Part 1: One Mystery Solved
Dear Diary, I will begin this entry right where I left off last time. If you remember, Jarah and I had just met mystery-boy… well, I guess I can call him by his name from now on, Aleks Kotek.
I’m afraid I frightened him because as soon as he saw me, he said, “It’s you! I didn’t tell! I promise, I never did!”
I felt Jarah take a step backward behind me as Aleks’ caregiver Mia stepped in.
She took his hand, looked into his eyes and said, “It’s okay, Aleks. Remember, I told you there would be visitors at the park today?”
His expression relaxed, and he nodded.
Mia turned back to address me. “Maybe this wasn’t a good idea after all. I agreed because I thought you might provide him with some closure.”
“Closure?” I repeated.
“You are Beatrice Wright’s daughter, aren’t you?”
“Well, yes, but-“
“-Rosetta Sprague is long dead. It’s time for the truth to be told.”
“The truth,” I said. I’m sure I had a dumb expression on my face. I was expecting to have to drag answers out of these people.
“Yes. I told you Aleks was adopted.”
“Yes,” I said.
“In truth, he is your uncle… your mother’s biological brother.”
Part 2: Time to Come Clean
“Wow… that’s something, all right,” I said as I squinted at Mom’s latest sculpture.
It was sitting in the middle of their living room, and Mom was deciding where it should sit permanently.
“Has Perry seen it?”
“No! And, I can’t wait. I just know this is the one he’ll love.”
Yikes.
“What is it, exactly?”
Mom sighed and rolled her eyes like I used to when I was a teenager. “It’s a statement about where I feel I belong in the world. You didn’t get that?”
“Oh, yeah, I can totally see that now,” I stammered.
The truth was, I was only killing time, prolonging the inevitable, if you will. Right after Mia’s confession, I hightailed it out of there with Jarah on my heels. I sat behind the steering wheel, trying to catch my breath, my hands shaking.
“Are you okay?” Jarah asked.
I shook my head, unable to speak for a moment. Finally I admitted, “I don’t know whether to pee, puke, or pass out.”
“Ah, the three p’s. I know them well,” he said with a small quirk of a smile. “Let me guess. You don’t want to tell your mom, but you know you have to.”
I couldn’t help but smile at this quiet, unassuming, yet perceptive kid. “There’s more, but yes, that’s right.”
We were quiet the rest of the way home. I dropped Jarah off, then came straight to Mom’s.
“You said you needed to talk to me?” Mom asked now.
“You’re gonna wanna sit down,” I mumbled.
As we sat on the couches, nausea rolled over me, threatening to bring my breakfast, or what was left of it, up.
“You look absolutely green, Darling. What is the matter? You’re not pregnant, are you?”
“No!” If only that was the problem. Somehow, I thought that would go over better than what I was about to tell her.
There was an empty feeling in the pit of my stomach, and I would have given anything right then to flee the room. I clasped and unclasped my hands, then finally laid them flat, palms down on my thighs.
“What is going on? You’re worrying me.”
There was only one thing I could do. Just tell her.
Tell her how you’re a thief, and how she blamed Grandma all those years because of it, my mind sneered at me.
My limbs were shaking, and I avoided looking her in the eye like the terrible daughter I am.
She waited without saying anything further.
Then, I let it all spill out. How I stole the box because I thought she was in danger. How I hid it in the storage space in my room and retrieved it only recently when they sold their house.
Then, I told her what I knew about Aunt Rosetta. How she had murdered Ella Dean after Ella had raped Holden (mom’s father).
That’s when I came to the Aleks Kotek part. “He’s Holden and Ella Dean’s son,” I said. “After Rosetta killed Ella Dean, she found out there was a child. She didn’t think Holden could deal with it and she didn’t know if the child would turn out like Ella Dean did. So she hid him. A really nice family, the Koteks, adopted him, and Rosetta checked on him over the years to make sure he was properly cared for. And… and to satisfy her need to know if he had any deviant traits from his mother.”
Mom sat silently, staring at nothing.
“Mom? I’m so sorry about what I did. It was wrong, but at the time, I thought I was doing the right thing. I know now, I shouldn’t have let you blame Grandma. I can’t tell you how bad I feel about it.”
