"Yes, it's urgent...We're heading home now...Alright." Elaine Carlton has just informed the patriarch John Carlton and is telling him to meet up with them in their Residence to better explain the situation to Vanessa.
In the other car, Regina made calls to her husband Vergil and their son Osmond, telling them to head to Carlton's mansion.
It was better for those involved on that day to be present.
As for the two young ladies, Chantal and Diana, the matriarchs are still contemplating on how it should be told to them.
What's more important at the moment is answering Vanessa's questions.
"Mom. We're here." Chantal called out Vanessa's attention. The woman was still shell-shocked. Chantal held her mom's hand and squeezed it. "We're here, mom."
Vanessa snapped out from her trance and let herself be led inside their family's mansion where she grew up.
The servants were bustling inside. As soon as they received notification by the butler that guests will be coming, they immediately started to prepare for lunch.
"Chantal, dear. Can you take your mom to her room? Let her rest for a while. You're dad will be coming soon and we'll have lunch together." Elaine told Chantal.
"..Okay, grandma." Chantal looked at her grandma strangely. It has been a weird morning and yet her grandma was still as cool as a cucumber. Yet, she did as was told and led her mom to the bedroom.
Vanessa was being led around like a doll. She went up the stairs, in her old bedroom and on her bed.
She stared at the ceiling in a daze.
'What is going on? What does this all mean? Have they been lying to me all along? Why? They didn't even think about how I would feel! This is madness!'
A maid on the door knocked and brought in a pitcher of water with sliced lemons and a couple of glasses. She poured on a glass and left it by Vanessa's side table, pouring another one for Chantal before leaving the room.
They were clueless as to what happened with their Mistress and Madam. They could only watch in silence and not utter a word. It looked to be a sensitive topic, one that they weren't allowed to speak a word about.
"Something happened." Chantal messaged Henry.
"Hmm? What is it? Are you okay?" Henry immediately replied.
"I don't know the details yet. Mom and I followed grandma's car earlier and we came to a cemetery. We just found a headstone with the same last name as me and Diana. Same birthday too." Chantal retold.
"Ehh? How can that be? Another sibling?" Henry queried.
"That could be the most possible answer. It's just strange that we don't know about it." Chantal frowned.
"Your mom doesn't know?" He was shocked. 'What sort of family drama is this?'
He thought that Chantal's family is like any other normal rich family. But now as it turns out, they also have their own secrets.
"No. She's still very shocked. I'm in her old bedroom now. We're waiting for dad."
"I see. Well, I'm sure it'll all work out. What's important is to be there for your mom. Let me know how it goes?"
"Yup, of course."
Just then a knock on the door sounded.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
The maid just came to inform them of the others' arrival.
"Mom, they're here.. let's go?" She put away her phone and walked toward her mother. She put her hand out for her mom.
Vanessa didn't wait to be led this time. She wanted to get answers not a second longer. She only let her daughter assist her out of bed but she walked the rest of the way on her own.
Instead of the Dining room, they were led to the family's office. It was a spacious office, housing numerous books.
The elders were already sat on the couch, as well as Osmond.
As soon as Vanessa entered the room, Osmond got up and pulled her in his arms, giving a peck on her forehead. "It's going to be okay." He whispered.
Chantal was quietly observing the elders.
"Mom, can you tell me now?" Vanessa's voice trembled. "Is the one on in the cemetery, my daughter?"
Elaine took a sip from her teacup and settled it down on the table.
She glanced at Chantal before starting.
"Yes. She died when you gave birth to her." Elaine said. She sighed in resignation.
"WHAT???!!! You are not lying?"
"No."
"But how come no one told me about this?" Vanessa's eyes burst in tears.
"We didn't want you to suffer in sadness with the death of a child." Elaine said.
"Even so. It's my child. I should have been allowed to grieve. It's been 22 years! 22 years that I didn't get to mourn a child that I didn't even know I lost!" Vanessa was grief-stricken. She felt guilty for not having an inkling of what was going on. 'My baby, do you hate me? I'm sorry! Mommy didn't know!'
"Darling, at that time we felt it was for the best. We didn't want you to suffer depression. We wanted you to focus on the good that we have." Osmond tried to console her, rubbing her back to comfort her.
"But you knew. Why didn't you tell me?" Vanessa looked at Osmond accusingly. She seethed in anger.
Osmond shook his head.
"You had problems with managing your depression before you became pregnant. You were suffering with an eating disorder. That when you lost the child, we feared that it would become worse." John tried to explain as much as he could. He has always doted on his daughter and was very worried for his daughter's well-being.
"Still, it's been 22 years. Were you ever going to tell me?" Vanessa questioned.
The elders were quiet. They didn't know what should be said at that moment. They were never prepared to face this moment.
"Chantal, can you leave us for a moment?" Vergil spoke. His words were faint. Guilt filled him.
Chantal wanted to ask why she needed to leave but looking at Vergil who had a firm look on his face, she clamped down whatever she was going to say. She hesitated for a moment before she got up from her seat and walked out of the room.