“Word.” Elsa exchanges a look with her sister-in-law and they both shake their heads.

“He gives you trouble?” I ask.

“Did you hear him earlier?” Astrid winces. “He hates me because Mum caused the accident that killed James King, Jonathan’s brother. He doesn’t care that the accident also took her life.”

“I’m sorry.”

A sad smile grazes her lips as she stares at the inside of her forearm where there’s a sun, moon, and start tattoo, the star coloured in black. “I’m better now, I think. But Jonathan still sees me as the reason his brother died. He never stops reminding Levi of how my mum killed his father.”

“Or Aiden of the fact that Alicia died because of my dad.” Elsa lowers her eyes.

“Wait. Go back. Jonathan thinks my sister died because of Ethan?”

“Well, remember when I told you that Aiden was taken by my parents? Alicia died in a car accident on her way to go find him.”

Oh.

I didn’t know that.

This, however, explains the aggressiveness Jonathan doesn’t hesitate to display whenever Ethan is around, despite his generally emotionless façade.

“Can I ask you something, Aurora?” Astrid’s voice is low, hesitant.

“Sure.”

“Why…why are you with him?”

“Yes.” Elsa leans over. “He’s scary in a dictator kind of way.”

“And he doesn’t know how to feel,” Astrid adds.

“He dislikes everything that’s not his work.”

“And his legacy.”

“I get the chills every time he’s in the room.”

“I told Levi the other day that I age ten years every time we have a family dinner with him.”

“Oh my God. Me, too!”

My lips part at their exchange. Jonathan is sure as shit winning the most feared person of the year award.

Their attention falls back on me, eyes expectant, waiting for me to answer their question. They must’ve wondered this for some time now.

I could choose not to answer them, but I like them. Jonathan is an idiot to not appreciate having them to tame his offspring. So I go with the truth. “I don’t really have a choice but to be with him.”

“How do you cope?” Astrid asks.

“I’m not scared of him, I guess.”

“You’re not?” Elsa nearly yells.

“No, not really.” I mean, he does frighten me sometimes, but it’s not enough to erase everything else about him. Perhaps it’s the intimacy factor, or that I just know there’s more to Jonathan than he projects to the world.

His page isn’t half-written or blank. It’s simply encrypted, and no one has dared to crack the code due to the wires surrounding it.

“You’re the first person I’ve ever met who’s said that.” Astrid’s eyes fill with awe. “Well, Levi isn’t scared of him either, but he’s a King. He doesn’t count.”

“Aiden doesn’t count either,” Elsa agrees. “They have their own exclusive code of communication that no one else is privy to.”

My heart warms at the way Astrid and Elsa talk about their husbands. I can feel their love for them, and despite the other two’s aggressiveness — or passive-aggressiveness — towards me, I could sense how much they care about their wives’ wellbeing.

As Jonathan said, they didn’t really care about his opinion when they decided to pursue these women.

I’m glad they didn’t. It must’ve taken a lot to go against a harsh man as Jonathan but their efforts are so worth it.

Elsa, Astrid, and I talk about art since Astrid is studying drawing and Elsa is into architecture. Considering I’m a designer, too, I give them pointers about some useful classes I took back at uni.

They’re fun to talk to, and soon enough, none of us are cautious or awkward around each other.

I don’t know how long we spend in my room. But it’s long enough that Levi and Aiden come searching for them.

I make plans to meet Elsa and Astrid for lunch next week, and soon after, they all leave.

I change into my pyjamas and slide under the covers. After checking my emails and texting Layla for a bit, I’m ready to sleep.

Today exhausted the hell out of me. First, work. Then, Alicia’s message. Ending the day with dinner.

The door opens and I know who it is before even seeing him. He’s the only one who barges in uninvited.

His woodsy scent conquers my space before his presence comes into view. My muscles tighten like every time he’s in my vicinity. It always feels like I need to be prepared for him.

“Forget about Aiden.” Jonathan sits on the edge of the bed. He’s in black cotton trousers and a T-shirt. It’s one of the rare times I’ve seen him in house clothes.

“What do you mean forget about him?”

“You’re making plans with Elsa to try to get close to him, aren’t you?”

Yes and no. I do like Elsa’s company, but I also hope I can approach Aiden in the future. Considering his reaction, let’s make that the distant future.

“You don’t want me have a good relationship with your son so that we can’t plot against you?”

“I don’t want you disappointed, because he’s hot-headed.”

My heart thumps. Shit. How can he move me with such simple words?

I clear my throat. “You mean like you.”

“Kind of. It comes with the family name.”

“If I can handle you, I guess I can handle Aiden, too.”

“You can handle me?” He stares down his nose at me. “Where did you get that idea from?”

“Elsa and Astrid think I’m doing it just fine.”

“Elsa and Astrid are still kids.”

“They’re not kids. They’re married to your son and nephew.”

“Who are still kids themselves.”

“By the way. You don’t have to be a dick towards them. They don’t really like you either.”

“I don’t care about being liked.”

“Really?”

He pauses, throwing me an indecipherable glance, then nods. “Being liked doesn’t get things done. Fear, on the other hand…”

“This is your family, Jonathan. They’re not supposed to be scared of you.” My voice raises and I realise I’ve let my own anger get in the way. I whisper, “I didn’t mean to yell.”