Rachel's POV
Family? Did my mother just call that evil jealous bitch Family!
I couldn't believe my ears.
My mother was indeed clueless about the situation, and they were using it against me!
I'll have to tell my mother the truth later, for now I had to face the bitch who destroyed my marriage and almost my life.
" Get away from my grandfather you conniving whore!" I instructed.
" What are you saying Chelle? "
My eyes widened like I was in a TV show or something.
Lana put on a pitiful expression on her face, her eyes were already so red making it look like she was at the brink of tears.
I scoffed. Never would I imagine that my actress of a friend would try to put on an fake pretense act on me.
" Still that rubbish, what are you even pretending for?" She already got David, and by the look of it, he was madly in love with her, so what's with the pretense?
" I don't understand". Her eyes began to water and one by one the tears came down like a cascading river from her eyes.
She looked so meek like she had never done anything wrong in her life.
"Stop that Rachel! Lana is your best friend, and also part of this family, what are you doing to her". My mother yelled at me.
" Mum... "
My mother just yelled at me. It rang in my head.
My mother hand never yelled at me in my entire twenty four years, but because of that bitch, she just did.
" I can see that you've completely lost your manners young child, and for that you would be punished!" The grandfather loud voice sounded. He looked really pissed at me.
I couldn't react to what he said because I was still getting my mind wrapped around the fact that my mother just yelled at me for the first time in my twenty four years of existence.
I glanced up at my mother but she didn't even react when my grandfather said I was going to be punished. Was that how much Lana meant in my mother's heart?
I sniffled, struggling to keep my tears at bay. I couldn't let them see me cry, I wouldn't allow Lana to have the last laugh.
" Why did you call me here?" I asked. My aunts, uncles and cousins that have been quiet since began murmuring among themselves.
From the corner of my eye, I also saw my father sigh.
" If it's about David..." I began but what I heard next caused me to swallow the rest of my words.
" You're not this family biological daughter". I heard my grandfather say.
What?
I felt my heart beat faster in my chest.
" Is this a joke... This is not the time for jokes". I said seriously But my mind and heart were going crazy.
"Do I look like I'm joking?" My grandfather asked staring at me coldly.
He wasn't joking.
What I'm I thinking, my grandfather never jokes. Even if he did, not to me.
For as long as I could remember, my grandfather never liked me. He always found something to criticize me with. If it wasn't my studies, then it was my character, my mother was the only one on my side.
But now, it looked like she was in on it.
When I first entered this room, I thought my mother was the only clueless person in this room, now I just found out, that I was the clueless one. I was the only fool in the room.
" What is this? Is this because of David?" I asked but nobody answered.
I looked around the room, everybody was quiet. Like they all expected my reaction.
What is going on here?
I looked towards my mother hoping she would say something different, but she just bent her head down.
" Can someone explain what's going on? " My throat cracked, nobody was saying anything.
My grandfather got up from his chair, using his walking cane to hold himself up. He stretched out his hands and beckoned on Lana to come closer.
Lana looked hesitant to go closer to my grandfather, but my mother gave her a light push towards him. Some if my cousins also gave her a supporting nod to hearken to my grandfather's call.
I just stood by the side watching them like a television. The only thing different was that I was also part of the show, and I was the one that was going to be adfected by whatever was about to happen.
Lana took careful steps and came to stand beside my grandfather.
For a split second, they actually look like how grandfather and child in my eyes.
No, it can't be.
I braced myself for what he was about to say.
" Rachel, Lana is this family real daughter!"
I froze for a few seconds, then I suddenly burst into laughter.
" Ha ha ha, so funny. You guys almost got me... Right". I chucked as I asked. My mind begging them to say it was all a joke.
My mother walked up to me and held my shoulders which was trembling.
" Rachel, I wanted to tell you sooner, but ..."
I could hear anything again.
My grandfather's words just kept repeating over and over again in my ear.
' Lana is this family real daughter '
I so badly wanted them to just start laughing saying it was a joke, or they got me, but I knew that was not what would happen.
" How is this possible?" I asked in a low weak voice that came out more like a whisper. My mother was the closet to me so she heard it.
She sniffled using her hands to hold back her tears.
" Twenty years ago, we lost our daughter in an accident. The driver was drunk and he was driving and he accidentally drove off the bridge and into the water. They were able to bring back the driver's body but weren't able to find our daughters, but after weeks the authorities declared her dead.
