Chapter 83

Rocco called and said he needs me at Aether, so I couldn't even leave Audrey, knowing that Liam promised me that he would take care of Aud, at least I felt safe to leave the hospital.

Hopefully with the second promise he made to me, I won't receive bad news.

"So, the other day, Carina talked to me, and she's begging me to allow her to leave the group. It's because She asked me so suddenly, in just a few days their first song will be released, their debut and first conference as a group," said Rocco.

I just stayed calm in my seat even though inside, I wanted to explode with anger and wanted to go wild here.

"And then I found out that Carina has suffered acute leukemia."

"How was she?"

“Recovering, Gwen. I have also talked to her that she will not take a leave from the group, and we both agreed that as soon as she recovered, the big event for them will definitely happen."

I was frustrated, yes, but at least I never let my emotions swallow me. Therefore, I remain calm and let my mind be free from stress while thinking. Because I know, during this time, Rocco really needs my cooperation. I was the brain behind the formation of this girl group, after all. I really need myself to stay patient as much as possible.

"If we can still move the release date, it's better to move the schedule than allow the group seen by the public to be incomplete."

"There will be no problem moving the schedule, Gwen. I'm really just waiting for your decision." I was slightly shaken because I felt that my decision was still valid even though I was on leave from work.

"Though you are on vacation from work, I don't want you to think that once I make a decision on my own in the girl group you formed, you think of me being selfish and I don't respect your decision." Rocco's eyes are no longer focused on the papers, now I'm the center of his attention. "I'm tired of fighting with you. Maybe you'll think I’m, again, not being true to you."

"Isn't it true?" I was really just teasing to make Rocco's face wrinkle even more. "I don't want to get into a fight with you either. You are the only person who remains my friend, am I going to let you go?"

"Are you and Lucile already breaking your friendship?" My gay friend asked in shock, and asked the question as if he wasn't in the vicinity when Jessica and Liam revealed everything to me. "I mean... is it confirmed yet? as in? Like… legit?”

"If only I could wish that it wasn't true," I replied with a slumped shoulder. "And that's part of life. There are people who will actually come into our lives to befriend us while we face them, and to stab us when our backs are turned."

As a sign of retreat, I stood up from the chair. Carrying the bag that I just picked up, I smiled at Rocco who was piled up with tasks again.

"While still fighting for my position and trying to clear my name, you will take care of everything first. When I get back to work, I promise you that you will be on vacation."

"But not the kind of vacation I suffered." I winked at him and turned my back around.

I still have a place to go, so I seemed like I'm quite in a hurry.

*****

"It's good that you have visited. Because we are actually planning to bury my grandmother tomorrow," the man I thought was the kidnapper brought the news to me. "We're just waiting for you to visit Grandma before we bury her, because she might haunt us if we don't wait for you."

"Did that were her last words?"

The answer I got from him was a nod. “She wants you to be with her until the last day when we see her body. That's why she keeps telling us that until you come, we can't take her body to the pit."

"What if I don't come?"

"You have no choice either way. That's why I've been harassing you with texts and calls, huh."

We both laughed after that. One of the reasons why I was in a hurry to leave Aether was because I was heading towards Mother Minda's funeral. Though, even if this man doesn't remind me to visit the old lady’s funeral, I will go on my own initiative. I can’t let that happen until her last day in the world, I wouldn’t be able to show my sincere condolences to her and to her family.

Like the guy mentioned earlier, I don't want Mother Minda to haunt me too.

"And she wanted me to share with you some story... that... she wasn't able to tell you herself. Because that day, Granny was really weak," the guy started to elaborate the story he had mentioned. “About that… Lucile.”

My eyes started to squint. "What about her?"

“Never mind...” He started a little too early. "Granny's story to me... because she told me everything, thinking that if she doesn't reach out to tell you the truth, I'll be the one to reveal it."

I was even more intrigued by the story of the man whose name I didn't even think to ask.

"It is said that Lucile and Liam are not real siblings. Ma'am Imelda just adopted Lucile at the request of her friend. Basically, Lucile's mother is Ma'am Imelda's close friend.”

What the fvck?!

"The reason is that Ma'am Imelda's friend is said to be unable to revive Lucile, so she went abroad and took a risk there. I have no news if that girl returned Lucile to Ma'am Imelda... but then, only Ma'am Imelda and Lucile know that Liam is not Lucile's brother."

The fact that Lucile and Liam are not connected by blood, everything is still not clear to me. I still can't connect the two ends of the string. Still the facts I gathered from this unknown guy I'm talking to doesn't make sense.

"Even though you're not in Liam's life, Granny can tell that it's like... you know... Lucile's type is Liam-"

"What the fvck?" Carried by a gust of emotion, I reacted. "Are you sure of what you are telling me? Is it true…” It seems like my head is about to break. “That's impossible!”

“I'm telling you everything I remember Grandma telling me. So, if you don't believe me... well, question my grandmother," he even has the guts to talk sarcastically.

"According to Granny's story, that's what she notices. Well, she doesn't see anything wrong with that because it's not forbidden for Lucile to like Liam... even though they are really not related to each other."

"Grandma started to notice a change in Lucile's behavior when you and Liam came into her life. The woman got jealous of you, knowing of the fact that Lucile has some feelings for Liam."

I understand some things now. Remembering the first day Liam brought me to their house, I recall Lucile being rude to me.

"Are you sure that this dress I'm wearing has been passed down from your parents? I might look like I'm trying hard to be rich here." I still couldn't get comfortable in the expensive dress that Liam made me wear. "The clothes are expensive, but if someone like me wears them... do you think it will suit me?"

"It's up to you, hon. You are so beautiful."

"You're just fooling me," I responded with a sneer. "Meanwhile, in the mirror, I almost got tired of my appearance because it was so dirty. My eyes are not so dim as to not know the difference between ugly and beautiful."

“Kris, do you think I'm not telling the truth here? Well, in my eyes… you are really beautiful.” He tightened his grip on my cold hands. "You think you're not beautiful, so that's what your eyes see. Avoid that, Kris.”

“It's not-”

"What a bitchy, Liam." I heard a woman's voice. And she's coming into the house, maybe she's Lucile. "She’s ugly, even if you dress her up with someone you love... she’s still ugly. Not even a dress from Celine, Dior or Chanel will make her stand out. She still looks like a piece of trash.”

Ouch. That hurts. 

"If you can't properly welcome my girlfriend here at home, don't speak. Besides, I will only introduce her to Mama and Daddy-"

"What more to them? Your woman will receive a lot of abuse from them." Lucile gave me judgmental looks. "Such a pity, Liam! Why are you making it a habit to find a girlfriend in the trash? Disgusting!”