Selling Myself To The Alpha
Chapter 96

Liana

POV

"I miss our honeymoon," I sigh theatrically as I rub my belly which has nearly tripled in size overnight. "The beach house, the ocean and quiet. Waking up next to the ocean just does something to me." "I know," Axel gives me a wicked smile as he steers through traffic. "And then you do things to me which I thoroughly enjoy."

"It was our honeymoon," I laugh. "Of course, I'm going to have my way with you."

"Do you want to go this weekend?" Axel asks. "One last getaway before Wolfie arrives."

"As much as I would love that, it's too risky," I smile sadly. "What if he decides to come early? I'm not delivering this baby without Michelle."

"I can always ask her to join us?" Axel reaches over and gently rubs my stomach.

"And traumatize her with our sex noises?" I snort. "I like her, let's not do that."

"Yes, dear," he grins as he turns onto the road that leads to my parents' trailer park.

The familiarity of everything suddenly hits me in the gut and I inhale deeply. Seven months have passed since I last set foot here and still, it feels like it was yesterday.

"Remind me again why I wanted to do this?" I ask nervously as I fumble with my fingers.

"Liana, I will turn around right now if you want me to," Axel says sincerely.

"No," I shake my head. "Keep going. I will only postpone the inevitable."

"Okay," he parks in front of my parents' unit. "But the second you're uncomfortable or in distress, we're leaving."

"Thanks," I smile weakly.

I take a couple of deep breaths as Axel gets out of the car and walks around to open my door. With my hand in his, we walk to the door and wait patiently after he knocks. "Liana?" Dad looks surprised at me and then at my stomach.

"Hi, Dad," I smile. "May we come in?"

"Yes, please," he says hastily as he opens the door and steps aside. "Your mother is sleeping but I can wake her."

"No, don't," I reply softly. "We'll wait until she wakes up."

My heart breaks when I see the inside of the trailer. My mother might be heartless, but she was always on top of her household duties. It is still neat and tidy, but it has not been cleaned properly in weeks. "Dad," I swallow on the lump in my throat. "Where's the tv and your recliner?"

"Oh, uh, I sold it," he rubs his neck awkwardly. "But we can sit at the kitchen counter."

I give Alex a pained look before walking to the fridge, and I nearly burst into tears when I look at the contents. Six eggs, half a bread and an almost empty can of jam. Dad looks down at his feet like a scolded child as I go through the cupboards one by one. The less I see- or rather, do not see the more upset I get.

"Dad," I take a deep breath before I turn to him. "I never cancelled the grocery order when Leon died. Where's the food?"

"I'm sorry, Liana," he looks at me with tear-filled eyes. "Your mother is in a lot of pain. I sell some of it to buy painkillers for her."

"Dammit, Father," my bottom lip starts quivering and Axel is immediately by my side and places his arm comforting around my shoulder.

At this moment it does not matter what they have said or done to me in the past. They are still my parents and watching first-hand how they are struggling, is breaking my heart.

"Only some of it," he says hastily. "I swear, we eat most of it."

"I need fresh air," I mumble and storm out of the trailer.

"Liana," Axel calls after me but I keep on walking until I am at the car.

"Love, are you alright?" Axel asks gently as he rests his hand on my shoulder.

"No," I sniff and wipe the tears off my face. "They're suffering, Axel. And I was too hurt and mad at them to care. What kind of daughter ...."

"Enough," he cuts me off and pulls me into his embrace. "They could've reached out to you, but they didn't. They chose to cut you off. This is not on you. Thanks to you, they had food every day."

"I should've done more," I argue. "I should've tried harder. I should've done better."

"Do you remember the state you were in when they kicked you out?" Axel asks sternly as he takes me by the shoulders and looks me in the eyes. "You collapsed, Liana. You cried yourself to sleep for weeks on end. This is not your fault."

"It doesn't feel like it," I inhale deeply and pull myself together. I know Axel is right, but I cannot suppress the sadness. I thought they would be okay if I kept on sending food. I have been living in luxury while they had to sell their furniture and food to make ends meet. I should have thought that Mother would need medicine and that they would not be able to afford it.

"Okay," Axel rubs my arms. "Go see your mother. I will go shopping. Let me know what else they need besides food, okay?"

"I love you," I throw my arms around his neck and cling for dear life. I would have never made it this far without him.

"I love you too," he hugs me tightly before pulling away and kissing me. "I won't be long."

I nod and wipe the last tears away before walking back into the trailer.

"I'm sorry, Liana," Dad says the moment I walk inside. "I didn't think you'd be mad at us for selling the food."

"I'm not mad," I close my eyes for a second and fight my emotions. I swear, if I start crying now, I will never stop. "I only wished I knew earlier so that I could've helped."

"My child," Dad mumbles and rubs his wrinkled hands over and over. "We mistreated you poorly long enough. It wouldn't have been fair to come to you again. You need to live your life. When Leon died... he was my baby boy. I had all these hopes and dreams for him. Every time he failed, I thought, next time. Just believe. Don't give up on him, he can do it. I never had to worry about you like that. You always did your best, even in school. You worked hard and never complained. You never asked for anything. But Leon ... there was always something with him. I knew he needed more attention and guidance than you to get somewhere in the world. When he died there would never be a next time and I was angry at everyone. Angry at Leon for never living up to his potential. Angry for being too weak to provide for my family like a real man. And I took it out on you. I'm sorry, Liana. I can never take back the things I said. So, I decided that I would get back on my feet and once I can take care of me and Mom by myself, I will reach out to you. Proof to you that I love you for you and not using you to provide for us."

"Oh, Dad," I bite hard on my lip to stop the tears as I throw my arms around his waist and hug him. I can feel his bones through his shirt and sorrow rips through me. The things he said to me that day, pulled my soul apart. And as painful as it was, I am ready to let it go. This is a heartfelt apology. He is not asking anything from me. Not even forgiveness. He is simply saying sorry.

"I'm so sorry," Dad cries. "I should've fought harder for you. I should've said something every time your mother has been unreasonable towards you. I should've appreciated you more and showed it. I failed you, Liana, and nothing can change that." "Please stop," I cry against his shirt. "It's in the past and I'm happy now. I love you and I forgive you. We don't need to talk about it ever again."

"I don't deserve you," Dad sniffs. "Or your kindness, but I'm grateful, Liana. You're the only thing I've done right in my life."

"Enough of this," I pull away and wipe my cheeks. "We leave the past where it belongs and work on the future. I'm going to check in on Mom." "Okay," Dad nods as he dries his face. "I'll make tea."

I stop at the bathroom and fix my makeup before going to the bedroom. Quietly, I open the door and inhale deeply when I look at the tiny figure on the bed.

She has lost an alarming amount of weight, and her complexion is a frightening yellow. I take a seat on the chair next to the bed and pick up her hand. "Hello, Mother," I say softly, and she looks tiredly at me.