I couldn't take it that my daughter was gone, so I went to the orphanage and adopted you" My mother paused to catch her breath. She was crying already.
I touched my face, it was wet.
I was crying.
" We only allowed her to to do that because she was going through a lot. When you first introduced Lana to us, I felt a connection with her, just few days ago, we found out that Lana is our biological daughter. " My father completed.
The way he said it like he was stating something I ought to know, or like he was taking about the weather just awoke a sudden anger in me.
" So what you're saying is that, the family I've know all my life is not my family?" I asked directing the question at my grandfather.
The old man just shrugged.
" Did you know this?" I asked Lana who was standing beside my grandfather like a pitiful soul.
" Rachel, I..."
"Don't speak my name from your slutty lips". I yelled in anger when I heard Lana mention my name.
" You are the cause of this. You ruin everything!" I yelled uncontrollably.
All the pep talk I've given myself about not crying in front of Lana all disappeared.
" What are you saying. Don't talk about your sister like that. " My father scolded.
" My sister... " I said with all the sarcasm I could muster in my state
I suddenly felt like the situation was reversed. Now I was the television and everybody else were the audience. It was like a cinema to them.
"Yes your sister. You may not be my real daughter, but I love you as well". My mother said and I scoffed.
Now I understood why she sided with Lana. She was the biological daughter, while I was just a substitute.
" It was Lana's idea that you still be part of this family. You should be thanking for this if not I would've had you thrown out by now". My grandfather's deep loud voice was heard.
Thanking her?
I chucked.
The bitch ruin my life.
I suddenly began clapping my hands at Lana.
"Congratulations, you've gotten what you wanted right? First you slept with my husband..." I heard alot of gasps from people in the room but I went on.
" Then you made him divorce me, now... Now you've taken my place as the daughter of this family. Well done". I sais with sarcasm spitting out of my evey word.
" You've proven to not only be a slut and a whore, but also a golddigger and a bitch..."
" Rachel please, I didn't mean for any of this to happen. I was shocked when I also found out I was the daughter of this family, I..."
I couldn't hear any of her lies, they were just too much.
" You lying bitch... " I launched myself at Lana hoping to scratch her face with my long fingernails at least disfiguring it, when a sound slap landed on my face.
Rachel's POVI felt my entire body quiver in pain. My face shifted to the other side. The slap sounded so loud that my ears began to vibrate. I raised my hands to my face, holding it in shock. I heard shocking gasps from everyone in the room. Some even placed a hand on their mouth, their eyes widened at what had just happened. My grandfather, just slapped me. The thought rang in my head before I finally came to terms with it. " You slapped me... For her?" I said in disbelief pointing at Lana who stood at a corner behind my grandfather. Did he not hear anything of what I just said?" I've been your granddaughter for over twenty years, and yet you slap me for someone you just met?"My body shook in anger, and pain.My lips trembling with unspoken words. " Grandpa, please, don't hurt sister anymore..." Lana said coming to stand in front of me.I couldn't say anything, still holding the cheek I was so mercilessly slapped on. She just called him grandpa. I could never call my grandf
Ethan's POVI stared at the pile of documents on my desk begging for my attention, but I just simply couldn't bring myself to work. Rachel had been on my mind since in the morning, all I could think of was her. I so badly wanted to know if she was alright, or at least back from her visit to her family home, but she didn't have a working phone a any longer so I couldn't contact her. Oh shit, I could just call home.The moment the idea came to me, I picked up my phone and called Victoria, my house manager. The old lady was elated when she saw I brought a lady home, she had been with me since I was little, almost like a mother. She answered in three rings. " Hello?" " Yes, Aunt Vicki... Em... I just called to ask, is... is Rachel back at home?" I asked immediately she picked up the phone. " Mr Wright, I can see you're very worried about Ms Rachel, and am I. She's yet to come back and I don't know how to reach her"Victoria answered me, her tone expressing how worried she was. "Oh
Ethan's POVI just arrived at the location John sent to me. I could see him pacing outside the car, beside a building. " Boss..." He respectfully bowed when I got out of my car.I walked over to him rather quickly. " Which way did she go? " He pointed towards a direction and I nodded." Go back home, I'll find her".I heard the doors of Rachel's family house open, two women came out. One, the older one, unfamiliar, and the other a much younger one, I knew. The girl that always followed Rachel everywhere claiming yo be her best friend, the same one that betrayed her Lana. She glanced at me, but by her expression I could tell she didn't remember who I was. I wanted so badly to make her pay for her betrayal to Rachel, but I had to find Rachel first. I turned my gaze back to John who gave me a nod and went to carry out my order. I also went back to my car, speeding towards the direction John pointed at. It has been a few hours now, and was starting to get late, but yet I saw no sign