Her voice was low, and her nostrils flared when she said, “I think you’d better leave now.”
“Mom, please.”
“Kara!” she snapped. “We will speak soon. But, I want you to leave. I need to be alone.”
With a heart heavier than I’d ever had, I did as she asked.
Part 3: The Nightmares
Over the next week, we learned Otto Seaforth, Jarah, Bram, and Sloan’s father was coming home. It worried me how this would affect Jarah the most.
I was right to be concerned because Jarah began having nightmares. I suppose I should call them night terrors. I’ve had nightmares, and these were nothing like mine.
Jarah would scream in his sleep, toss and turn. The blankets would tangle around him. Bram and I started sleeping with one ear open. I had a good bond with Jarah, but it was Bram who was able to calm him.
The three of us didn’t get much sleep. Hopefully, Otto was not as bad as I was expecting.
Part 4: The Devil in Disguise
I decided Otto was much worse, after only a few minutes of being in the same room with him. Right away, I could imagine big, red horns growing out of his head. I smirked a little, despite the seriousness of the situation.
When he entered the mansion, we were all waiting like a dutiful household. Right off the bat, he was scowling and grinding out orders to Mr. Belvedere (?) and Wendy.
“But ya’ said you would be here for dinner,” Wendy said, her lips twisting into a scowl of their own.
“I most certainly did not,” he spat. “I said not to wait. Now the entire household is standing around looking stupid.”
Zayday was squirming as Otto turned his attention to Sloan.
“Have you gotten that brat into a decent school yet?” he demanded.
“It’s good to see you, too, Otto,” she said, glaring daggers at him.
“You look like your father,” Otto mumbled to Zayday as he walked past her to Bram.
“Still blind and useless,” he said.
I couldn’t hide my gasp.
Bram’s mouth was a firm, thin line. “Still a dick for no reason,” he said back.
Jarah was standing behind Bram and me as if he could will himself invisible. I was frightened for him as Otto loomed over us.
“Look at me, Jarah,” Otto demanded.
Jarah stood statue still, staring at the floor as if he hadn’t heard. Otto cursed under his breath and turned his attention to me.
I don’t know what came over me. Maybe it was because Otto’s behavior made me angry, but I stared him straight in the eye and tried not to flinch when he spoke.
“Hm… so you’re the new caregiver. You don’t look strong enough to give him a good lashing when he needs it. The kid is stupid, takes after his mother. And, if it wasn’t for me, she and this one here would be living in a cardboard box.”
“That’s quite enough,” I said. I wish my voice hadn’t been shaking, but at least I didn’t look away.
He smirked (and the horns I’d imagined drawing on him grew bigger). “Maybe you aren’t as weak as you look.”
Was that a hint of admiration? I doubted it, and I didn’t want it. Otto made my skin crawl.
Later, after dinner, Otto found me alone in my favorite room, and my hate for him only grew.
I can barely write this here, and I haven’t told Bram because… how can I tell him?
Otto tried to kiss me.
If he hadn’t let go right away when I pushed him, I would have been in better range to slap his face.
“Whoa!” he laughed as if this was a game. “Settle down!”
“Don’t ever touch me again!” I screamed at him.
Over his shoulder, I saw Belvedere (?) peek into the room, but then he left. He left me there! I realized no one was going to save me from this situation. Bram was upstairs working on his cookbook, and I didn’t know where Jarah was, but probably hiding in his bedroom. Sloan had taken Zayday to the guest house above the garage where they were staying.
Without so much as a warning, Otto dove in for more. I pounded on his chest and pushed as hard as I could. When his lips came crashing down on mine, I bit one of them, drawing blood.
He flung me backward, and I almost fell to the floor, but was able to catch myself. As he wiped the blood from his lip with the back of his hand, his smirk didn’t change or fade.
“You are a frigid bitch,” he decided, his voice low. “You remind me so much of her… of Rosetta. Of course, she was much older than I am. But I always wanted to do that.”
“Never touch me again,” I warned, although I didn’t know where the bravado was coming from, “or I will wait until you’re asleep and really make you bleed.”
I was totally serious, but this made him laugh even more.
Once he left the room, I slumped down on the sofa, clutching my heart with one hand, and gripping the arm of the sofa with my other hand. My breath was out of control as I gasped for air. If the devil was real, I was certain, I’d met him today.
