“You…” River’s voice cracked, her throat dry. “You knew.”
Mariana’s tears spilled first, silent and broken. Mr. Smith reached across the table for his daughter’s hands, but River flinched back, the rejection like a knife.
“No,” River whispered, shaking her head as hot tears slid down her cheeks. “You knew, all this time? And you let me believe I was… ordinary? You let me stumble in the dark—alone—thinking I was weak… years I worked like an omega… I was raised to act like an omega?”
Mariana choked on a sob. “We only wanted to protect you, River. Please, you have to understand. The truth—it was dangerous! If anyone had known, they would have taken you from us!”
Mr. Smith’s voice was hoarse, trembling. “We loved you as our own, from the moment they placed you in our arms. But we swore an
