Rea's blood ran cold.
Jaxon's words hung in the air like a bomb waiting to go off.
He's the reason Rea's parents are so afraid.
She turned to Aster, searching his face for any kind of reaction, but he was eerily still. His hands were clenched at his sides, his shoulders tense, but his expression was blank. Like he was holding everything in.
Like he was about to break.
Rea swallowed hard. "What do you mean by that?"
Jaxon leaned back against the counter, watching them with something close to amusement. "Exactly what it sounds like, sweetheart."
Aster's voice was low, dangerous. "Say his name."
Jaxon smirked. "You already know, don't you?"
Aster didn't respond.
Jaxon shrugged. "Fine. Your real father—the man our dear mother threw everything away for?"
Jaxon's smirk widened.
"Alexander Calloway."
Rea felt like the floor had been ripped out from under her.
No. No, that's not possible.
She knew that name.
Everyone knew that name.
Alexander Calloway wasn't just some ordinary man. He was powerful. Ruthless. A ghost of the past that her parents never talked about but were always running from.
And now Jaxon was telling her that Aster—Aster—was his son?
Rea took a step back, shaking her head. "That—That doesn't make sense."
Jaxon chuckled. "Oh, but it does."
Aster finally moved, running a hand down his face before turning to Jaxon with a glare. "You're lying."
Jaxon rolled his eyes. "Why would I lie about this?"
"Because you hate me," Aster snapped. "Because you want to screw with my head. Because—because—"
His voice wavered, just for a second.
Jaxon's smirk faded. "I might hate you, Aster, but even I wouldn't lie about something like this."
Rea's chest tightened. "But… Calloway is dangerous."
Jaxon's eyes gleamed. "Exactly."
Rea inhaled sharply. If this was true—if Aster was really his son—then everything her parents had done to keep her away from the Westwoods wasn't just about Jaxon's family.
It was about him.
It was about Aster.
Aster exhaled, shaking his head. "You expect me to believe that the man who abandoned my mother—the man who didn't give a damn whether I lived or died—is my father?"
Jaxon raised an eyebrow. "Sounds familiar, doesn't it?"
Aster went rigid.
Rea reached for him without thinking, fingers brushing against his arm. He didn't pull away, but he didn't look at her either.
Jaxon tilted his head. "You want proof? Look in the mirror, Aster. You don't look like Dad. You don't act like him, either. But Calloway? The temper, the recklessness, the way you refuse to back down even when you should?"
Jaxon smirked.
"That's all him."
Aster's breath came out uneven. "Shut up."
Jaxon just watched him.
Aster turned away, pacing the small space like he needed to move or he'd explode. His fingers twitched at his sides, like he wanted to hit something.
Rea didn't know what to say.
Because what if Jaxon was right?
What if everything she knew about Aster was a lie?
What if her parents knew?
The thought made her stomach twist.
Jaxon sighed. "Look, I don't care what you do with this information. You wanted answers. There they are."
Aster let out a bitter laugh. "Answers? All you did was give me more questions."
Jaxon shrugged. "Not my problem."
Aster turned, eyes dark. "If this is true—if Calloway really is my father—why the hell didn't he ever come for me?"
Jaxon's smirk faded.
For the first time, he looked… hesitant.
Rea didn't like that look.
Jaxon exhaled. "Because he thinks you're dead."
The room went silent.
Rea's heart pounded. "What?"
Jaxon crossed his arms. "Mom told him you died at birth."
Aster flinched.
Jaxon's gaze was unreadable. "She wanted to keep you safe. She knew if he found out about you, he'd never let you go. So she lied. Disappeared. Cut him out completely."
Rea could barely breathe.
Aster's voice was barely a whisper. "And Dad?"
Jaxon scoffed. "Oh, he knew the truth. He just didn't care. To him, you were already dead the moment you weren't his."
Aster's jaw clenched.
Rea reached for him again, but this time, he stepped away.
Jaxon sighed. "Look, I don't expect you to believe me right away. But sooner or later, the truth was gonna catch up to you."
Aster didn't respond.
Rea didn't blame him.
Jaxon grabbed his bottle of whiskey again, taking another swig before nodding toward the door. "You two should probably go."
Aster didn't move.
Rea hesitated, then gently tugged on his sleeve. "Aster."
He inhaled sharply, then nodded stiffly. Without another word, he turned and walked out.
Rea cast one last glance at Jaxon, but he was already looking away, like he had nothing else to say.
So she followed Aster outside.
The night air was cold, biting against her skin, but she barely felt it.
Aster was already walking ahead, shoulders tense, hands shoved in his pockets.
Rea hurried to catch up. "Aster—"
"I don't want to talk."
His voice was hollow.
Rea bit her lip but nodded. "Okay."
They walked in silence.
Rea didn't know what to say. Didn't know how to make any of this better.
So she just stayed close.
And hoped that, when Aster was ready—
He'd let her in.