I stayed like that for several minutes before I felt like I could move again.
Part 5: The Rosetta Files
It was still evening. Instead of going to my room, I went up two floors to a big bookcase, in hopes reading might calm me down.
In my mind, all I could think about was Otto’s lips touching mine, the smell of stale tobacco and Wild Turkey on his breath. I shuddered again, my limbs still trembling from the unwanted advances. What if he tried it again? What if Bram found out?
I’m stronger than this, I told myself as I ran my fingertips over the old books. I’m not some little thing he can put in his pocket and carry away. He is repulsive and cruel, but you are strong. You made him bleed.
Click.
Startled, I watched as half the bookcase moved backward, then slid behind the other side of itself, revealing another narrow staircase. For a moment, I couldn’t move. I stood bewildered, peering inside to the darkness with squinted eyes. All I’d done was lift a book I might want to read.
I’d already been insulted and attacked this evening, and I’d fought back. Was I brave enough, though, to follow the stairs upward? Slowly, I stepped inside, a little worried the bookcase would close behind me and I’d be trapped. I walked in and out of the cramped space several times before I was satisfied it would stay open.
I couldn’t feel a light switch but at the top of the stairs, I noticed there was a small oil lamp lit. The stairs creaked as I stepped from on to the other, setting my frayed nerves further on edge. If that was possible.
I didn’t know what to expect, but once at the top, there was another door… locked shut. Feeling around the walls, I couldn’t find a key hanging anywhere which made sense, I guess. Why keep it locked if you were just going to hang the key next to it?
As I stepped closer, I forced back a grimace. The door itself was hideous, red, and trimmed out just like I imagined the devil might do.
Running my fingers along the door, I didn’t feel the same kind of evil I felt whenever I touched the contents from Great-aunt Rosetta’s box. But the overall feeling that came over me in that small space made my skin prickle and my hairs stand on end. There was something beyond this door. Something I needed to see or know.
Hurrying down all the flights of stairs, back to the main floor, I sneaked a look outside and saw Otto’s car was gone. Rushing into his office, I searched all the drawers of his desk, looking for a key that might fit the mysterious red door.
The desk was very tidy, and I arranged everything back the way I thought it had been when I’d started my search. There was no key, and I didn’t see any evidence of hidden bottoms in the drawers. I even took the drawers out so I could see if a key was taped underneath.
Nothing.
With a loud sigh, I turned, thinking to search the bookshelf. It was then I noticed the wall hangings.
No, I thought. You’ve got to be kidding me.
Would he have done that? Hidden the key in plain sight?
There was only one way to find out. I grabbed both frames with keys in them, hoping Otto wouldn’t come back and find them missing. Then, I hurried all the way back to the bookcase and up the stairs to the red door.
My breath was coming in pants as I turned the first frame over, removed the back, and pulled the key out. Pushing the key into the lock, I realized right away, it wasn’t the right key. So, I did the same with the second frame.
I shoved the key into the lock. When I turned it, the door swung open, creaking on its hinges.
There was a lit oil lamp in this room, too, which meant Otto might return at anytime to continue whatever he was doing up here. Otherwise, I didn’t think he’d leave the lamps burning.
I peered into corners and nooks which were mostly unlit and piled with old furniture. Much like an attic normally would be. Then, I found a nook which was better lit and contained an old, big desk. The seat was still warm, so Otto must not have been gone for long.
On the desk, lying open was a ledger of some sort. I scanned it quickly, but it wasn’t until I’d gone back three pages that something caught my eye.
Rosetta Sprague, Leader of the Free World #DV842793
What was she doing in his book? And what was that number for?
The flame in the oil lamp wavered, bringing me to attention so fast, I dropped the ledger on the floor. After I picked it back up, putting it on the page Otto originally had it to, my fingers bumped the keyboard on his computer. The screen lit up, and I was curious, so I sat down to see what I could see.
Right there on the desktop, were several folders. Glancing through them, I saw the same number on a file that was next to Rosetta’s name.
But when I clicked on it, I realized it was encrypted.
“Might’ve known,” I mumbled.
It was getting late, and Otto would be back. Searching the drawers of this desk, I found a flash drive and copied the encrypted file to it.
