Chapter 85 - CRUEL REALITY

SIENNA.

I turned my head wordlessly and handed the newspaper to her. As she scanned the front page and recognized my mother, I saw the blood drain from her cheeks. She read the headline aloud, her voice trembling.

“The billionaire’s mother-in-law shocks the public! Narcotics, sex, and rehab,” she said, her eyes wide. Inside the article was a smaller picture of my mother leaving an unknown building.

The clerk behind the counter tried to play it cool, pretending not to notice as Lauren and I stood there, stunned into silence. Lauren, with an urgency that matched my rising panic, snatched up the tabloid and quickly rifled through the pages. Her hands shook slightly as she flipped through the magazine, searching for the story. When she finally found it, she looked up at me, eyes wide with a mix of disbelief and concern, before reading aloud.

“Here it is,” she said, her voice shaking just a bit. She started reading it out loud, her words cutting through the heavy silence like a knife.

“The 50-year-old mother of the recently identified Sienna Roberts, Jane Moore, has been attending a ten-step program for alcoholism,” she began, her voice faltering slightly. Jane sneaks off to her meetings to stay sober, while Aiden Roberts, the wealthy businessman, and his new wife Sienna Roberts are seen shopping around town for their wedding. Mrs. Moore, who lives in London and is married to billionaire businessman Steven Moore, was recently imprisoned for drunk driving. "

The words felt like a punch to the gut. I stood there, trying to process the information, my emotions a tangled mess of anger, sadness, and concern. Lauren looked up from the tabloid, her expression sympathetic.

Lauren gave me a look of shock and sympathy.

“This can’t be real. Are they serious?”

I nodded, feeling a lump form in my throat.

“It looks like it. I can’t believe this is happening.”

“Why didn’t she tell you anything about this?” Lauren asked, her voice filled with disbelief.

“I don’t know,” I said, trying to process the information. “Maybe she wanted to protect me. Or maybe she thought she could handle it on her own.”

Lauren sighed and put a comforting hand on my shoulder. “We’ll figure this out. You don’t have to go through it alone.”

“Thanks,” I muttered, grateful for her support. “I just wish I knew what to do next.”

“First, let’s get out of here,” Lauren suggested, looking around the pub nervously. “We don’t need any more attention.”

We quickly paid for our coffees and left the pub, heading back to our studio. The walk was silent, both of us lost in our thoughts. Once we arrived, I sank into a chair, feeling overwhelmed.

“What’s the plan?” Lauren asked, breaking the silence.

“I need to talk to my mom,” I said, pulling out my phone. “I have to hear her side of the story.”

Lauren nodded. “Good idea. And if you need me to, I can help you come up with a plan to deal with the media.”

“I can’t believe this is happening,” I muttered, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Yeah, this is pretty intense,” Lauren agreed, glancing back at the article. “Why didn’t she tell you anything about this?”

“I don’t know,” I said, shaking my head in disbelief. “Maybe she didn’t want to worry me. But a DUI? That’s serious.”

Lauren placed a comforting hand on my shoulder.

“People hide things for many reasons. Maybe she thought she could handle it on her own or didn’t want to disrupt your life.”

I sighed, running a hand through my hair.

“I feel like I’ve been so wrapped up in my own life that I missed the signs. How did I not know?”

Lauren squeezed my shoulder.

“Hey, don’t blame yourself. People can be really good at hiding their struggles. The important thing is you’re here for her now.”

I nodded, feeling guilty yet determined.

“You’re right. I need to talk to her, find out what’s really going on.”

Lauren gave me a reassuring smile.

“Do you want me to come with you? You don’t have to face this alone.”

“Thanks, but I think it’s better if I do this on my own,” I replied. “It’s a family matter, and she might open up more if it’s just me.”

“Alright,” Lauren said, giving me a quick hug. “But give me a call if you need anything. I mean it.”

My heart raced uncontrollably, and it felt like I was on the verge of a heart attack. Everything seemed to fall apart, but this wasn’t the moment to show any weakness. I needed to stay composed and think clearly about how to approach my mother and father with my questions. I had to figure out how much each of them knew and whether they were aware of each other’s deceptions.

I braced myself for potential reproaches, maybe even a fight.

“Lauren, seriously, how can they lie like that? I don’t get it,” I yelled.

“Hey, don’t assume things right away. You don’t have the entire story,” she said, trying to calm me down. But my anger was like a wildfire, and I felt ready to confront anyone.

“It’s just... I feel like everything’s been a lie. How could they hide something this big from me?”

Was there a chance Lauren was right, and I had jumped to conclusions too quickly? If so, why didn’t the heavy feeling in my heart ease up? Why did their deception seem more plausible the more I dwelled on it? I could almost understand my father lying his entire life, but what about my sweet mother? Why did she play along in his charade?

“The most important people in my life have proven to be dishonest liars, Lauren. It’s so unfair! Why did I give up my freedom for this?” I yelled, feeling totally betrayed.

“Stop it, Sienna! You’re gonna regret what you’re saying. I advised you to speak with your mother first. You know how tabloids operate. The information there isn’t reliable. So ask your mom!” Lauren’s voice was firm but caring.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm down.

“I know, I know. It’s just so hard to think clearly when everything feels like it’s crumbling.”

Lauren nodded sympathetically. “I get it. But jumping to conclusions won’t help. Just talk to her, okay?”

I sighed, feeling a bit more grounded.

“Alright, I’ll talk to her. But what if she doesn’t tell me the truth?”

“She will,” Lauren reassured me. “She loves you, and she probably has her reasons. Just give her a chance to explain.”

As I mulled over Lauren’s words, I realized she was right. I needed to give my mother the benefit of the doubt and hear her side of the story. Maybe there was more to this than I initially thought.

I left the studio, my mind racing with thoughts of how to approach my mother. As I drove to the house, I mentally prepared myself for the difficult conversation ahead.

When I arrived, I took a deep breath and went in. My mother came greeting me, looking weary and defeated. Seeing her like that broke my heart.

“Mom, we need to talk,” I said gently.

She nodded, stepping aside to let me in. We sat down in the living room, the weight of the situation hanging heavy in the air.

“I saw the article,” I began, not sure how else to start.

She sighed, her eyes welling up with tears.

“I’m so sorry you had to find out like this.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” I asked, trying to keep my voice calm. “I could have helped.”

“I didn’t want to worry you,” she admitted, her voice trembling. “You have so much going on with the wedding and everything. I thought I could handle it on my own.”

“But you don’t have to handle it alone,” I said firmly. “We’re family. We face things together.”

She nodded, wiping away her tears.

“I know. It’s just... I was ashamed. I didn’t want you to see me like this.”

I reached out and took her hand, squeezing it gently.

“Mom, I don’t care about the headlines or what people think. I care about you.”

But I had this horrible thought in my mind.

Was Aiden aware of all this?