Rachel's POVI heard the loud muffling and shuffling of objects waking me up from my sleep. Then followed by the shifting of the large curtains which made way for light to enter into the room. Someone was arranging the room, a young maid. How did I get here? I shook my head refusing to allow the memories of what happened yesterday come back to me fully to taunt me. I have a whole day to be taunted by them, but most definitely not now. I pulled the bedsheet over my head, blocking the soft sounds and the light so I could sleep longer. " Ms Rachel, are you awake?" I heard the maid who was arranging the room ask as she walked towards me. I was about to answer when I felt the pang of an headache. I winced in pain under the sheets. "Ms Rachel... Ms Rachel..." The maid continued to call.I had clench my teeth to withstand the pain. "Yes". I replied but it came out more of a whisper. Something was wrong with my throat. It felt rather dry and hoarse. I coughed to clear my throat. "Ye
Rachel's POV" What happened in that house Rachel, tell me!"I flinched at how loud Ethan's voice sounded. He was so close to me causing his voice to be more powerful and loud than normal. There was alot of consequences if she revealed the truth to him, but he didn't look like he was going to take no for an answer. " I... Lana is... " I darted my eyes everywhere looking away from his piercing gaze. But then I stopped. A thought suddenly came to me. It was my family. I didn't have to inform him about anything. With that thought in mind, I pursed my lips and glared at him." It's not your business"."Wha... What do you mean its not my business? " Ethan's face slowly became rigid. He brought his face closer to me, causing me to backup. " I... Er... I mean exactly what I said. ". My back touched the headboard with a slight sound.I couldn't move anymore, but Ethan's face kept coming closer.The he raised his hand to my face. I shut my eyes ever so tightly to brace myself for the sla
Rachel's POV Then the next thing I heard was the clacking of her heels which began to disappear. Few seconds later, I was sure she had left the room leaving me and Ethan... Alone. This conversation would be unavoidable. It would be the least I could do after all the help he had rendered me starting from two nights ago when I met him. I removed the blanket from my face, staring directly at him."It was my grandfather... I tried to hit..well scratch Lana but he stopped me, and then slapped me". "Why was Lana there, I thought it was your family meeting?" Ethan asked. I snorted. "Apparently, Lana's family. Much more that me". Ethan had a confused look on his face, almost how I looked when I found out. " Lana is parents real daughter. I was just their substitute, they found out a few days ago". "I'm sorry". Ethan said and I smiled. I was much calmer now, and I could now she the benefits of that unfortunate news. "It's fine... Now I can see how not bad that sounds. Now they woul
Rachel's POV" Slow down...not to many questions". A soft giggle escaped from my lips. " I'm just worried about you, I heard about you and David... "Wow, news really does travel fast. " I'm good, really. In fact that's one of the reasons I'm calling you. I need you to do something for me". I said my voice turning serious. "Anything, just name it" " Do you know if there are any upcoming film auditions? I want to go back to acting". The next thing I heard was a delighted scream from Marina. I had to move the phone further away from my face to protect my ear drums. "I can't believe your finally going back to acting... You know what, yes! There are upcoming auctions, and I can bet they love for you to show up". "Then it's settled. Send the address, time and place to this number. We'll met up there and catch up". "That we most definitely would do. I need to hear every about your divorce... That man had to be crazy for letting you go". "Ok, bye". I ended the call. That was Marin
Rachel's POVI arrived at the location I was meant to meet Marina. I had called her last night to give her my new number and to tell her that I was ready to begin acting again. She suggested this restaurant and here I was. In a fancy restaurant, surrounded by fancy people. I looked around looking for Marina in the crowd. She said she was going to be seated not to far from the door, where the hell is she?I looked a little to the left before I saw someone waving her hands at me. "Over here". Marina said with a smile when I caught her eyes. I walked over there, the intense gaze of onlookers who were watching my every move. I held my head up high despite their disapproving gaze or was it shock... I couldn't tell. I was wearing black joggers and a white crop top, something I found in the walk-in closet in my room. How Ethan knew my size... I wasn't sure. But I decided not to think about it as I wore it here. Now I wasn't too sure wearing casual clothes to such a fancy restaurant wa