After a few more minutes of putting the desk back the way I’d found it, I scrambled downstairs with the keys and frames, and shut the bookcase. My hands were shaking badly as I reframed the keys and hung them back on the wall in Otto’s downstairs office.
Once everything was back to rights, I closed the office door, and leaned against it to catch my breath. It’s then I realized once again I was a thief.
But, this was for a good cause. Otto was up to something, I was sure of it. Why would he have anything on Rosetta at all?
I needed to find Jarah the computer geek. Hopefully, he could do something with the encrypted file.
Jarah wasn’t in his room, or anywhere I looked in the house. The sun would set soon, and I couldn’t find my charge.
“Just great,” I muttered.
Then it came to me. Otto was home, Jarah was scared. What if he ran away again? The last thing we needed was for Jarah to get arrested and end up back in the teen center. I raced outside, checking what I could of the grounds.
Jarah was outside the gate, but he wasn’t moving, he was staring at something. I kicked off my shoes so I could get to him fast.
“Jarah, are you okay? You’re not running away, are you?”
It was a long while before he answered me, but I knew to be patient and wait.
“There’s a hot-air balloon.”
Indeed, there was.
“It’s lovely, but let’s go home, okay?”
“I don’t want to.”
“I know, but Bram and I will be there. It’s my job to make sure nothing happens to you.”
He sighed dejectedly, turning to face me with slumped shoulders. My heart sank at the sight of him. He gave me a small nod, his chin quivering.
“Look,” I said with a small smile, “I have something for you.”
He took the flash drive from me. “What’s on this?”
“That’s what I need to know. It’s an encrypted file. Do you think you can figure it out for me?”
He was all business now, his eyes coming back to life. “I’m your guy.”
I smiled wider and nodded. “I knew you would be.”
Notes:
I would like to thank Bee (Stories by Bee, Poses by Bee), who at the last minute made those great nightmare poses with Jarah and Bram! Thank you also for brainstorming with me. You are a life-saver! Thank you, Bee!
While one part of the mystery has been solved, things are going to come to a head very soon with Otto and the rest of the mystery! I hope you will enjoy it. 🙂
Thank you so much for liking, reading, commenting, and lurking,
Discover more from Kymber @booomcha.com
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Otto gives me the chills. I don’t know what he’s hiding but I hope Kara is careful!
Thank you. Otto is a real piece of work. Let’s hope Kara takes your advice. 😀
This is what I suspected, that Aleks was Holden and Ella’s son. It’s crazy that Rosetta kept it from Holden. I understand why, and it makes sense for Rosetta, but he would have wanted to know his son. Despite how it happened, he would have been a great father to Aleks.
Otto is really something else. The picture with devil horns is kinda funny, until you see how really fitting they are. I guess he’s had something he wanted to take out on Rosetta, that he’s now going to do to Kara because of her likeness. It is so gross, and I hope she tells Bram what happened. Because he’s most likely going to do that again.
Thank you, Heather. I thought you were on the right track. 😀 I believe you’re right that Holden would have wanted to know his son. I think he would’ve handled it much better than Rosetta gave him credit for.
Let’s hope Kara tells Bram what happened. You’re probably right that Otto will try it again if he has the opportunity. I think it’s gross, too.
Wow, Otto is even more evil than I imagined.
We have one mystery solved. But about a million more unanswered questions. I am on pins and needles wanting to know more.
Thank you so much 🙂 You’re so right about Otto. He’s pretty bad. I can’t wait for you to see what’s going to happen.
I have so many questions that need answers! It is killing me! I need to know more!!!
LOL! You just made my day! I hope you will like how this mystery ends.
I have no doubt (pun intended) that I will
LOL! 😀
That Otto is an ass! But that Rosetta is turning out to be a real mystery. Sorry about Cara’s fall out with her mom.
Thank you, Jina 🙂 Otto is definitely an ass. lol Rosetta’s legacy is far-reaching. She had her fingers in many different piles.
I’m sorry about the falling out between Bea and Kara, too. Hopefully, things will be better between them soon.
This is awesome mystery writing Kymber. You need an excellent bad guy to make the story interesting and Otto is a first class bad guy. The crook we all love to hate. This was really absorbing. I look forward to see how Kara brings Karma to meet Otto.
