Bitter truth

The next morning early in the morning, Asriel made ready to head off to work. It was a weekend, but he had to oversee the construction of the hotel building.Getting down to the living room, Drusilla was having breakfast.

" Asriel please join me for breakfast, there's plenty here,"

Asriel joined his grandmother. He hadn't eaten the previous night, obviously disturbed with whatever transpired last night. His mother was back, he couldn't promise he'll be good to her.

At the same time Connie descended the stairs majestically just as Asriel took his seat. Seeing this, Asriel made to stand up to leave, but Drusilla held him back.

" Hello son, how have you been. I can see your grandmother has clearly taken good care of you," Connie said as she made haste and joined them, taking her seat opposite her son, glancing directly into each other.

" I can take care of myself mom. Like I said, I don't want you here,"

" Why not my son? Anyways, I'm here for my daughter in law, the last time we spoke, she was pregnant with my grandchild. So, why haven't I seen her?" Connie asked, a smirk formed immediately she saw Drusilla's not so good expression. They thought she had no idea what's been happening back there.

" You have clearly overstepped your boundaries Connie. I won't let you talk to my grandson like that. You should go back to wherever it is you came from,"

" Drusilla, you know very well that I've every right to be in my husband's villa, the one that him and I did everything possible to build. Yet you, here, brainwashed my son and took everything away from me, accusing me of things I could never do to my husband,"

" Enough mother," Asriel shouted, his threatening voice reverberating in the entire room. The maids cowered in fright as they slowly made their way out.

" What my son, have you ever thought that your beloved grandmother here could be behind everything, that he killed your father to take up everything. Why would you shun me when I'm your mother, I raised you. Something that you've failed to do for your own child. Acting like a little child and doing the unthinkable to your wife. What sort of a man are you? "

" I can't let you come into this house and disrespect us. I suggest that you should leave or I forget that you are my mother. I should have just thrown you into prison back then for the murder of my father, but for the respect I once had for you, please leave," Asriel said pointing towards the door.

" Ha...ha... ha," Connie laughed insanely before she got up her seat.

" So my own son is now threatening me, just because of his own shortcomings. You actually still believe that I'm capable of killing my own husband, and for what? Wealth? All the money that you all are enjoying here, yet I didn't fight for a single cent. Drusilla must have done a good job in the last seven years, raising a dog rather than a man.

" I'm very ashamed of you Asriel. I should have never picked you up from the slums to raise you as my own," Connie said angrily before she made her way out.

" Connie! Are you out of your mind, you must really be insane" Drusilla said alarmed.

" What did you just say mother, I'm not your son,"

" Oh Asriel, how could you possibly know that I'm not your biological mother, that George wasn't your father either. But now that you have shunned me, I'll shun you as my son. I'll take back everything my husband owned. And you Drusilla, you won't get anything from my husband."

Asriel felt all energy escape him that he sat back on the chair.

Drusilla had her eyes darting back and forth between Asriel and Connie.

" You know what Drusilla, my husband used to warn me about you. I just never thought you could kill him, just because he was the son you couldn't bear, the one your husband had to get from his mistress. So you planned to kill him, take everything from him, his inheritance, and all that you worked hard for.

I thought you had changed for once,but you extended your wickedness to my son, now he doesn't even respect me. You two will rot in hell. From now on, I have no son, no relation whatsoever with you.

And you Asriel, I hope you live happily knowing that you utterly destroyed that little girl's life. You shall never know peace Asriel.

For once I gave you a chance, hoping that the son I loved and raised was still there, but you are nothing, a useless shell, rotten to the core.

Enjoy the wealth while you can, but I'll get back everything. Whatever belonged to my husband, I'll get them all back," Connie said bitterly, tears streaming down her face. She didn't think she would take this direction, but they had continued in their despicable ways. It was better to end things soon and face the battle.

Asriel was in a daze, he couldn't tell when Connie had left. When he glanced up, he saw his grandmother, staring down at him sorrowfully.

"Is it true? That she isn't my mother, that I was picked up from trash. That you killed George, the person who had become my father? You did all that.

" No Asriel, you can't believe that woman. I had no idea George had you adopted. I'm really sorry Asriel. "

" Tell me this grandmother, did you ever love me, have you for once never thought of using me for your own selfish gains," Asriel said, his voice now trembling in anguish.

" I'm really sorry Asriel, I didn't want it to end this way. You are like a son to me, the only connection I have to my husband,"

" Drusilla don't try lying to me, if you had known that your husband's blood doesn't run through me, would you still care for me and treat me as your own?"

Asriel watched, but no words came out of Drusilla's mouth. This confirmed everything to him, his mother never lied to him, she didn't kill George, she had only loved him unconditionally, yet what did he do, mistreat the only woman who showed her what love really was, giving her the life he never deserved.

Asriel got up, his faced messed up. He ran after her, but the long drive way was empty. She was gone. He won't find her. He couldn't find her even if he wanted to. He had tried to find his mother and have her arrested for the murder of his father. But right now, he lacked moral grounds to even look for her, not when it was him that denied her first.

Dejectedly, Asriel picked himself up and headed out. He got into his dark range rover and drove out. He had no idea wherever he was going to, but he had to get away from there.

At Salem's villa, everyone seemed to have woken up at the same time, exhausted after last night's activity.

Cai was the first to wake up with a throbbing pain on his head. He slowly picked himself up from the bed. He felt extremely cold . He had slept in the open room with no blanket.

