Rea's pulse pounded in her ears. She turned to Aster, whose jaw was clenched so tightly she thought he might crack a tooth. Jaxon leaned against the counter, watching them with a smirk that didn't quite reach his eyes.
"What do you mean Aster was never supposed to be part of it?" Rea asked, voice quieter than she intended.
Jaxon exhaled, rubbing his temple like this conversation was exhausting him. "I mean exactly what I said. Aster wasn't supposed to exist in the first place."
Aster's fists clenched at his sides. "Try again, Jaxon. And this time, actually explain what the hell you're talking about."
Jaxon tilted his head, considering, then sighed. "You ever wonder why our dear old dad left before you were born?"
Aster went still.
Rea's breath caught.
Jaxon smirked, but there was no amusement behind it. "Because you weren't part of the plan."
Aster let out a dry laugh. "What, was I an accident? Is that supposed to be news?"
Jaxon's gaze darkened. "No, Aster. You were a mistake."
The air in the room shifted.
Aster's entire body tensed, like he was holding himself back from swinging at his brother. Rea instinctively reached out, fingers grazing his wrist in warning. He didn't move.
Jaxon crossed his arms. "Dad had a legacy to uphold, and you? You ruined that. He couldn't afford to have a second son. Not one that didn't fit into the Westwood mold."
Rea frowned. "That doesn't make sense. If your family is so powerful, why would having another son be a problem?"
Jaxon's lips curled slightly. "Because Aster wasn't just another son. He was a liability."
Aster finally spoke, voice dangerously low. "Stop talking in riddles and just say it, Jaxon."
Jaxon rolled his shoulders. "Fine. The Westwoods have always been about control. Power. Everything is planned, every move calculated. Dad had me—I was the heir. The one trained to take over. And then, suddenly, you happened."
Aster exhaled sharply through his nose. "Still not hearing a reason why that mattered."
Jaxon's smirk disappeared. "Because you're not one of us."
Silence.
Rea's fingers tightened against Aster's wrist. "What does that mean?"
Jaxon's gaze flicked to her, something unreadable in his expression. "It means our dear mother wasn't as loyal as everyone thought."
Rea inhaled sharply.
Aster stiffened. "You're lying."
Jaxon laughed. "Am I?"
Aster's hands balled into fists. "My father is our father."
Jaxon shrugged. "If that helps you sleep at night, go ahead and believe it."
Rea glanced between them, her heart hammering. "So you're saying—"
Jaxon cut her off. "I'm saying Aster's got Westwood blood, sure. But he's also got something else. Something that made Dad walk away before he even got the chance to screw up his life."
Rea's head spun.
Aster wasn't fully a Westwood?
Then who—?
Aster let out a breath, stepping forward, his eyes cold. "You knew this whole time?"
Jaxon met his stare without flinching. "Yeah."
Aster's fists trembled. "And you never told me?"
Jaxon tilted his head. "Would it have changed anything?"
Aster turned away, running both hands through his hair, pacing like he was trying to keep himself from completely losing it.
Rea could barely process what she was hearing. Aster wasn't just unwanted—he was a threat to his own family's legacy.
And if that was true…
Then her parents' letters—everything they'd written about the Westwoods—
It was bigger than she thought.
Jaxon sighed. "Look, I don't care if you believe me or not. But don't come crying to me when this all blows up in your face."
Aster's laugh was sharp. "Oh, don't worry. I don't need your sympathy."
Jaxon smirked. "Didn't think so."
Rea swallowed hard, gripping the letter tighter. "If Aster's not fully a Westwood… then who is his real father?"
Jaxon glanced at her, then back at Aster.
For the first time, he actually looked hesitant.
Aster crossed his arms. "Spit it out, Jax."
Jaxon exhaled, rolling his neck. "You're not gonna like it."
Aster's stare didn't waver.
Jaxon sighed. "Fine."
Then he met Aster's gaze, eyes sharp.
"Your real father? The one our mother actually wanted?"
Jaxon smirked.
"He's the reason Rea's parents are so afraid."