Thank you so much. 🙂 You’re very kind to say so. I’m looking forward to a little Karma for Otto, too.
Well, that was a surprise indeed! seriously cray cray .. cannot wait to see it develop further
Thank you, Lisa. 🙂 Cray cray only begins to cover it. haha
lol
I would have been peeing my pants if I were her, panicking not to be caught, trying to steal the files. Encrypted files, eh, a great chance for Jarah to show his hidden talents. You can do it, Jarah! The mystery deepens 😄
Caz xx
Thank you, Caz 🙂 I would have been peeing my pants, too, for sure. lol I think you’re right that this is definitely up Jarah’s alley. 😀 xo
Whoa, first of all: I didn’t expect that child would be Holden’s son from that horrible time with Ella! But did Rosetta threaten him or something? He seemed so scared when he saw Kara!
And man, Otto is quite horrible. He’s just used to getting what he wants and that can never be good. I also wonder about the way he’s connected to Rosetta. The suspense is killing me!
Poor Bea… I want to believe she’ll get over this shock eventually. And that she won’t stay mad at Kara for long!
Thank you so much 🙂 Rosetta must have done something for him to react that way. We’ll learn more about it in the near future. 🙂
Otto is horrible, it’s true. His entire family hates him. That’s a good question about how he’s connected to Rosetta. Her legacy is far-reaching.
I think Bea will be okay, but now she realizes she blamed Ellie all those years when Ellie was telling the truth after all.
Otto is such a slimeball. I hope justice comes for him sooner rather than later… I feared Aleks might be Holden’s child. Will we be seeing more of him? Let’s hope Jarah cracks this flashdrive soon! I would hate to find out that Otto has been hunting Rosetta and her descendants, putting Kara in danger…
Thank you, Raymond. 🙂 You have Otto pegged right. Let’s hope justice is swift in this case. We’ll definitely see more of Aleks in upcoming chapters. I think despite the shock of it all, Bea would want to meet him. Yes! Hopefully, Jarah will be the encryption and all will come to light.
Oh, this was exciting! You know I don’t usually swear, but Kara is a badass! Sorry lol. I can’t think of a better word. She’s always had this deep, quiet strength inside her. How else would she have gotten to where she is today? This line, whoa, I loved it: “Never touch me again,” I warned, although I didn’t know where the bravado was coming from, “or I will wait until you’re asleep and really make you bleed.” HA!! I love this girl. I think she’s my favorite, but then again I think I say that about most your heirs LOL.
I’m trying to decide if I like Jeeves or Belvedere better lol. Probably Jeeves, but it would be amazing if she kept coming up with new names LOL.
Otto is trash. That’s all I’ll say on that.
Thank you, Jess 🙂 I am the same way and I thought Kara was a badass, too. LOL I like how you put it, though, about the deep, quiet strength. She’s a survivor.
You should have seen me sitting in front of my laptop, trying to think of famous butler names. hahaha I’m sure there will be others.
Otto is definitely trash. You are write in your assessment. lol
Wow, this generation is a heart thumper!!! I’m glad she stood her ground with Otto, though, even if it appeared weak. My first, thought was to glare unwaveringly straight into his eyes and say, “Stop! Don’t you ever touch me, ever again!”
As for her exploration, I must say after that encounter with Otto, I don’t know that I would have been bold enough to wander the premises with him still around. It would have killed me, but I would have waited until he was absolutely no where around. Also, you didn’t say, but when she replaced the keys, the first thing I thought of was, did she put them in the right place? If they were replaced incorrectly, that will be a dead give away. I guess, we’ll see.
As for, Bea, Aleks seems so much older… I don’t picture Bea that old. Didn’t Ella try to kill Holden and wasn’t Ellie pregnant at the time? For awhile, I thought it might have been Holden’s baby with… the other gal that wanted him to father her child, but not marry him, but this makes more sense. I know Bea will get over it, but Kara by her thievery, closed doors for Bea, resolutions that can no longer take place and that will be hard for her. Whew! There’s lot going on here and…
I hope Jarah will be ever so careful with that drive. I’m looking forward to your next installment.
