William’s POV

I glanced at Alex and took a deep breath.

I knew that she would ask about her parents someday. I knew we would have to tell her everything that happened. I knew it would be hard on us because we still blamed each other for everything.

We were enemies. We came together for her, but we were enemies.

I tightened my jaw and sat down next to Alex and Sophia. I reached out for her and Alex raised an eyebrow.

“I need to hold her if I’m going to do this,” I said, making Alex sigh.

I needed something to calm me down and she was exactly what I needed.

Alex kissed the top of her head and moved his arms so I could take her. I smiled and pulled her onto my lap.

“My Sunshine,” I said as I hugged her tightly.

She hugged me back and I almost melted into a puddle. I knew she felt most comfortable with Alex, but she was slowly opening up to all of us and I couldn't be happier.

I kissed the top of her head and took another deep breath. I looked at my brothers and Alex and Elijah, who was now sitting at the table next to Damien.

“No accusations, am I clear?” I said sternly. “We will tell her the truth. We will tell her exactly as it happened.”

“Will is right,” Alex spoke before anyone else could. “I don’t want this to turn into a fight. She doesn’t need that.”

The rest of our brothers nodded.

I looked at my sister and gave her a small smile. I caressed her cheek and breathed out slowly.

“Your mom and dad fell in love about three years before you were born,” I started speaking. “They were seeing each other very often. Our dad said multiple times that he loved your mom very, very much.”

It was hard for me to say that, but it was the truth. Our dad did love her mom. He loved her a lot.

“Our mom loved him just as much,” Alex added, reaching out and taking Sophia's hand in his. “And they both loved you, baby. They loved you so, so much.”

Sophia took a deep breath and gulped. I placed a hand on her head and pressed her closer to me.

“Our dad believed that you were his,” Alex continued and I could hear pain in his voice. “He was thrilled. He always wanted a girl.”

Alex stopped talking and tightened his jaw.

“But our dad couldn't let another man take his child,” I continued. “Especially not his enemy.”

Sophia looked up at me and furrowed her eyebrows.

“But why were they enemies?” she asked. “Why do you hate each other so much?”

I glanced at Alex and saw him shaking his head. We would tell her the truth about her parents, but it was not the time for everything else. She just started trusting us. I didn’t want her to be afraid of us.

“We were always business rivals, Sunshine,” I said, giving her a part of the whole truth. “We were always in the same business and we wanted the other one to fail.”

Sophia looked at Alex.

“What about now?” she asked. “Are you enemies now?”

I looked at my brothers. Luke was shaking his head. Damien glanced at Elijah, who raised an eyebrow at Alex.

“Now we have something much more important,” Alex said, giving her a small smile. “Now we have you and we can’t be enemies anymore.”

Sophia smiled a little and my heart exploded with happiness. I pressed her closer to me and my smile grew.

“We love you, Sunshine,” I said. “You are more important than anything else between us.”

Sophia wrapped her arms around me and I was melting.

I was one of the most feared men in my world, but I was fucking melting and grinning like an idiot.

I could see Damien smirking at me and I rolled my eyes at him. The fucker would be doing the same if she was hugging him.

“What happened after I was born?” Sophia asked, breaking the short silence.

I tensed up a little and looked at Alex. He took a deep breath and gulped.

“My dad found out that you weren’t his on the day you were born,” Alex started talking. “Your dad came to the hospital and asked to see his child. My dad almost lost it then and there. He was crushed.”

Alex stopped talking and looked at his lap.

“All of our parents knew it would be a scandal if they divorced,” Alex continued, his voice laced with a mixture of anger and pain. “It would have been bad for both of our businesses and it would have caused a lot of trouble for both families.”

“So my mom and their dad decided it would be best to act like nothing ever happened,” I continued. “But you were already born and they knew it wouldn't be possible.”

“My dad wanted to keep you,” Alex mumbled quietly. “He believed that you were his for months. He wanted to keep you and give you his last name.”

I tightened my jaw. I was still angry about it. I would have lost my sister if that had happened. Thankfully, it didn’t.

“But our dad was against it,” I added. “He couldn't let another man have his child.”

I completely understood my dad. If just a tiny piece of Sophia didn’t want Alex and Eli in her life, I would do whatever the fuck I had to do to keep them away from her. I wouldn't let them have her.

I tightened my arms around her and kissed the top of her head again.

“So our parents did what they thought was best,” I continued with a sigh. “James and Elizabeth were both working at our dad’s company. They were a young couple who couldn't have kids. Our dad thought they would be very good parents so him and your mom decided to give you to them.”

I felt anger pulsating in my blood.

“All of us were against it,” Alex said quietly. “Especially Will and I. We were the oldest and we wanted to keep you. We didn’t want them to give you away. We even suggested that each family would have you for a week.”

Alex chuckled a little. I smiled when I remembered that.

“But our parents were against it and they unfortunately sent you to live with those monsters,” I added quietly.

She would have been so much safer with us.

Alex sighed and furrowed his eyebrows a little.

“Our hate for each other only grew after that,” he said. “We were constantly accusing each other and fighting about who you belonged to.”

Alex shook his head and took a deep breath.

“Our mom and your dad continued their affair,” Alex said, scoffing a little. “They were together until the end.”

Sophia tensed up a little. I pressed her even closer to me.

“The same man who is now after you killed them both,” I said, my voice trembling a little. “He is our business rival and he knew that he would hurt both families if he killed them.”

Sophia gasped quietly and looked up at me. The tears I saw in her eyes broke my heart. I caressed her cheek and kissed her forehead.

“I am sorry, baby,” Alex mumbled. “I am so sorry.”

Sophia buried her face into my chest. I ran my fingers through her hair and took a deep breath. She was silent for a few moments.

“What about your parents?” she asked quietly, her voice strained.

Alex took a deep breath and tightened his jaw.

“My dad died a few years after our mom,” Alex said. “He was having trouble coping with losing his wife and who he thought was his daughter in a matter of few years. He started drinking and it reflected badly on his health.”

“I am so sorry,” Sophia said and looked at him.

Alex smiled a little.

“It’s okay, baby,” he said softly. “I know that he is in a better place now.”

Sophia nodded and reached out for him. I reluctantly moved my arms so he could pull her back to him. She hugged him tightly and he smiled.

“Oh, I love you,” he muttered as he wrapped his arms around her tightly. “You have no idea how much.”

I looked at my brothers and Eli. All of them were smiling softly.

“What about your mom?” Sophia asked, making me look back at her.

She had tears falling down her cheeks. I reached out to wipe them away.

“She is still alive, Sunshine,” I said, giving her a small smile. “Maybe you could meet her someday.”

Sophia smiled a little and gave me a small nod.

“I would love that.”