Brynn and Aurora walked side by side through the walkway in the compound garden.
"I sincerely want to thank you," Aurora said, "For welcoming and allowing me to stay in your mansion."
"You don't have to thank me, child. Like I said before, you are part of this family." Brynn's hands were crossed behind him as they continued to brush their bodies on the garden's flowers.
"You say I am part of the family," She bowed her head, "but your son and wife don't seem to agree with you."
"Who cares what they think?" He adjusted his glasses with his index finger, "Last I checked, I call the shots."
Aurora parted her lips, but held back what she was trying to say.
"Go on, child, speak," Brynn said, without sparing her a glance.
"It's probably nothing important."
"Whatever made you hold back," He said, halting and turning towards her, "showed to me that what you wanted to say was important."
Aurora bit her lip.
"Go on, child," He said, "tell me. You don't have to be scared, one shouldn't be scared of family."
"It's just that you tell me I am part of the family, but I don't know how, not even my mother knows how I am part of your family." She looked at him with puppy eyes. "I would really love to know how." She pushed out her lower lip, making her look like a child begging her parents for another scoop of ice cream.
Brynn's lips twitched, amused by her cute childish act.
He turned and continued walking, and Aurora followed beside him.
"I had always wanted a female child," He said, "Don't get me wrong, I love my son, but I wanted a child who, no matter what, would always be daddy's little princess." He paused.
"Bianca had conceived of twins," He stopped for a bit as though he was contemplating continuing the story, "But only Theodore made it out alive. The other child, female, couldn't. She was breathless when she came out of her mother's womb; nothing could be done."
Brynn bit his lip. A feeling of guilt crossed his heart; it was an undeniable feeling, 'some truths are better left under the carpet', he convinced himself.
He was just getting a step closer to Aurora, and didn't want to ruin his chances for good.
"Wow!" Aurora sadly said. "I'm so sorry about that, master."
"I had given up hope after several tries to have another child." He paused and halted.
"But the moment I first held your tiny self in my arms," He demonstrated, putting his hands together, as though he was holding an invisible baby.
Aurora smiled at the act.
For a moment, the master of the house looked like a man healing rather than a leader.
"I felt something within me," He continued, "The way you smiled at me when your mother, Moira, handed you to me, it gave me the hope that I had lost." Brynn crossed his arms behind him and looked to the sky.
"Then I thought to myself, 'maybe I don't need to continue trying for another child. Maybe this was the child I always wanted.' And right there, I decided that you would be a part of this family." His face lit up with a one-sided smile.
He then looked at Aurora, "As your mother, she decided to take you to your grandmother's in Northern California. I was in no position to stop her."
Aurora, emotionally drawn to this discovery, her eyes began to water.
"I miss the little pitter-patter of your tiny feet," He rubbed the side of her head, "But I always looked forward to when I would see you again."
Aurora's breath became heavy from holding back her tears.
"If my daughter had survived, she would be just like you. Beautiful, brave, intelligent, and mine to protect forever, even when she can stand and fight for herself." He dropped his hand, "Now I don't have to wish anymore, because the daughter I never expected is standing right in front of me."
Aurora couldn't hold herself anymore; she hugged Brynn tightly, and she worried she might have hurt him.
"I'm sorry about that, master." She sniffed, eyes watered, ready to pour, but she held it back and blew air with her mouth to soothe herself.
Brynn grinned from ear to ear, "It's okay," He said, "I can't tell when last I got a hug, I kind of needed that."
"And you don't have to call me master, Brynn would do."
"All my life, I never knew my father because he died way before my birth," Aurora said, her face red with unspoken emotions, "But I just learnt now that a father isn't necessarily the man you share DNA with."
Aurora held Brynn's right hand with both hands, "If it's okay by you," She said, "I would love to address you not as master, but as father."
Brynn's eyes flickered, his brows slightly raised.
"Because I feel my father in you." She grinned with overwhelming emotions.
Brynn couldn't understand the emotions he was feeling at the moment; he was…. Touched? It was entirely difficult for a tough leader like him to be touched, but with Aurora, it was different.
"It would be an honour." He replied, his heart beat with an unexplained emotion.
Aurora dropped one of her hands, still holding Brynn's with the other, and she started to gently swing it as they continued walking, like a little child being escorted to school by her father.
Brynn's stern eyes became softened as they both walked in silence, and Aurora, still holding his hand, looked up to him, no longer as a stranger but as a daughter.
"I was thinking," Aurora said, "Having a mother and brother who despise me, I'm a bit unsettled. I have never thought of having a family that despises me." She bowed her head in uncertainty.
"Just give them time, they'll have no other choice but to come around," Brynn said, looking at Aurora, "Trust me."
"Okay…. father." She beamed.
Brynn felt unexplainably satisfied.
"Master." A voice broke the atmosphere.
Luke walked hastily towards Brynn,
"Aurora, meet Luke," Brynn said. "He is in charge of how everything runs in the house."
"Miss Aurora," Luke bowed, "pleased to meet you."
"Luke, this is Aurora, she's part of this family," Brynn said, Luke still bowing his head, "And my daughter."
Luke's eyes widened, and Aurora's teeth were very visible as she grinned uncontrollably.
"Daughter?" Luke asked, jerking upright, not meeting Brynn's eyes.
A heavy silence hovered around them.
"Do you have a problem with that?"
"Not if I value my life," Luke said, "Pleased to meet you, lady Aurora." He bowed once more.