Megan’s POV
Helen walked into the room with her two assistants. She sat in the middle, while her two assistants stood behind her.
Helen looked at the three of us, then she said, “Please, sit down.”
We all sat down. I sat on Helen’s left side, while Mom sat on Helen’s right side. Freddy sat in front of Helen.
Freddy lowered his head to stare at the floor, his fingers moving restlessly. Meanwhile, Mom’s eyes kept on Freddy. It looks like Mom loves Freddy so much.
My heart was beating quite fast. I hope Grandma didn’t hear what I said earlier. If she did, it would be the end of my story.
“What’s wrong, Mom?” my mom Erin asked Helen.
Helen adjusted her glasses and cleared her throat. “It’s about our family. But wait a minute until one more person comes.”
“Another person? Who is she, Grandma?” I asked curiously.
Helen turned her head and smiled. Honestly, I found her smile mysterious.
“Your father,” Helen replied. She was still smiling, showing her rows of white teeth.
What’s going on, and what was Grandma planning to do? What was she trying to say, exactly?
My palms broke out in a cold sweat. I slammed my shoes on the floor a few times. My mind painted a picture of the worst possibilities I didn’t expect to happen.
“W-what’s John here for, Mom?” my mom asked in a trembling voice.
Shh, I’m sure Mom would make Grandma suspicious.
“To discuss some things with us, of course,” she replied. Then, one of his assistants whispered in my grandmother’s ear. I couldn’t hear their conversation, and that made me even more curious.
“Mrs. Smith, if you’re going to discuss matters within your family, it doesn’t seem right for me to be here. I’d better leave if you want me to,” Freddy asked. His face turned like a kitten begging for mercy.
“You don’t need to leave here because there are matters concerning you later. Sit quietly,” Grandma replied. Then Grandma’s two assistants brought coffee for the five of us and placed a cup for John.
A few moments later, John came in, walking. I saw a grim and sinister look on his face, as if he was angry. He immediately sat in front of me without looking and greeting me. He used to always call me ‘my princess’. But now he didn’t even stare and his face was deliberately staring at the coffee cup in front of him.
Ah, it looks like what I was afraid of happened.
“John, I-I,” Mom said.
“Shut up,” John replied firmly.
That was the end of my and Mom’s story. Dad had said nothing like that to Mom. He always spoke with love. I wanted to run and hide from them all.
“Mom, here we go,” Dad said.
Helen cleared her throat. “Alright, everyone’s gathered here. I’ll just start. Erin, I never approved of your relationship with John because I felt there was something mysterious about you. Your face and body language showed it all. But John fell in love with you and I couldn’t help it. And to this day, he still loves you. Until one day, God helped me discover some shocking facts. They were about Megan and what did you do to Karen and Piper? I never would have guessed that you both had the heart to hurt Piper and her twins. I often wondered where your conscience was. But I also realized that people are easily blinded by wealth until common sense is closed.”
Helen let out a long breath. One of her assistants handed her a bottle of mineral water. After drinking, Helen explained, “And another shocking fact is that you lied to me and John about Megan. Before you married John, you were pregnant with Freddy’s child. And all this time, you two have also been having a secret affair. You might think I don’t know or that the entire world doesn’t know. You’re wrong. I have eyes and ears everywhere.”
“Freddy, you’ve let me down when I trusted you so much,” Helen said. She exhaled again.
“M-mom, this is all a misunderstanding,” Mom replied. She was still trying to defend herself. I sat speechless. My history was over and the treasure I’d worked so hard for was gone.
“Shame on you! Do you still dare to defend yourself? Where is your pride? All you want is wealth and status. Pathetic,” John said.
John was right.
“Hun, you misunderstood. This is all a misunderstanding. Then, where’s the proof?” Mom asked, panicking.
Suddenly, Helen made a hand gesture to one of her assistants and the assistant handed her a large white envelope. Then Helen gave the envelope to Mom. I was curious about the contents.
“Open it,” said Helen.
“What is this, Mom?” Mom asked Helen.
“Open it and look,” Helen answered.
Mom opened the envelope carefully and with a tense look on her face. Freddy had the same look on his face. Did the envelope contain photos of evidence of Mom’s infidelity? Or photos of evidence of the crimes Mom and I had committed?
What should I do?
And a minute later, Mom’s eyes widened, her mouth gaped, and she looked confused.
“M-mom, this,” Mom stammered.
“You don’t have to defend yourself anymore. That’s all the evidence. Let Freddy see,” Helen said.
Freddy hurriedly took the paper in Mom’s hand and read it carefully.
“Mrs. Smith, when did you know all this?” Freddy asked.
“You don’t need to know since when I knew Megan wasn’t my biological granddaughter. Your DNA runs in Megan. Now everything is clear. I’m asking you to leave my house and leave Smith Company as soon as you’re done. Understood?” Helen asked.
Then Helen handed over some documents for Mom and Freddy to sign. I glimpsed they were divorced and had resignation documents.
Oh! All my dreams and goals are gone. Where was I going to go?
“Mom, there’s no way I’m getting a divorce from John. He loves me,” Mom said with a chuckle.
I turned my face to look at Mom, who was still trying to maintain her status as part of the Smith family. It’s useless. There’s no point anymore.
Helen looked at John as she asked, “John, do you still love her?”
“No,” John replied firmly.
Mom laughed loudly, and her face took on a scary look. She stood up and pointed her index finger at Helen. “You wicked woman! You must have engineered all this so Megan wouldn’t inherit from you. Then, you created this ugly rumor to send my name into free fall as the master of fashion in Valdirra. Isn’t that right?”
“Erin, what the hell? Sit down and sign the agreement,” John pleaded.
“You want to divorce me? It’s not that easy!” Erin said. Freddy looked panicked beside Mom. His hand was holding Mom’s hand, trying to calm her down.