He supported his head with his hand as he glanced around, remembering what transpired last night. The party, the discovery and Asriel.

He moved out of the guest room to head into his own.

" What happened to you Cai, where did you head off to last night, I couldn't find you," Zichi said as the two met on the stairs, Zichi heading down.

Cai gave her a disinterested glance before he made his way up, leaving Zichi rolling her eyes at him.

At ten, the entire villa had been cleaned, the hired servants had done an excellent job. Zichi headed to the kitchen for breakfast, her stomach burning in hunger. She had taken it upon herself to welcome the guests and see that everything turned out perfectly. Yet her mother had never bothered to appreciate her. It was as though she were entitled to everything.

Zichi sighed and let go of this, she had other things planned up. She needed to meet Asriel, maybe talk about the two of them becoming a couple. She would not want to lose any chance, especially after Elvira entered the picture. Zichi could still feel the lustful eyes Asriel had towards her. He had never been that way with Zia. Maybe he had transformed officially from being bisexual.

Cassandra descended down and found Zichi enjoying sausages by the kitchen counter.

" Good morning dear, what happened to the family breakfast?" Cassandra said lightly.

" I couldn't wait for everyone mother, not when you were enjoying your beauty sleep. Cai couldn't even speak with me, so why would I bother when I have everything I need within my reach,"

Zichi poured herself a cup of coffee. Cassandra joined her by the counter, the maid serving her.

" Lizzie could you please call my son in for breakfast,"

" Don't bother Lizzie, Cai seem to have gotten up on the wrong side of the bed. If he feels hungry he should come down. Let him be,"

" What's wrong with you Zichi, this selfish attitude of yours isn't good. You should be able to care for others, he's your little brother,"

" How old is he mother, almost twenty three, yet he can't find himself something to do. I won't entertain him being this lazy. I can't be the one working and his job is only to squander my hard earned money. Infact from now on, Cai has to work, he's got to earn money,"

" What suddenly got into you Zichi?"

" I'm only stating the truth mother, you won't treat him like a little child under my watch. Remember Zia started working as early as Seventeen, you never asked me to care for her. What's so special with Cai, he's a man after all,"

" Let's just stop it there Zichi, I can't argue with you when I just woke up. I'm just glad that I got my life back. Finally I can get the respect and acknowledgement I deserve. The Gedor family did us justice gracing the event, what a success. And Elvira, I had no idea she could be your friend," Cassandra said happily.

Zichi rolled her eyes, her mother couldn't even appreciate her efforts.

" Will you accompany me for shopping later today my dear,"

" You already got your social circle back, why don't you call them, they might know the recent trends for your age. I can't help you in that, we've got different tastes,"

Zichi felt happy for the first time making fun of her.

" Are you implying that I'm an old woman, that I can't go shopping with my daughter,"

" Of course mother, just look at the wrinkles on your face. You aren't young anymore,"

" You silly girl, just you wait, you'll age soon too,"

The air became lively again, the two never fighting any more.

Cai listened to their conversation with disgust, the two were just perfect for each other. He had showered and packed a few of the clothes he needed. He had to go out there and get a life for himself.

From Zichi's statement, he won't be getting a share of his inheritance from her. He better go get something to take care of Zia. Cai glanced into his room for the last time. He had no idea when he would return, but he'll miss the place he had called home for the last twenty years.

He descended the stairs, Zichi and Cassandra were from the kitchen, laughing happily at whatever it was they said to each other.

Seeing Cai standing there with a frown on his face, a bag in his hands the two stopped suddenly.

" Cai, why did you carry your bag this morning, are you going somewhere? I was about to call the maids to have you come down for breakfast,"

" Don't worry about me, I'm leaving. Isn't that what you two want. "

Cai said, his voice almost breaking up in pain and anger.

" What? You are leaving, going where. I just returned son, we haven't spent any quality time,"

" You have your favourite daughter with you, what more will you want. I can't be part of this despicable family. You two belong together. And my inheritance, I'm leaving it for you Zichi, you can enjoy it all you want,"

" Why are you suddenly angry with me Cai, did I offend you,"

" Don't play with me Zichi, I heard what you said just moments ago, I should work, and that's what I'm going to do. And you mother, I hope you enjoy the wealth you desired. I should just call the police on you, but I'm leaving, let your conscience serve you right,"

" Cai," Cassandra shrieked.

" You can't fool me mother, I heard the two of you loud and clear yesterday. How you had Salem killed. You and your favourite daughter killed him, Zichi doing away with Zia, and you Salem. I wish you two all the best,"

Cai had started to walk out.

" Wait, you can't talk to me like that. I'm your mother. I did everything for you. I gave you a good life. Obviously you were too young to know the hell hole your father had put us all in. I only did what I could to give us a better life. I won't let you disrespect me for that,"

" Didn't Salem give us a good life, but you were only after everything he owned. Now that you've killed him, you've even forced his true heir out of the picture. You truly are shameless mother,"

Cassandra fumed in anger, how could her son, insult her like that. A heavy slap landed on Cai's cheek, burning red immediately, but he didn't bulge.

" So you think that Zia is actually Salem's daughter," Cassandra let out a short dry laugh.

" You thought she's my daughter? No, she's only but a child I stole from the hospital to have Salem take me in. She isn't his daughter, and all these belong to me,"

" What? Zia isn't my sister?" Zichi asked. She had no idea this could actually be the real reason her mother never loved her.

Cai felt his energy get drained, he had to move from there.