Thank you, Jo 🙂 Kara didn’t know where that bravado was coming from, but thank goodness she had it. I think your first thought about yelling at him would have been my first thought, too. I think she did check to see if Otto was there and saw his car was gone. But she had no way of knowing where he went or when he’d be back. That probably would have stopped me if I had been snooping. And the keys! Yes! That’s a good point! What if she hung them back up in the wrong order? Hopefully, her thief skills were good. lol
Aleks does seem a lot older. That’s a good point about Ellie having been pregnant with Bea when Holden was shot by Ella. I figured the child was born much earlier in Holden’s life, and Bea much later. But, I also pictured Aleks as looking older than he is for some reason. I couldn’t shake how I thought he looked in my head. lol Ages in this story always confuse me, I’ll admit that freely. 😀
You’re right about Bea and how there are doors shut now that wouldn’t have been with Ellie if Kara hadn’t lied. Bea was so certain Ellie was lying to her about it, and she never suspected Kara of anything. This will be difficult for her to come to terms with.
You and me both! Jarah better hide that flash drive good while he has it.
I really want them all to just leave and file for a restraining order, but I guess they have a mystery to solve.
Thank you, CT 🙂 They should probably follow your advice with the restraining order. lol It’s all going to come to a head soon.
You know, in the back of my mind, I wondered if Ella Dean had ended up pregnant with Holden‘s kid. I guess I was right to wonder because it actually did happen.
I don’t blame Bea for being upset. She went through a lot of pain over that box and to discover that Kara kept it from her when she, herself, blamed her mother has to hurt. Plus, the contents themself is enough to scare the pee out of anybody. I did have to laugh though when she said she didn’t know whether to pee, puke, or pass out. LOL! Yeah, I definitely know that feeling.
So, Otto is a real bastard. That guy is definitely no good, and he’s up to no good. Whatever he is up to Hass to be very diabolical. I hope they can get to the bottom of this, and if we’re lucky, maybe they can even send him up the river for criminal activity. Wouldn’t that be great?
Thank you, Sharon 🙂 If that was in the back of your mind, than you know now, you were right! lol
Oh, yes, Bea is so shocked and upset right now with the situation and with Kara. She’s wondering if her mother Ellie knew about Aleks, she’s wishing she hadn’t let the box’s disappearance come between her and Ellie.
I’m glad you liked the three “p’s!” I used to get them all the time when I was a vocalist. haha
Yep, you are right about Otto with everything you said there. Kara is on this, though, and it will all hit the fan soon. She’s not going to let it go. Wouldn’t it be great if he was sent to the big house? 😀
Ah, I didn’t know you were a vocalist. 😄 We have that in common, then, as I do some professional singing. I never got the 3 P’s but would get the butterflies right before going on. Once on stage, I was right in my element – still am. 😁😁
In light of what’s now been going on, to hell with sending him to the big house. I want to see him die a very, very slow and painful death. LMAO! Boil that evil bastard in oil, for heaven’s sake! Hehehehe.
Yeah. 🙂 I’m no longer a vocalist professionally, but I was. I loved it immensely.
LOLOLOL You go with that wicked brain of yours! LOL 😀 Hopefully, Otto will get his just desserts in a way you think is appropriate. 😀
Did you give up being a vocalist when you became a nurse? Once a singer, always a singer at heart, even if you don’t do it professionally anymore. ❤️
LOLOLOL!!! I’m glad you love my wicked brain. Like I said before, I am a sick, twisted individual. LMAO!!!
It’s a long story, but my manager died unexpectedly, then not long after, I decided to go into nursing. I agree you’re always a singer at heart.
LOL I like it, I like it!
Otto can make anyone’s skin crawl. Yikes. It’s a wonder the entire family hasn’t come together to murder him in his sleep.
I wonder if he’s the reason Rosetta died.
Also, I imagine Bea is going through some stuff right now.
Thank you, Violincat 🙂 You’re so right about Otto. He’s definitely lucky the family hasn’t done what you suggested. lol He’s not exactly endearing himself to anyone right now.
That is an excellent question about Otto and Rosetta. 😀 😀
You’re right about Bea. Hopefully, all will be well there once she is over the shock of it all.
Oh dear Lord. Poor Kara. Poor Bea.
And the plot thickens yet again.
