, he covered her mouth and whispered harshly, "Shhh, unless you want Dad to come and find us talking." He felt her nod, and he released her.

Once he did, he grabbed her arm and pulled her into the nearest room. "What the hell, Elena? Where were you?!"

He watched her face harden in the moonlight that drifted in from the nearby window. "What?" He added.

"I was merely out for a stroll."

"In the middle of the night? I don't believe you."

"And what will you believe, Jeremy?!"

He sighed, "I don't even know what to think. If you were anyone else, I would be convinced you were out for a rendezvous. But that's not the sister I know."

"I went for a walk," she pressed.

"Why? Why should I believe that's what you were doing? That's not like you."

"Your sister?" she replied flatly.

"Yes, my sister. The one who has never left the house in the middle of the night."

"How would you know?" she snapped.

He gave her an unimpressed look. "Because I know you. And I realized something was wrong today and caught you. I would have noticed something was up before."

She crossed her arms, "I was rescuing a kitten."

He sighed and said, "Please, Elena, just tell me. I'm your brother. You can trust me. I won't tell our parents if you can tell me the truth."

A tear leaked down her cheek. "But that's the problem, isn't it? You're not my brother, and they're not my parents. I'm John's bastard daughter, and if the town found out, I'd be ruined. So what does it matter what I do if my fate is already decided?"

Jeremy closed his eyes and sighed as his heart sank. "Who informed you of your birth?" He didn't bother denying it, he heard the certainty in her voice, and it was true.

"Miranda was right, after all. When you listen in on other people's conversations, you never hear anything good. I heard them talking to you about my father, and you weren't surprised."

Jeremy glared and Elena. "Greyson is your father! He loves you, and your birth doesn't matter. He chose you."

"Yeah, I was lucky. How many bastard half-siblings do you think I have? You know, ones that have the life I was supposed to have. Siblings that are rejected and probably in poverty. Why would they adopt me and not the others?"

"You don't have any other half-siblings."

"How would you know."

He blushed, but it was undetectable in the moonlight. "There are things that can happen to prevent a man from having more children."

Elena blinked at him. "John has that?"

"Gosh, please don't make me talk to you about this. It's embarrassing, and you're a lady."

She rolled her eyes, "I'm a bastard masquerading as a lady. Pay attention to the conversation. I know the truth."

"You're Greyson and Maranda's daughter. They love you, and that's all that matters. Now where were you?" He asked, trying to throw her off with his abruptness.

"Walking in the woods," she replied.

"Elana. Please just tell the truth."

"I was walking in the wood," and she had been.

After making love to Damon, he helped her dress and escorted her as close to her home as he dared risk with her. Deep down he had wanted to walk in and announce what they had been doing and explain she had to marry him, but he had resisted. She had said she loved him, and he believed he could convince her to marry him. He just needed Greyson to consent, and he was willing to do that in a way that didn't embarrass her.

Jeremy wasn't a fool, and he caught on. "And before the walk through the woods, what were you doing?"

"Yes, Elena," Greyson said as he opened the door. "Where were you tonight?"

"Walking," she replied, trying to pretend his appearance didn't scare her.

At the same time, Jeremy said, "She knows about John being her birth father."

Greyson ignored what he knew was a lie from Elena and focused on Jeremy's response. "How? No, never mind. She must have listened in to our conversation today."

Jeremy nodded, "She did."

"Did you explain she's my daughter?"

"Of course I did."

"Stop talking about me like I'm not here," Elena objected.

Greyson turned his full attention on her. "After finding out what had to be devastating news, what did you do, Elena? How much did you act out in anger?"

She shrank back a bit and said, "I'm not a complete fool."

"I'm not saying you are. I just need to know what I need to do in order to protect you. I won't let anything bad happen to you."

Elena cast her eyes to the floor. "He loves me."

Sighing, Greyson asked, "Which man?"

"What?" She asked, looking up at him abruptly.

"I can count five men off the top of my head that are genuinely in love with you. Which man used your hurt to force you into marriage?"

She stayed quiet and tucked her chin. She wanted to object, but she couldn't. After all, Damon had admitted to as much.

"Elena," Jeremy pressed.

Greyson held up his hand to quiet his son. "It's not going to be easy for her to admit. Give her a moment."

Elena nodded along and then looked up at Greyson with large eyes. "I love him too, and I have for a while now. It's why I was listening and heard about John. I didn't want to marry… his brother."

Sighing, Greyson pinched the bridge of his nose. "You've managed to surprise me. Damon wasn't on my list. Honestly, I was under the impression that he enjoyed all women and only loved himself."

Tearing up, Elena shook her head. "He loves me. He told me he does."

Jeremy said, "Right, because no man has ever lied to get a woman in bed. Think Elena!"

"He loves me!" She adamantly protested. "I'm not stupid. I grew up in a home where my parents…" She trembled and sighed, then continued. "With Greyson and Miranda. I know how a man looks at a woman he loves. I've seen it daily."

"I am your father, Elena. I've done everything that matters. Do you really claim John, a man who hasn't been there for you?"

"You've done everything but tell me the truth," she protested.

"I didn't want to give my brother any credit. He got a woman pregnant and I was furious at him for potentially embarrassing the family. But then she said she would give up her child and let us raise the baby as our own. Suddenly the worst thing he'd done was one of the three best things that ever happened to me. I know you both think I indulge him too much when he comes around, but I can't help myself. He gave me you, Elena, and for that, I will always be grateful."

Sniffling, Elena said, "And now I've acted like my birth mother and embarrassed you."

"Isobel, your birth mother, never loved John. I'm not saying what you did was appropriate, but you're not like her."

"D-dad, what's going to happen to me?"

He gave her a long steady look and said, "I love you, and I will work to get you what you want. I'll speak with Damon and see if he's willing to marry you." Shaking his head, he said, "I wanted better for you. Do you realize this means Giuseppe will be your father-in-law?"

"I love Damon. He's who I want."

Greyson took a deep breath, released it, and nodded. "Fine. But if Damon refuses to marry you, I will have to work quickly to secure a different marriage."

"Why?"

Jeremy narrowed his eyes at his sister. "You could be pregnant. Didn't that dawn on you?"

She blushed and dropped her head, looking at her feet. "No. I didn't think about that possibility."

"Obviously," her brother sneered. He was angry at his sister, and he was struggling to hold that fact in. He couldn't believe how stupid she was being to think that Damon actually loved her. He was sure the man would deny her and walk away without a thought of what could happen to her.