429 SEVEN YEARS OLD (3)

"No…" Hope threw her arms around Kace's neck and buried her face in the crook of his shoulder. "I love you all." She said softly. 

Kace hugged her small figure tightly, but not strong enough to hurt her. "I know you do."

He cradled her like that for a few moments until her small voice broke the silence. "Why don't I have parents? Do they not want me?"

Kace rubbed her back as he leaned against the backrest of the sofa. "Of course, they want you. They love you." He placed a tender kiss on her forehead as he could feel that fact had upset her. 

The fact that she didn't have parents.

A fact that Hope didn't realize until she got enrolled in a school and understood that she was different. She knew Serefina wasn't her mother and Lana was not her sister, just like what people assumed they were. 

"So, why are they not here with me?" Hope raised her head and looked at Kace sullenly. "I have never seen them."