All of us left the Onsen the next morning.

While we were driving back to the hotel I sat next to Charlie and I couldn't stop thinking about what I overheard the previous night.

I just... couldn't believe this kind of secret was true...

Did anyone in the family know he was related to them?

*

After we wrapped up our business in Nagoya we got on a direct flight home. During the entire trip I avoided Nathan. He didn't seem to mind... but I knew that I wouldn't be able to evade him for much longer...

When we arrived at the mansion I told Edna and Kenz I was exhausted and I wanted to sleep. They didn't hesitate to let us unwind after our long travels... so we all went our separate ways to rest.

I decided to let myself forget about what happened for now...

***

When I woke up it was already the next day.

Since it was early in the morning I decided to get up and slip into some jeans and an over-sized button up dress shirt. I brushed my teeth and washed my face diligently before getting my easel out...

I decided to paint a little before going downstairs to eat...

After an hour of drawing I looked at my phone... it was just after 7am now and I could already smell the fresh coffee that Edna was brewing...

I decided to take a break and help her with breakfast.

When I was walking down the steps I spotted Nathan who was taking off his shoes. I slowed a little before sitting down on the steps. I didn't mean to... but my body reacted on its' own...

Nathan spotted me so when he was at the bottom of the steps he called out to me a few times. I was still in a daze for a moment longer before I answered him.

"I'm alright," I smiled. He was looking up at me still concerned... so I stood up and held the railing while walking towards him... I tried to act as normal as possible. Whatever 'normal' was? How was I usually?

Damn... we walked together towards the kitchen. I greeted Edna before I started helping her cook. Nathan took out his iPad to do some work while he drank his black coffee Edna prepared.

After we finished making an assortment of blueberry and banana pancakes I sat down across from Nathan. Kai came into the room shortly after.

After breakfast I excused myself.

"Hazel..." I turned to see Nathan smiling. He was looking straight into my eyes peacefully as usual... Kai was adjusting his tie next to him.

"I'll meet you at the company..." Nathan announced and Kai and nodded. I wondered why he told him to go ahead...

"Can we take a walk?" I followed Nathan down a set of hallways until we reached one of the indoor greenhouses. It was one of my favourite places in the mansion apart from the meditation room. There were clear, glass windows on top of the ceiling where we could see the natural sunlight.

"Is there something you would like to talk about?" he asked lightheartedly.

I couldn't help but look away nervously while I responded...

"Nathan... I want to ask you a question. You... don't have to answer me. But I found out something a little... it was unintentional, really...I'm sorry I..." I bit my lower lip suddenly feeling ashamed. I waited a few minutes before speaking again...

"Is Henry your... biological father?" I looked up at Nathan. He didn't seem stirred by my question and instead smiled and gestured for me to sit in one of the wicker chairs. We sat across from one another.

He clasped his hands together after crossing his legs.

"It's not a very long story but yes. Henry Ravenwolf is my biological father..." I looked up at him and he had a serious expression on his face. He continued to speak...

"My mother had a relationship with Henry briefly before he met his future wife..." I nodded. "So... Henry didn't know about my existence until I was 18... my mother didn't want to tell my father when she found out he was engaged to be married... so she raised me on her own without any help..."

"For years I thought I had been abandoned by my father even though my mother insisted he was just a 'fling' of hers. Then... when I was 15 I found out about Henry. I accidentally discovered a few photos of Henry with my mom and was able to do some background checking. He was alive and he had 2 sons that I never knew about. And although I wanted to forget about him because in my mind he had left the both of us for wealth and power... something happened..."

"My mother passed away from cancer when I was 17 so I became rebellious. I was scared but I didn't want to face my pain so... I lashed out. I got in trouble a few times, which landed me in a juvenile detention centre for six months... and then when I released and having no home to return to... I decided to stir up Henry's life because I was angry..."

"When I went to Ravenwolf I only had $5 in my back pocket and a duffel bag with a few pieces of clothing, a few childhood memorabilia and photos... and when the door opened I met Gerald. He was only a year younger than me. Then there was Nao... Kai, James, Jackson and Charlie's father. He was 2 years younger than I..."

"I was a little stunned by how much they reminded me of the man in the photo. Especially Nao... just when I was about to announce myself Edna had arrived. I don't know to this day how she knew... but the moment she laid her eyes on me she held my hand... and when she told my brothers to leave they didn't hesitate. So... I told her who I was and she said she had a feeling."

"I waited a short amount of time before I met Henry and his wife... and there was nothing but a deep bitterness inside my heart. I hated him and therefore I hated his family too... but Henry... you see... as you probably understand, Hazel. Doesn't have a vengeful bone in his body."

"After he found out he just cried in front of me. At first I thought it was because he was ashamed and didn't want his family to know... but I slowly realized it was because of all those years he missed being in my life..."

"But before I even remotely let Henry in my heart I was abrasive. I pushed him away. I raised a considerable amount of hell while living here... but they were all nothing but kind to me."

"After Henry encouraged me to go to school I did so with the intention of using it against him... but I began to enjoy what I was studying. There were moments I felt guilty because I thought I was betraying my mother..."

"I'm also grateful I had Edna to support me during those times... she's like a mother to me..." I nodded and he exhaled. After a brief pause he continued.

"During University Nao met his future wife, Serena, which would be those kids' mother. He couldn't stop talking about her after his trip to Tokyo... and was even more happy that she also lived nearby us... it felt like fate to them..."

"So without realizing it I had spent holidays with that family which became my family... I was hoping to study business to rival my brothers and then take over and kick my father off of his throne, but over time I realized it was the last thing I wanted. When Serena and Nao had Kai, something changed in me even further... I realized how important my family was. The more I watched over them the more I realized how fortunate I was to have found them..."

"So I got considerably closer to Henry... and I promised to protect them all. Even though Henry wanted to announce me as his son after adding me to his family registry I told him that it would be better if I just stayed by their side so that the inheritance rights wouldn't get complicated."

"Especially considering I was his first born son... and I didn't want anyone to slander my father or anyone in this family for having an 'illegitimate' heir..." this thought seemed to weigh heavily on Nathan as he spoke. I didn't want to overstep but I wanted to hold his hands and tell him that he was never 'illegitimate.' No one ever was.

He was loved. And he was a part of this family...

"When Gerald met Cassandra... things became a little complicated. So I agreed to be in the shadows always protecting this family..." he then unclasped his hands and sat up a little.

"Sorry I kept you this late, Hazel. Hearing an old story... I got a little too nostalgic..."

I looked over at Nathan...and my heart ached.

This entire time I didn't realize the kind of secret he had to hide from the outside world all this time. And he did so because he loved Ravenwolf. He loved his family...

I couldn't believe how selfless he was...

When I watched him stand up I couldn't help but look down... I started to regret overhearing it in the first place. But I was also a little relieved that he could share his story with another person.

"Shall we go?" I looked up at Nathan smiling at me. Underneath the light he too looked as bright as his family members...

I stood up and reached out to hold onto Nathan's hand. I gently squeezed it before letting go...

But how long would this secret remain a secret?

That was the last thought I had before walking out of the indoor greenhouse with him...

Who knew that sooner rather than later... another secret would be revealed...