Sharon failed to understand what had happened. She had to too many questions. She was happy to have her son back; yes, but all the same she had a lot of questions. So did Jacob; and Nesisa too. While they were sitting outside, she continued to ask Aletha a lot of questions; and Aletha, feeling very sorry for Sharon, narrated to her everything that she knew about Jeremy. But she did not mention the fact that Jeremy was the child's biological father. She said it all to the best of her knowledge; leaving out nothing and adding nothing to it. Jacob was listening intently, and he did not utter a word. But Nesisa, who was very vocal, was asking more than enough questions.
Sharon had mixed emotions. She blamed herself for many things. She had too many questions as well as self-blame.
"What kind of a mother am I? I could not even see that the body was not my son's! Kiara knows him better; I think Kiara deserves to be with him. She knows him way better than I do!" she cried.
They all did their best to console her, but the poor woman was too emotional to be consoled.
***
Two days later, in the Pinkerton mansion, lady Pinkerton was sitting on a chair, and she smiled brightly at Kiara. The young lady sat down and greeted the lady. Soon enough, the master Pinkerton walked in and took a seat besides his wife.
"Kiara, how are you?" the man smiled.
"I am well grandpa, and I hope you too." She smiled.
Vine walked in too, and he took a seat.
"We need to talk to her now; I don't know if you want to sit through, or we may excuse you," lady Pinkerton said to her husband.
The husband seemed hurt. "What are you going to say to her; that you don't even want me to hear it?"
"No, it's not like that. I do want you to hear it; but it's just that I don't want to tire you. The issues may drag on and on forever, so I thought since you are not too well, you could use some rest."
Without responding, the man sluggishly walked out of the room. Lady Pinkerton did not do or say anything to try and make him stay. If anything, she was glad that he left.
Vine promptly closed the door after his grandfather had left.
"Shouldn't we call Dream to be part of the meeting?" the grandmother asked.
"After what happened with Gareth, I think we should withhold trusting the employees for a while," Vine said.
Kiara was listening to them in silence; and the more they spoke, the more scared she became. She wondered what they were talking about, but she comforted herself by making herself believe that she was the mother to Vincent, and they were not going to harm her.
"We called for you, and you chose to come without Vincent Lisandro. Why?" lady Pinkerton asked.
"I…I left him with my mother at home," she said in a very scared voice.
"Need I remind you, Kiara, that Vincent Lisandro is a Pinkerton. He belongs here; and if you are ever summoned to report at the Pinkerton mansion, you report with the junior master. Do you understand?"
"Yes," she looked down.
Kiara was preparing her heart; waiting for the worst. Vine came forward and stood in front of Kiara, making her very scared. He picked some papers from the nearby desk and threw them in front of Kiara.
"Sign!" he said.
Without moving an inch, Kiara looked at the papers. She read everything on the first page:
I, Kiara Angela Noels, being the biological mother of VINCENT LISANDRO PINKERTON, hereby give him up for adoption on this day the ... of…... in the year …..
I shall not be involved in the child's life, for I am wholly giving him up. I shall not demand to see him at any time, for I want to be completely out of the child's life. Neither shall I demand for any pictures or videos of him, for as long as I and the child shall live.
By signing this document, I understand that I am relinquishing all of my parental rights to the child VINCENT LISANDRO PINKERTON. This renouncement is not taken under duress. It is totally voluntary and irrevocable. I do make this oath freely, with a clear mind, and not under the influence of any drugs. I have not been unduly influenced by anyone in making this relinquishment.
Signed .....
DOB and ID number...........
Name: Kiara Angela Noels
Kiara widened her eyes in utter shock.
"What? You're joking! I am never giving my son away for adoption!"
"Well, you are," Vine said in his usual low, no-emotion voice.
"Why would I do that?" she held on to the arm of the chair, for she was about to stand up.
"Sit down and sign the damn papers, woman!" Vine said. "If you continue reading, you will see on the next pages that we wrote twenty good reasons why you should give your son up. Anyone who reads the papers will see a lot of reason in you giving him up."
"No way! I love my son and I am not giving him up!"
"Well, you are going to do just that!" Vine derided.
Lady Pinkerton stood up and walked to stand closer to Kiara. Her cane was in her hands.
"Kiara, let me explain to you in simple terms. We all know that you cannot stay away from that useless boy of yours. As such, we're letting you go. Go and be with him. But you will have to leave the junior master here; and we would appreciate if you never come back to see him ever again. He might as well grow up without a mother rather than a worthless whore like you."
Kiara was shocked. She did not think the lady could have such harsh words to say to her.
"Grandma! Vincent is my son!"
"Stop calling me grandma and sign the papers, Kiara!"
"I can never sign away my rights to my own son. I carried the boy; he is my child. I love him, and I can never give him up."
Vine was becoming seriously agitated. Part of his heart wanted to slap Kiara right across the face, but he used self control. He bent down, coming face to face with Kiara, and he spoke in her face:
"Woman, sign the papers!"
"No!" Kiara retorted.
"Don't force me to do what I don't want to do," the young man said.
"Do whatever you want to do, I will never sign these papers!" She screamed.
Lady Pinkerton tapped her cane on the ground, a wicked smile developing on her face. She looked at her grandson, and winked at him.
"Give her the second option." She said to him.
Kiara looked up at Vine; for the man was now standing straight, towering above the young mother who remained seated in her chair.
Kiara wondered what they were talking about. Second option? What second option? Were they talking about her getting married to Vine? No. She did not want. She told herself that if they ever made such a proposal; she was going to flatly refuse.
She wanted Vine to start talking. Why was he silent; and not saying a word? What was the second option? What was taking him that long to say it? Come on, Vine Lucas Pinkerton; just say it!
She fidgeted in her chair and swallowed hard.
Vine started walking. He headed towards another desk and leisurely lit a cigarette.
Kiara hated it when he smoked around her. The smoke always choked her. When the man puffed into the air, Kiara coughed twice and then she picked the bottle of water in front of her. She took two sips and placed it down.
Vine took his time, smoking the cigarette at his own pace, until he threw the stump away. Kiara had hoped that the grandmother was going to tell him to stop; as she sometimes did, yet she just took her seat and acted like she could not see what her grandson was doing.
Vine finally took a seat, his legs crossed. A domineering aura was all around him, and he began to talk:
"Have you signed yet?" a devilish smile danced on his lips.
"I will die first before I sign those papers!!" she wailed.
Vine and the grandmother exchanged glances.
"That's exactly what we're talking about; it is not grandma?" Vine said.
"It is," lady Pinkerton responded.
Kiara looked at them both and wondered what on earth was running through their minds. Vine ended up saying;
"Kiara Angela Noels, I hereby give you two options. Option one; sign the papers. Option two; you die."
"No! You cannot kill me!" she said.
Vine smiled. He loosened his tie and unbuttoned the top button of his shirt. He let out a small chuckle and said,
"I also used to think that it was impossible to kill you, Kiara. I always told myself that she is the mother of my son; and my son needs her. I guess I had temporarily forgotten that I am a perfect example of a person who grew up without a mother; and I came out perfectly well, did I not? I mean, the only reason why you jumped into bed with me the very first day you saw me was because you saw a fine man in me, did you not?"
"You drugged me!" Kiara screamed in anger.
"Really? Interesting. Anyway, I don't have time for your games. Sign those papers. That's option one. Or you may choose to take option two: death. Make your choice fast. Our lawyer is within the building. We need to start on the adoption process as soon as can be."
The young man said before he marched out of the room. There was a pen on the desk. Lady Pinkerton picked it and forced it into Kiara's palm.
"Sign!" she commanded.