54 - Brother

54 - Brother
Galvosa.

The name held a weight that could test my patience when it came to dealing with Jake. It reminded me of the past I had been trying to avoid ever since I discovered my true identity. I couldn't let myself be shallow enough to believe that Jake had brought Zian here just to provoke me, especially on my upcoming special day.

The revelation of having an older brother, Zian, left me in shock, igniting a torrent of questions swirling inside my mind. How could this be? Did my real father cheat on Zian's mother just like he did with mine? What was the nature of my mother's relationship with him before I was born? What truly happened in the past that led to this cruel and complicated present?

Glancing at Zian, I couldn't find any obvious common resemblance between us. His brown eyes seemed to be the first thing we shared, but beyond that, his appearance bore a striking similarity to our father, displaying Mr. Galvosa's dominant features. While some of his traits might have come from his mother, like his hair color, I couldn't help but wonder if there were any hidden connections between us that went beyond physical appearance.

As I observed Zian, he avoided meeting my gaze, and I sensed that he too might be grappling with his own set of questions and emotions about this newfound family tie. Despite the complexities of our situation, I couldn't ignore the fact that we were siblings, bound by blood and shared history. The weight of the past and its repercussions weighed heavily on my heart, but I knew that dwelling on the past would not bring clarity to the present.

“Couldn’t you see the resemblance?”

Jake's words cut through the tense atmosphere, interrupting my chain of thoughts. He looked at me with a smirk, and I could feel his provocations aiming to rile me up. But I refused to give him the satisfaction of reacting to his taunts.

"Uh-oh. Don't you give me that look," he continued, trying to provoke me further. "I merely just gave you a present."

Zian's frustration was evident as he groaned in pain and cursed at Jake. I could see the anger in his eyes, and I knew it wouldn't be surprising if he suddenly lashed out at Jake. The tension between them was palpable.

"Someone should tend to his wound," Kian interjected, moving to inspect Zian's injury. "I'll call a doctor right away."

Jake scoffed before roughly putting Zian down on the floor. "I am helping you, Sharmienne," he said with a hint of arrogance. "Don't be shy and reunite with your brother."

The way he said it made my blood boil, but I refused to let his manipulations control me. Taking a deep breath, I mustered my strength and walked over to Zian's side.

"I don't need your help," I replied firmly, ignoring Jake's presence.

As Jake dragged my sister away, I felt a surge of panic and helplessness. I was frozen in shock, unable to intervene or comprehend the sudden turn of events. Kian rushed after them, leaving me alone with Zian, who was in pain from the wound on his shoulder.

"There's a spare room upstairs," I said, my voice shaky but determined to help him. He nodded, attempting to stand, but the bleeding was causing his arm to go numb, and he groaned softly in discomfort. I noticed that he seemed disoriented, as if he had bumped his head onto something during the altercation with Jake. Concerned, I gently touched his forehead to check for any signs of injury.

"Let me help you first," I said, moving closer to support him. He didn't resist my assistance, knowing that he needed it in his weakened state.

With great care, I draped one of his arms over my shoulder, supporting his weight as we made our way upstairs. Each step was slow and deliberate, trying not to aggravate his injury further.

We finally reached the spare room, and I helped him lie down on the bed, trying to make him as comfortable as possible. I quickly fetched some towels to help stop the bleeding until the doctor arrived.

"Just try to stay still," I said softly, my worry evident in my voice. "The doctor will be here soon, and they'll take care of you."

Zian managed a weak smile, his appreciation evident in his gaze. "Thanks, Sharmienne," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

I stayed by his side, trying to offer him comfort while we waited for the doctor.

"Zian, did you hit your head too?" I asked, my worry growing. "I need to make sure you're okay."

He winced slightly as I touched the area where he might have bumped his head. "It's not as bad as the shoulder."

I pressed a clean cloth against his shoulder wound to continue stemming the bleeding, and then I turned my attention to his head injury. I tried to look for any signs of swelling or tenderness, asking him a few questions to check for signs of a concussion.

"We should keep an eye on this," I said softly, concerned about the possibility of a head injury. "If you start feeling dizzy, nauseous, or have trouble remembering things, we'll need to get you to a hospital."

Zian nodded, his gaze still slightly unfocused. "I'll be fine," he assured me, though it was evident that he was in pain and not entirely himself.

Kian returned with the doctor, who promptly examined Zian's injuries. After a thorough examination, the doctor confirmed that while the shoulder wound required stitches, the head injury seemed to be a mild concussion that would need monitoring.

Zian's cold voice interrupted my thoughts as I turned to look at him, realizing he had already settled onto the bed I had prepared for him.

"I'll leave after," he said, his tone distant and detached.

"You can rest here for the meantime," I offered.

He arched an eyebrow, his amusement evident. "You seem to be bothered by what that punk said," he remarked, referring to Jake.

"Yes, I am," I admitted honestly, meeting his gaze. As I looked at him, the bandages on his head and shoulder caught my attention. "What really happened to you, Zian? I mean, I haven't seen you in so long, and now... all of this."

Zian's scoff and attempt to change the topic didn't go unnoticed, but I was determined to find some understanding between us.

"I assumed that we're the same age because there wouldn't be a chance that I'll be your brother," he stated, still unwilling to fully embrace the reality of our shared family connection.

I nodded, understanding that it was a lot for him to process. "Yeah, it's definitely a surprising twist," I replied, trying to keep the conversation light despite the weight of the situation.

As he confirmed his last name as Galvosa, I felt a mixture of relief and validation. It confirmed what I suspected—that we indeed shared the same father. But I was taken aback by his confusion when I mentioned Dominic Galvosa.

