Bathroom Ambush (Part 1)

Thea’s POV

I sat in the living room, struggling to relearn basic words and numbers. Returning to my beloved teaching job required mastering them again. Phoenix slept in the portable crib I'd dragged downstairs. I disliked leaving her alone in her room, so we were both there. She lay quietly while I studied, feeling like I was back in school.

My head still buzzed from learning the truth about Kane yesterday. I couldn't believe someone had deceived me so cruelly. Even more unbelievable was that I hadn't noticed it during those months we dated.

I couldn't understand what had driven me into his arms. Was it because Aurora’s return made me want to show Sebastian that their relationship didn't affect me? Or was I so desperate for love, for attention, that I jumped at the first man who showed interest?

It was incredibly frustrating not knowing what I'd been thinking. Unless my memory returned, I'd always wonder what motivated my actions.

My phone's ringtone interrupted my thoughts. I picked it up, but I couldn't recognize the number. I'd only saved Sebastian's, Rayne's, Kestrel's (the head of the warriors assigned to protect me), and Leo's school office numbers.

After hesitating briefly, I tapped the green icon to answer.

“Hello?” I asked tentatively.

“Hey, Thea… how are you?” The voice was gentle, but unfamiliar.

“Who is this?”

A rush of breathing on the other end made me feel awful. I’d obviously hurt the caller's feelings.

She answered slowly: “It’s your mother, Seraphina.”

I hadn’t seen her since leaving the hospital. Sebastian had asked her and Maximus to give me time to adjust before visiting. Though everyone confirmed they were my biological parents—Leo even mentioned I’d told him about my adoption by the Kincaid family before introducing him to Seraphina and Maximus—I still found it hard to fully accept this reality.

I cleared my throat awkwardly. “Hi… sorry, I just didn’t know whose number this was, and I don’t recognize your voice.”

She quickly responded, “It’s okay, I completely understand.”

“Did Sebastian give you my number?” I asked.

He’d reluctantly gone to work today, just like yesterday. If not for an important alliance meeting, he would have stayed with me. But he promised to return home immediately afterward.

“Yes, I hope you don’t mind,” she said hesitantly.

From our brief time together at the hospital, she seemed a very gentle woman. I’d wanted Sebastian to tell me their story, to explain why I ended up a Kincaid daughter. But he said that wasn’t his story to tell—they should be the ones to fill in those blanks.

I still couldn’t imagine how such a gentle couple could raise someone as manipulative as Kane. I mean, who does that? Who seduces and sleeps with a woman they intend to kill? I struggled to comprehend it.

“I want to invite you out for lunch,” she continued, pulling me from my thoughts. “I’ll be honest and direct—I miss you, Thea. You’re my daughter, and watching you in a coma for months, then finally waking up but not letting me hold you because of memory loss… it breaks my heart.”

The heartbreak in her voice was unmistakable. Even through the phone, the emotion touched something inexplicably deep within me. As a mother myself, I understood her feelings. If either of my children forgot me, it would destroy me.

“I’m really not sure,” I told her honestly. “Sebastian says it’s not safe for me to go out now because the person who attacked me hasn’t been caught.”

I also didn’t understand why anyone would want me dead. Had I angered someone so badly that they decided I deserved to die? I typically kept to myself, so it made no sense that someone would want to hurt me. I mean, who could I have offended when I barely had any friends?

“Don’t worry… I’ll come pick you up,” she said. “We’re Kincaids, Thea. I guarantee no one would dare mess with you.”

There was that surname again. Sebastian had told me Phoenix’s last name was Kincaid. The name sounded familiar, like I’d heard it somewhere.

I wanted to refuse, but ultimately decided to accept. Maybe I could get more information about Kane. “Alright, let’s meet.”

She squealed with delight, telling me they’d pick me up in a few minutes, then hung up.

I hurried to change Phoenix’s diaper and then changed my own clothes. I opted for a comfortable casual outfit—more practical for breastfeeding Phoenix than a dress would be.

I waited patiently, excitement bubbling up inside me. I couldn’t stay locked up in the house forever. It was time to get out. What was the worst that could happen?

Seraphina and Maximus arrived about thirty minutes later. As I’d said, I hadn’t been out since returning from the hospital. I was eager to see how the city had changed. Four years is a long time—it couldn’t possibly have remained the same.

When the doorbell rang, I got up excitedly to answer it.

“Are you and Phoenix ready?” Seraphina asked.

She was as excited as I was. I let them both hug me. Being in their embrace felt good, familiar, like this was something I regularly received from them.

“Yes, let me get her.”

I turned back to the living room, picked up my daughter, quickly said goodbye to Mary, and left the house.

I was about to get into their car when a man stopped me.

“I’m sorry, Luna, I can’t let you leave,” he said.