Nicole’s POV
His confession caught me completely off guard. I had always believed that I was the reason my parents and my mother’s family were shamed and that I was responsible for my mother being cast out. I never imagined that the truth would be so different.
“We thought keeping Irene away from us would keep her safe,” he paused, his voice thick with emotion. “She didn’t deserve to die so young… She never did anything wrong, she didn’t deserve any of this…” Uncle Jason’s eyes turned red, and I couldn’t hold back my own tears.
I forced myself to look away from him and focus on the gravestone. “But you should have told my mother the truth. She lived her life with guilt and regret…”
“You’re right…” he agreed with a nod. “We were wrong to keep her in the dark…”
“Nicole, you’ve awakened
