Chapter 88- The Story of Yesterday (Part 1)

Chapter 88- The Story of Yesterday (Part 1)
Austin POV 

I was overjoyed to see Faith and Jairee safe and unharmed. But the ordeal was far from over—my mother had not yet been caught, and we hadn’t seen her since the chaos began.

“Honey, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about Axel sooner. I planned to, once everything was settled… but things escalated before I could,” I began, holding her hands tightly after our embrace.

“I’m sorry too, hon,” she replied, voice trembling. “I left without speaking to you. If we had talked… if I had explained… none of this would have happened.”

“Shhh. No, hon,” I soothed, stroking her cheek. “It’s my fault. I kept things from you. I should have told you everything I discovered… but I was scared. Scared you’d leave me. I couldn’t bear it.”

Her breath hitched, and when she looked at me, her eyes were filled with worry and confusion.

“What do you mean? Besides Axel… is there more you’re hiding from me, hon?” she asked, curiosity sharpening in her gaze.

In that moment, I realized I could no longer avoid a truth I had been trying to keep hidden—but this wasn’t the right place to reveal it.

I looked away, not wanting her to see the weight I had been carrying for so long.

“Hon…” she whispered again, softer, more pained than before. “Please. Tell me. We shouldn’t hide anything from each other… right?”

I didn’t know how to start, especially in the middle of danger, with my mother possibly approaching at any moment.

I held her hand, caressed it, and forced a smile.

“Just like before… I’m protecting you, hon,” I said quietly.

“Protecting… from what?” she asked, confusion deepening.

“From the truth.” I took a deep breath. “From something I know would break you… us… if you knew now.”

Faith’s hands clenched, trembling—not from fear of the surroundings, but fear of what I might say.

“Hon, I might be broken if you keep hiding things. I can’t handle it…” she pleaded, voice softening.

I was about to speak, to begin revealing the truth, when a noise came from behind us.

Faith and I exchanged a glance.

I slowly moved her behind me. “Hon… later. I swear. But for now… stay behind me,” I whispered.

“Oh, what a dramatic scene!” my mother’s voice echoed, emerging from the shadows with armed men following her. “So, you’ve known about your traitorous twin, Austin?”

“Gosh! You’re still alive?” Axel exclaimed, shocked.

“Of course, dear. I have my claims to settle,” she replied coldly. Then she looked at Faith. “Oh! Hi, Faith… my dearest daughter-in-law. Are your children alive?!”

She quickly turned to Kim. “And you, Kim… you’ve failed.” She aimed her gun at her.

“I-I’m sorry… I can’t kill anyone, especially the innocent,” Kim replied, voice shaking, almost pleading.

“Is that so? Take the child!” my mother commanded sharply.

“No! Have mercy!” Kim begged.

“Mommy, please! Enough! Stop this. Don’t involve the child!” Daphnie shouted, stepping in front of the baby.

“I’m disgusted by you. Leave now if you don’t want to be cursed,” my mother threatened coldly.

Two men shoved Daphnie aside. She stumbled to the side as the child was snatched by my mother’s men.

“Mom! Mom!” the child cried.

“Please! Don’t hurt my child!” Kim wailed, her voice breaking. Beside me, I could hear Faith sobbing, shoulders trembling.

My mother grabbed the child, holding it firmly.

“What do you really want?” I demanded, rage burning inside me.

“Give me Faith, in exchange for this child,” she said.

“No way!” I snapped.

“Then goodbye, child…” she said coldly, aiming her gun at the baby’s head.

“NO!!!” we all shouted.

“Please! We’re not part of your family’s mess! Why should my child’s life be sacrificed?!” Kim almost fell to her knees in despair.

“You heard Kim… I’m the one you want,” Faith suddenly said. “He—here I am. Let the child go.” She had moved out of my reach without me realizing it.

“Faith!” I called, full of worry.

“See, she’s easy to deal with,” my mother said with an infuriating grin. Her men quickly grabbed Faith, letting go of the child, which was returned to Kim in exchange.

“Now, Austin…” she stared at me, eyes full of rage and madness. “I’ll give you a chance to save your precious wife. Call your father.”

“No need, Amy. I’m here!” my father shouted, rushing in with Justine.

“Oh! Hi, my dear husband…” Amy exclaimed, furious and giddy. “And you brought my worthless firstborn! You know him already. What is this, a reunion?” She laughed sharply.

“Amy, please… this is my fault. Stop involving innocent people,” my father said, desperation clear.

“Innocent?” she laughed cruelly, shoulders trembling. “Wait… you remember?”

He looked at her directly. “I didn’t have amnesia, Amy. I was pretending to gather evidence against you.”

Amy’s eyes widened, she staggered back as if hit in the chest. “Is that so?” she whispered, then slowly smiled. “You’re good at pretending… why couldn’t you pretend back then that you loved me?”

“My heart belonged to Adeline,” my father replied firmly. “You insisted on the marriage even though our parents agreed not to proceed. But when you learned of our wealth, you pushed anyway.”

Amy shook her head slowly, full of resentment. “I learned to love you…” she whispered, voice rising, “…but you betrayed me!”

“We separated back then, Amy!” my father shouted, frustration boiling over.

“I wouldn’t allow it, Greg!” she yelled, voice breaking, full of anger. “I wouldn’t allow it because you’re mine! Everything you have is mine!”

She raised her gun, aiming at Faith, Justine, and me, as if unsure whom she wanted to kill first.

“Amy, enough!” my father shouted, stepping forward.

“Don’t come closer, Greg!” She backed up, pressing the gun near Faith’s head.

“Mommy… enough…” Justine whispered.

“SHUT UP!” Amy screamed, pointing her gun at Justine.

“Amy…” my father’s voice was firm yet gentle. “It’s my fault. Only mine. Let them go.”

Amy hesitated, tears falling freely. “You don’t know… you have no idea… what it feels like to be betrayed and manipulated by those you trusted most,” she whispered, anger simmering.

She looked at Faith directly, sharp and full of resentment.

“Your parents, Faith,” she continued, voice trembling. “Traitors. Complicit friends. They thought I wouldn’t know everything.”

“They hid Adeline’s pregnancy from me. From me!” she yelled, then laughed harshly. “But they didn’t know I was clever. Cleverer than them all. I had Adeline’s doctor in my pocket,” she admitted without remorse. “So I could easily take Axel away.”

She paused briefly, then smiled coldly, the smile sending a chill through the room.

“The poor Axel,” she whispered, staring at him, blood draining from his face. “A child without identity, without a name, without recognition.”

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