"You might also be familiar with Dominic Galvosa," I said, hoping to provide him with some insight into our family history.

He furrowed his brow, clearly puzzled by my words. It was becoming apparent that he didn't know much about his own family background.

"He's my father," I revealed, deciding it was time to address the truth head-on. "You're smart enough to know the truth by now. You even deduced before that I have a husband."

Zian's scoff and explanation only left me more confused and wary. "I wasn't there to spy on you. I was curious. It just happened all at once," he said, avoiding my gaze.

"But you were spying on me?" I questioned, my concern growing. This revelation was unsettling, and it raised more questions about Zian's intentions and involvement in my life.

"You can tell that, but it was all because I was curious about my sister and another woman," he replied cryptically.

"Another woman?" I repeated, trying to make sense of his words. “My mother?”

He sighed, his expression distant. "He never told me," he said coldly, referring to our father. "I was curious to meet my sister, but when I saw you that time, I wasn't informed that I already met her."

As the hours passed, Zian remained silent, avoiding any further discussion about our families. He rested on his bed, seemingly lost in his own thoughts, just as I was in mine. The weight of the day's revelations and the tangled web of our family history weighed heavily on my mind, leaving me mentally exhausted.

Leaving Zian's room, I stepped out into the quiet hallway, feeling overwhelmed by the flood of emotions and questions swirling inside me. The idea of meeting Mr. Galvosa again was both daunting and necessary. I knew I wasn't emotionally prepared to face him, but I also understood that I couldn't avoid it forever. I needed answers, closure, and a chance to confront the truth about my past.

But for now, my head was pounding with the strain of the day's events and revelations. I decided to find a quiet corner to gather my thoughts and emotions, giving myself some space to process everything that had happened.

As I leaned against the wall of my room, I closed my eyes, taking deep breaths in an attempt to calm my racing mind. The image of my family swirled in a chaotic dance inside my head. The headache persisted. I knew I couldn't escape the truth forever. I opened my eyes, having the thought that I might not have all the answers now, but I knew that with time and courage.

I was unsure how to treat Zian after learning this unexpected revelation. Perhaps being casual with him, as I did earlier, was the right approach. There were so many questions swirling in my mind, and I couldn't simply walk away from here, from my sister Carmienne. I knew that eventually, Zian would recover and leave this mansion. The decision loomed ahead of me: should I tag along with him and meet our father? I craved an explanation, even though I was aware that I might not be emotionally prepared for it.

The question that lingered in my mind was: why did Jake bring Zian here? As far as I knew, he didn't seem concerned about him. Were they friends? What was their connection? Could it be possible that Zian was a member of The Hawk? But then, why would he be involved?

I was aware that my father held the position of The Master, meaning he had the ultimate authority within this gang. This made me wonder if he could also control The Hawk. Alternatively, was it because Jake, as the leader, was too stubborn to comply with The Falcon's demands, hence involving Zian as some sort of leverage or bargaining chip?

My phone suddenly rang, displaying an unknown number. This wasn't what I expected, but I answered it, knowing that it must be important.

"Hello?"

"Sharmienne?"

As soon as I heard her name, a sense of déjà vu washed over me. It was my mother, her voice trembling. Memories flooded my mind, reminiscent of the last time I received a call from her. Denver had been at our house, leading him to find me. And then the tragic bombing incident occurred.

I tried to steady my voice, "Yes, it's me, Mom. How... how are you?"

There was a moment of silence on the other end, and I could sense the hesitation in her reply, "I'm... I'm okay, dear. I just wanted to make sure you're safe."

"I am, don't worry," I assured her, my heart both relieved and heavy with the past.

I almost stuttered, but I didn't want to answer her with ill will. I reminded myself that I would have to face them sooner or later, but I hadn't expected her to call me on my special day.

"I'm fine, hija," her voice quivered, and memories flooded back of the last time I heard her like this – at the hospital when I visited my cousins. "Hoping for a happy day for you."

"Thank you, mother."

"Will you visit?" she asked, her voice filled with longing. "Your dad misses you. We miss you."

"I will, Mom."

"Thank you, hija," I heard her sigh, her voice heavy with regret. "I am so sorry... I'm sorry, my daughter."

I couldn't respond. My throat felt dry, and I bit my lips, trying to suppress my tears. With a nod, I tried to grasp the reality of the situation. This was life, and I had to accept my fate, no matter what it was.

As I ended the call, my tears flowed uncontrollably. The moment of truth had arrived, and I knew that I had to confront my past and reunite with the family I had been separated from for an extended period. Numerous emotions overwhelmed me, including apprehension, fear, and hope. My heart was heavy as I contemplated what lay ahead, but I knew that it was time to face my fears and embrace a new chapter in my life.

Taking a deep breath, I steeled myself for what lay ahead. I knew it wouldn't be easy, but it was time to find the answers I sought, to uncover the truth about my family, and to finally come to terms with my own identity.

"You'll go back?" I heard the door open, and to my surprise, Kian stood there, his presence catching me off guard.

"This is what I need, Kian," I replied, feeling a mixture of determination and uncertainty coursing through me.

"I'll come with you," he declared, his voice firm and unwavering. His offer took me aback.

Kian had always been a steadfast friend, but I hadn't expected him to volunteer to join me on this. My heart warmed at the thought of having someone by my side, someone I could trust amidst the shadows of my past. I knew I couldn't let doubts hold me back. This was my chance, and I was gonna grab it with both hands.

No worries, I thought to myself, as a bold idea crossed my mind—I needed to get closer to my supposed brother. My lips forming a smirk as I uttered, "I'll have Zian come with me."