Thank you so much 🙂 The plot thickens, it’s true. lol But Kara’s on it. 😀
I loved this whole chapter, the details, the story, the pics! And not because I helped with the plot, of which I thank you for the shout out for that and the poses, but it really did come together. You picked the perfect door for example and I may have done the poses but you really staged the pics with the effects. So well done!
So Otto hates women, clearly. I don’t think you made those devil horns big enough! Looks like Sloan has a great back bone for standing up to her father and now he has learned so does Kara! It’s no wonder Jarah is so altered, emotional and mental abuse has done it’s toll on this poor kid. I wonder how many women Otto had his way with against their will; are any of his kids the result of those?
Lastly, while I understand, I am disappointed Bea reacted the way she did. However, I guess I prefer that to a screaming match that divides them and hurts them both with spoken ill wills.
Thank you so much, Bee. 🙂 Oh, yes, things were a right mess before you got involved. hahaha
Otto does hate women with a certain passion. I’m surprised he got three to marry him thus far. lol Sloan does have a backbone, and it’s because she needs to be an example to her daughter. She’s no shrinking violet. Plus, she especially angry at Otto right now, so that helps.
You’re right that Otto’s behavior has taken a toll on Jarah. And, who knows who else Otto has assaulted? Good question about the kids. More on that in the future.
I can understand your disappointment in Bea. I think she’s in a shocked state over a few things there. She probably feels guilty over that rift Kara’s lie put between herself and Ellie.
Wow! Just wow! I knew the ‘boy’ would likely be related somehow to Rosetta. But hadn’t thought that she would’ve been able to keep a child alive, after killing its mother. Rosetta is creepy. Poor Bea to find out she has a half-brother. And her mother probably knew, but chose not to tell her. Maybe because she didn’t want anything to do with Ella’s child.
Now what does Otto have to do with all of this, I knew because of the Inheritance they would cross paths. Otto is evil. No doubt about it and treats everyone so horribly.
Thank you, Audrey 🙂 Rosetta the creepy strikes again! lol I don’t know if I’ll ever get over her. haha Yeah, I think Bea will always wonder if her mother knew about Aleks or not. She worked pretty closely with Rosetta all those years.
You’re right about Otto, too. It takes a special kind of person to make your whole family hate you.
As soon as I found out he was Kara’s great uncle, I knew he had to be his child with Ella. Oh dear… No wonder he looks so much like Holden!
You know, kotek actually means kitty in Polish, so the surname is a bit funny to me, especially mentioned in such a serious matter.
Otto is so horrible. I wonder in whcih way he’s tied to Rosetta. Oh dear, Rosetta has left quite a legacy behind, hasn’t she?
Thank you, Jowita. 🙂 I think you had already figured out who the mystery-boy might be, if I remember right. 😀
That is so funny that Kotek means kitty in Polish. haha I thought it was Polish, actually, but around here, it’s a surname. I had no idea it meant that. LOLOLOL That’s hilarious.
You’re right about Otto. Rosetta’s legacy is far-reaching, that’s for sure. lol
Oof. I was so ready to draw parallels between Otto and Enzo’s dad, but I have to give you, Kym – you managed to make a completely reprehensible, horrible character. He honestly makes Enzo’s dad look like a saint – I mean, he’s bad, but at least he thinks he’s doing good. Plus he’s not sexually assaulting anyone. What a horrible guy Otto is… And poor Kara. She really, really should tell Bram so the two of them can get out of there (and find some way to get his siblings out as well).
Aaand just as you reveal one mystery, you open another. Dangit, Kym, you can’t keep doing this to us, lol! 😛 At least Kara has her intrepid helper. 😉 I believe I did say back in the day that I thought the mystery boy was Ella’s kid, though I can’t remember if I connected the dots to Holden.
Great chapter as always, dear. 🙂
Thank you, Louise 🙂 LOL @ the parallel between Otto and Enzo’s dad. I think I like Enzo’s dad more, or should I say rather I hate him slightly less than Otto?
I think she should tell Bram, too. We’ll see on that.
Well, this mystery about Rosetta was always there, but not focused on as much as the mystery-boy part. Mainly, because mystery-boy was easier to solve. lol
Yes, I think you did call it way back. 😀