Chapter 58 Related Lies
JESSICA
"I uh....I should go now." I stuttered, stopping him.
He heaved a sigh, withdrawing his hand, resting his back on his seat, and lowering his gaze.
I pursed my lips, feeling guilty as I stared at him.
"I have an early morning shift tomorrow," I said.
He nodded, looking at me. "Of course."
"Thanks for tonight," I said.
He nodded.
"Good night," I said.
"Good night."
I smiled slightly.
I didn't get a smile from him.
I opened the door and got out of the car.
I closed the door gently.
I waved my hand at him.
He drove away.
I stared at his car as it drove into the distance.
I heaved a sigh, rubbing my temples.
What is wrong with me?
I walked towards the gate, put in the passcode and the gate opened. I walked in and closed the gate. I locked it as well before heading towards our building.
Getting to the entrance, I opened the door and entered. I met a dark house.
Everyone must be asleep.
I reached for the switch and turned it on. The light ignited the house and my eyes fell on something that made my heart drop.
Dad is lying on the floor on his belly.
"Dad!" I hurried towards him and dropped to my knees. I placed my two fingers on the side of his neck to check his pulse.
I felt a movement.
I closed my eyes and opened them, letting out a sigh of relief.
Oh, thank God.
But why is he on the floor?
"Dad?" I shook him a bit.
He moved slightly.
"Dad, you are on the floor," I said, shaking him.
He groaned, resting his hand on the floor and raising his body slightly.
Alcohol stench filled my nose.
God, was he drinking?
"Dad," I called again, holding his hand to help him stand on his feet.
"You need to go upstairs," I said.
He moved and I placed his hand over my shoulders as he finally got on his feet.
I was about to move but the next thing that happened took me off guard.
He pushed me away, making me fall on the sofa.
I whimpered, looking at him.
"Don't touch me, little tramp," he said, scowling at me.
"Leo!" Mom took our attention as she descended the stairs hurriedly.
"Why did you push her like that?" she asked, walking towards me as I stood on my feet and she held my shoulders.
I looked at Dad. He is looking at her.
"What is wrong with you?" Mom asked.
He pointed at me sluggishly. "Tell that thing not to touch me ever.....ever again. You......you hear me?"
My heart tightened.
"What did she do to you? Look at you. You look wasted. When did you even come in? Why do you like drinking so much, Leo?"
Dad didn't respond but kept staring at me.
"It was them right? Brad and Xavier made you drink this much didn't they?!" Mom asked.
"Shut up!"
Mom and I flinched.
He raised his index finger slowly, pointing at Mom this time.
"I.....i am tired of this.....bull.....shit.."
"Leo,"
"Take......take that tramp to her real father."
I froze.
"Stop this, Leo!" Mom yelled, making me look at her as tears approached my eyes.
"I don't want her in our house, Carmen!" he fell backwards on the couch behind him.
"I don't.......I don't wan....want her here."
I looked at Mom again.
She is looking at Dad with worry on her face but still holding me.
"Mom,"
She looked at me as a tear ran down my face.
"What is he saying?"
She shook her head. "He is drunk. You can see that right? He doesn't know what he is saying, sweetie. Ignore him." She wiped my tears with her thumb, looking uneasy.
Her body language is breaking my heart.
There is.....there is some truth in what dad is saying.
"David...." Dad said, making me look at him. "David is my only true child."
"Shut up, Leo." Mom ordered.
"David! Get my son damnit! My only real child!"
"I said shut up, Leo!" Mom yelled, releasing me as she walked towards him.
More tears rolled down eyes.
"Stop this, Leo. Stop."
"We have only David," Dad said.
"He is the adopted one, Leo. Jessica is ours." Mom lowered her voice. "What is wrong with you? Stop treating our daughter like this. It is not fair."
I watched as Dad looked my way.
"She is not mine" he said.
My heart bled.
"Leo,"
"You are a fucking nobody, Jessica!"
"Shut up!" Mom yelled, smacking his face.
He groaned.
"Shut up!"
I let out a breathless scoff, turning around as my heart bled.
"She is not mine, Carmen. She is a fucking stranger here! Say the fucking truth!" Dad yelled.
I shut my eyes, squeezing the hand on my bag.
"Tell the little bitch the fucking truth so she can get out of our fucking lives!"
My legs took me towards the door and I grabbed the doorknob.
"No, no, sweetie, wait!"
I ran out.
"Jessica!"
I didn't stop running.
"Jessica!"
I got out of the gate and kept running as I sobbed.
My entire life has been a lie.
I am really a stranger in their circle.
That explains the hate from Dad and Uncle Xavier.
That explains the cold shoulders.
God, what is this?
What have I done?
What?
PRESENT HOURS
AT WELLNESS OASIS.....
NURSES CUBICLE.....
I wiped my tears as I stared at the pictures in my phone.
Mostly pictures of Mom, David, and me.
The ones we took at the bakery, fun fair, church, and our house.
I should stop personalizing.
I am not part of them.
I am not a Samuels.
My heart clenched. I locked my phone and lay on the bunk bed, resting my arm on my forehead as I stared at the bed above me.
It has been two days since I ran out of my home. I have been in this cubicle ever since. Mom has tried to reach out to me in many ways.
My phone, coming here herself, sending people to call me, and all.
But I haven't picked up any of her calls or gone out there to see her.
I can't believe she has been lying to me all this time.
If she had told me the truth, I would have forgiven her. She might not be my real mom but she raised me with so much love.
Why keep such a thing from me for the entire twenty-one years of my life?
Why?
I want to know who my real parents are.
I want to know who I am.
Was I abandoned? I want to know everything.
She has to tell me.
I deserve to know.
My phone vibrated.
I heaved a sigh, picking it up.
She is the dialer.
I placed my phone aside as I put my legs down and got on my feet.
"Jessica," a familiar female voice called.
It was Ashley, approaching with a white envelope in her hand.
"For you," she said, handing it to me.
I took it from her.
"She said her name is Carmen Samuels. Your mom," she said, walking past me.
My heart reacted as I stared at the envelope with the word, 'Mom' written on it in my mom's familiar handwriting.
I sat on the bed, still staring at the word, contemplating opening the letter.
"Hey, Jessica," Ashley said, taking my attention.
She is standing close to my bed.
"Can I sit?" she asked.
"Sure...."
She sat next to me instantly.
"So um....you look unhappy lately. Is everything okay?" she asked.
No. I just found out my entire life was a lie.
I nodded. "Yes. I am fine."
"Okay. Good. I want you to ask for a favor." she said.
I stared at her.
"There is a week-long conference happening in Mexico starting tomorrow. I was picked as one of the nurses going but I have a very important event happening this weekend and I don't want to miss it. It's my boyfriend's mom's birthday. His entire family will attend and it is a great time to meet all of them and you know, make a good impression." she shrugged.
"Um....what do you want me to do?"
She took my hand, making me look at it and then at her. She made a puppy face.
"Can you please replace me and go to the conference in Mexico?"
I furrowed my brows slightly.
Mexico?