Verify

As I tried to inform Braxton about the list, he just glanced at me. He was interested in the list I have. I don't understand why he's bringing it up now, but I have to tell him anyhow.

I told him by re-naming things. If I could change my name, I would. It adds a more human touch.

Mia's history of social isolation in her little town is well documented. She felt out of place both at home with her own family and at school among her peers. Meeting James changed her life forever.

Since James was the most well-liked student in the school, everybody wanted to be his friend. Mia was in shock at her good fortune as he started talking to her. They hit it off right away, and Mia formed a major crush on him.

Once, James invited Mia to a party at his place. Mia had no prior experience visiting the sprawling mansion outside of town. When she first saw the massive entrance door, she felt a little uneasy.

But when she showed up to the party, she was shocked by how lavish everything was. Everybody looked beautiful, the music was blasting, and there was no shortage of drinks. Mia felt as though she had traveled to a different planet.

After that, she saw Lily, James's girlfriend, for the first time. Mia had seen her around school before, but they had never really spoken. Mia felt jealous as she watched Lily have a good time with her friends. She knew that Lily was simply too much of a force to overcome.

To Braxton, I revealed everything. It was strange because I know Braxton can be a habitual interrupter, yet he did nothing except listen to what I had to say.

When the door to his office opened, he had just started to talk. I turned my head and looked at the newcomer. That would be Monica's mom.

Why is she even here, I wonder? I don't know why she feels the need to pry into my private life in the coffee shop, but she keeps questioning me about it. Because she is Monica's mom and all. I got the impression that her kindness was motivated by a desire to attract attention, but who knows?

Now she has arrived. How can I help her?

Hello, Mr. Bentley. I was met by her.

I got up to leave the office, but she interrupted me.

Don't go just yet, please. Basically, she issued orders.

What she stated made me take a closer look. I don't get what she's trying to say.

'I want to talk to you,' she said.

Even though Braxton's brow was furrowed, I turn back to gaze at him.

I stumbled over a "uh..."

Oh well, forget it. Then she made her way out of the office. Braxton and I exchanged perplexed glances. What is she thinking?

I had no idea what was going on that day, and it was driving me crazy. After that, I left the building and found her waiting outside.

This has been a pretty strange experience for me.

A woman who looked like a princess and was wearing a ridiculously exquisite dress pulled me aside.

The woman asked tenderly, "Is everything well, dear?"

Her demeanor changed for the better. I was taken aback by that.

Well, I think that about sums it up. For what reason did you inquire?

She smiled gently and nodded. To make sure you were okay was my only concern. Recently, Monica has been talking about you quite a bit.

My pulse quickened. "Really? Why?"

The woman waited for a few seconds in silence before breaking the hush. The reason why is because you are her sibling. more precisely, her half-sister. Additionally, you are my daughter.

The floor seemed to give out from under her. What she was hearing was completely unbelievable to her. "What? In what universe does that exist?

She admitted that, when she was young and naive and pregnant with me, she gave me to my father. She was too young, and my father was poor, so he couldn't provide for her or me, and so she gave me up, to live with my father, and entrusted me to my aunties, who she knows well and who won't treat me right. However, she intended to make amends now. She wanted me to be a part of Monica and her life.

My shock was palpable. I'd always felt like an outsider, but now she seemed to have a whole new family that I didn't even know about. My sister and I are twins.

As I reflected on the past, I had the impression that I was witnessing everything for the first time.

Is that why she had that sense of familiarity with me? Is that why I got the question regarding my family life? To verify my status as her legitimate offspring?

If I were her daughter, how could I be so certain?

As soon as the subject was brought up, mom proudly displayed a photo of herself and my dad, beaming as they held me. I guess the grin didn't last long enough. She abandoned me to start a new, happier chapter in her life with a richer man than my dad. She went and had kids on her own without us. Without me, she wouldn't have to worry about her older child.

Also, remembering Braxton and Monica's past together made me think about my own potential. My sister is head over heels for my brother-in-law Braxton. I had a lot to learn about this new life, but I wasn't sure whether I was ever going to feel like I belonged here. Why do I feel so terrible?

I'm the hidden daughter of a wealthy woman. The one she had no interest in having to begin with.

I stayed in and tried to digest what Monica's mom had said that day. I still don't get it, is this really happening?

I'm not ready to refer to her as my mother because I still can't wrap my head around the concept.

