Letter From Denise

Letter From Denise
"He's not our son." Was the only argument I could come up with.
Disappointment and disbelief darkened his eyes. "So you're prepared to let that young boy who left his country to provide a life for himself and his family to die in a fight that doesn't concern him? Coming from you, a mother?"
Guilty speared, so I kept mute, partly to reflect.
"Look, babe, I know you've been through a lot and Kazim was giving every information to bring every injustice to an end and the people responsible to book and he has done a wonderful job so far, but it was getting too heated. He was digging in too deep and I feared it was only a matter of time before he would wound up dead probably in some remote location. I know you're a good person and would never want to put his life at risk, you just wanted to fight back the only way you knew how."
I hated that the anger was no longer aimed at him. I felt ashamed that he'd considered the risks while I was only interested in what Kazim had to offer.
"Where is he now?" I swallowed the boulder that had lodged itself in my throat.
"Somewhere safe, continuing his education. He asked if he could see you, I told him you'll see him when all was over."
I nodded. "So those information on how to find the Russian authorities, how did you get it?"
"Denise did."
Another surprise hit me. "She did?"
"That's why I said the Denise back then isn't the same as this Denise. If she wanted Jerome that much, why would she agree to get information on him?"
I stared deep into his eyes and as soon as I read what was there, I shook my head. "I see what you're doing but it won't work. She killed my father, for God's sake! She ruined my marriage with Christian."
When he reached out to hold my hands, I let him. I wasn't angry at him anymore. "I'm not trying to sway your emotions and beliefs concerning Denise but I want you to understand that people do a lot of bad, unjustifiable things for survival."
"What are you saying?"
"There's something I want to give to you." He released me and gave me an envelope.
I turned it over in my hands. "What is this?"
"Open it." He encouraged.
Glancing up at him, I looked down back at the white envelope in my hands. Thinking no further, I opened it, breaking its seal and brought out a neatly folded piece of paper.
A brow crooked, I raised the paper up. "A letter? Really? You can't just tell me what you want to in person?"
"It's not from me. Just open the letter and read, babe."
Understanding he wasn't going to answer any more questions from me, I opened the letter and read, my forehead creasing in concentration and a bit of befuddlement.
The letter went thus...
'Hi, Hailey.
I have no idea what I'm doing writing this letter, especially knowing it won't change anything but I just have to get it off my chest.
Your...no, our father knew about my existence. He knew when my mother was pregnant with me. I was told by my mother that he wanted to do the right thing and take care of me but he didn't.
During her last days, she told me he was too scared to do as he'd promised. He wouldn't marry her and he wouldn't care for me because he was too scared. He didn't want your mother who was his girlfriend then to find out.
I wasn't really angry because he didn't marry my mother, but why would he reject me? I had dreams but they were cut short because there was no money to pursue education plus she was sick at the time.
Mom fell into depression until Derek came into our lives. She died shortly after and I was left with Derek who asked questions about my biological father. When Derek got to find out who he was and what he had, he made it a mission to get his hands on the wealth.
He made me believe I had every right to the wealth, not you. Showed me pictures of you progressing through school while I was wasting at home. He was a good father to me — or so I thought — I believed him.
Now that I think about it, I'd say he used my anger to cajole me into everything we did. It was his idea to poison our father. Then I met Christian, we were dating before you.
I'm sure you're now aware we never broke up. He wanted to get rich and when he told me about you, I saw it as an opportunity so I told Derek. He told me to play along and agree with Christian.
Once we succeeded in getting you out of the picture, Derek, once again, somehow got me thinking that Christian would do to me what he had done to you and said I should betray him before he did me.
I really loved Christian but I had to do it because I finally had the life I wanted, I didn't want to go back to poverty.
The rest you already know.
Hailey, I know I have no excuse for ending the life of our father, I just wanted what you had and I am realizing how selfish I was because now I think that there would have been a chance — even the smallest one — that you would have given me a listening ear had I come to you for help.
I'm sorry for everything I put you through and I hope you do find it in you to forgive me. Someday.
And when you do, please come visit me in prison so I'll be at peace.
And I hope you catch Derek, Philip will be with him. Jared will give you details as soon as I get information.
When you're done fighting for a trouble-free life, relax and have fun, you've gone through so much already.
Ps: Forgive Jared. The guy is nuts about you.'
"Oh God." Tears fell, wetting the letter.