I surf the stations looking for anything entertaining to watch.

The sudden news caused me to pause.

Once upon a time, Ava was a prominent businesswoman who enjoyed a prosperous profession, affluent lifestyle, and close relationships with her family. However, everything changed when Ava's first daughter, Emily, was taken from her when she was just two years old. The reporter reported.

Twenty-five years later, a private investigator called Ava to tell her that she had located her missing daughter. After a battery of DNA testing, it was determined that Emily, who was living in a tiny town, was really Ava's daughter. So she carried on.

I strained to see the screen of the television.

Ava was so moved by the story of Emily's adoption that she made the trip to see the family that raised her. Ava realized it would be difficult to reestablish contact with her daughter now that she had a second daughter, Lily, with her husband.

Isn't that identical to what's happening to me? If you give it some thought. Evidently, it's the same. It's like fate is trying to trick me or something.

When the doorbell rang, I had just reached for the remote to turn off the TV.

When I cracked it, she was inside. Mother of Monica.

As she entered, she greeted everyone. After I led her into the living room, where she sat down next to me, she smiled and grabbed for my hands, but then she spoke those words.

The fear of losing her daughter's love and affection if she found out about your presence was too much for Monica's mother, and she hid your existence from her from the day she was born. She's about to explode.

Is she about to snap? She therefore decided to conceal my true identity from Monica and the rest of the world.

She requested me to keep our relationship quiet and specifically asked that I not tell Monica. Although I consented grudgingly, I secretly longed for the day she would admit without shame that she had abandoned a kid.

Over time, I began to feel the pressure of keeping Monica in the dark about her true identity. My allegiance to mom, who had rescued me from an uncertain future, was torn between my desire to reconnect with my biological family and my want to be near to her.

But I knew that Monica would be crushed when she finally learned the truth about me, the secret her mother had kept from her for so long. Our relationship suffered as a result of this revelation.

Because obviously it wasn't enough.

She joined me on the couch, where we both sat and inhaled deeply. What she was about to say would be difficult, but she also knew it was necessary.

"Artemesia, I need to talk to you about something important," she stated in a soft but serious tone.

As the saying goes, "It's all about Braxton."

Worry and dismay filled my heart. Braxton was the suitor for her sister, and I developed a crush on him.

As in, "What about him?" I tried to seem casual as I asked.

'I don't want you seeing him anymore,' she stated firmly. They said, "He's not good for you."

Incredulity filled my eyes. "What do you mean by that? My superior is him!

Artemesia, he's not that terrific. She remarked with some bitterness in her voice, "He's trouble.

My stomach was in knots. She knew something was going on between Braxton and me, but she refused to accept it. Or was it an assumption on her part?

Inwardly, I mumbled, "I didn't know," feeling terrible about myself.

She put a reassuring hand on her daughter's shoulder and whispered, "I know you didn't, sweetie." But now that you know, I need you to avoid contact with him. To risk injury is foolish.

With tears running down my cheeks, I nodded. The fact that she realized her mother was right didn't make the ache any less real.

"I'm sorry, Mom," I murmured, scarcely raising my voice above a whisper.

"It's okay, honey," she replied, wrapping her arms around me. Together, we can make it through this.

******

Monica's dad found out the secret his wife had been hidden from him for years on a lovely Sunday morning. While he had a sneaking suspicion that something was off, he could never put his finger on what it was.

He was searching through some old boxes in the attic when he came upon a bundle of letters from a lawyer to his wife. He started reading them, and what he found absolutely floored him.

It turned out that his future wife had already given birth to a daughter years before they even met.

Angry, he stomped off. What kind of woman would conceal such a huge secret from her husband for so long? How come she never mentioned his own daughter to him?

Later that day, when his wife got home from work, he confronted her with the news. She explained that she hadn't told him the truth because she was too embarrassed and afraid. But he was too upset to pay attention.

He insisted on seeing his daughter, but he became even more irate when she finally showed up at their house a few hours later. There was obvious tension between them since he just couldn't accept her as his own.

His wife spent the day trying to talk some sense into him, begging him to give their daughter a chance. However, he was adamant and would not budge.

There was no way out of this mess. His daughter rejected him, and his wife was devastated at the prospect of life without him. It was a trying circumstance that showed no signs of improving any time soon.

This is precisely what transpired with my mom. I had anticipated that it would also apply to Monica's mom. As for my speculation, well. It only takes one phone call to verify.