After I got my treatment from the hospital, Dawson took me home. Back to the main mansion with white bandage wrapped round my forehead like I had an accident and a big plaster on my cheek like I just did surgery. In addition with one black eyes. Unlike Jake's, Dawson gave him two black eyes, broken nose, pulled teeth at the bottom and a big cut on his lip.
In the evening after a quiet dinner, Arthur called everyone into the large living room upstairs. Not the one where Dawson and I had sex. There are so many rooms in the massive mansion. We're on the middle floor.
The kids have been put to sleep. I sat beside Jenner, Luciana beside her husband, Dawson and Jake sat across each other, metres away as they avoid their gaze.
The two are still angry with each other. I think Dawson is more furious than Jake with the broken face.
"I called you guys here because of what I heard from my informatory." He started.
"Dad, listen—"
"Keep quiet, young man." He chided Jake when he wanted to defend himself. One thing about Arthur is that when it comes to family matters, he's never smiling. He's always serious and straightforward. "There's nothing to listen from you with those cloths tied on your face."
Jenner chuckled, silently, covering her mouth. I heard her but it's not funny.
"Hitting a woman was not what I taught you or how I trained and brought you up, Jake." His voice began to grow louder in fierce temper. "You have no right to hit a woman."
"Tell him, dad." Dawson scoffed, clasping his hands together like a saint.
"Shut up!" Arthur scolded him flat. They feared him for who he is. The most powerful man in the tycoon family. Some feared he is a retired mafia. "No matter what she did to you, I don't care to know as far as she's not your property, you have no monopoly over her. Neither do you have rights to fuck her when you know she's your brother's ex and the mother of his kids."
"Fuck that shit, dad!" Jake stood up, challengingly. "Mother of his kids my foot! You and I…..infact, excluding Laura who doesn't know about what happened that night? Huh? Just because we're asked to keep it a secret doesn't mean anyone should cross that line. You all know for sure that those kids are truly mine. Proudly sponsored by my sperm!"
Wait, I don't get it. I'm lost. Totally lost. My brows furrowed. Luciana whispered to her son, "Shut up and sit down. This is not the right time."
"Then when is the right time, mom? When they've grown and chooses Dawson over me? Never!"
Arthur could not do anything at this moment. He slumped his back against the couch tiredly and began to massage his temple. Dawson stood up to challenge Jake. "Enough already. You've said enough."
"What? Huh?" He pushed Dawson on the chest, forcing him to take the first hit. "Why keeping it for so long? Why not spit out the truth in front of her? Tell her everything you know and I'll help you finish it? Tell her I'm the biological father of the twins and not you."
"Enough!" Both Arthur and Dawson yelled in unison.
I couldn't take it any longer, "What's going on?" My heart troubled as I stood up. Jenner tries to soothe me as she pulled my arm. I jerked her hand off. I looked at Dawson, "What is he talking about? Why is he claiming our kids?" When he didn't say a word, I rushed to him and began to shook him by the arms, "Say something, don't just stand here. What secret should I know? How is he the true father of our kids?"
I'm getting frustrated. He's not saying anything, neither is anyone talking. The whole place which was noisy before, turned silent. And I was the only one questioning with no answers.
I turned back at Luciana, Arthur and Jenner, "Are you guys going to keep shut or answer me? Why is everyone quiet?! What the fuck is happening?" I'm losing my nerves.
"Laura dear, please calm down."
"Don't tell me to calm down, Luciana" I retorted aggressively. "You're part of this too. Not until you or anybody tells me about the fuck that happened, I won't be at peace and none of you will. I swear—"
"I'm type 2 diabetes." Dawson spoke up, making me swallow the rest of my words. Diabetes? When? He began to explain. I listened carefully, mouth wide open in shock. "It started when I was 10. I kept it to myself for five years, everyone found out about it when I turned 15. It was hard for me to carry on with the result of several doctors that I can't impregnate a woman...that am infertile. But when I met you….I had a little bit of hope of recovery. We got married and I wanted to tell you how much burden I've been carrying in my heart for years but I felt you'd leave me. I didn't want to scare you away so I talked with my family and we made up a plan." Tears rolled down my cheeks. I felt heartbroken. "The only solution was…..for Jake to sleep with you after I gave you sleeping pills. You fell into a deep sleep and he did it. I wanted you to give me a child before Jake finds his missing rib. But when I found out that none of that worked, Blanca came on the line and Jake also helped me and it cracked a bottle. That's why I got furious when she got a miscarriage. Am so sorry, Laura. Please forgive me."
My breath hitched. I battled hard within myself to catch my breath again. I slumped helplessly on the couch behind me, Jenner came over to soothe me. I held her lap to support myself. My grasp tightened on her jean.
I can't believe a word I just heard. I stare straight to the floor, not a word could come out of my mouth as I faced the ground.
Dawson came over, knelt down in front of me with teary eyes. He wanted to touch my face but I rebuked him, coldly. "Don't touch me. Don't!" I burst into tears, "I hate you, Dawson. I swear, I hate you. You hurt me."
"Am sorry."
"How could you keep such a heavy thing from me all these years after everything we shared?"
"But I didn't do it." Jake stated and everyone including me, faced him at once. "Yes, I swear I never touched you when they asked me to." He said again. His expression was genuine.
"What do you mean?" I asked him, crying.
He sighed, "Laura, mom, dad, Jenner…." He turned towards Dawson, "Am sorry, brother. When you guys asked me to do it, I went into the room but I never did. You can go for DNA test if am telling lies." When we all stare at him like weirdos, he continued, "I refused to do it because….I wanted to know if Dawson's reports were true. He has been the one pouring it down there, I never went there until when they separated."
"So why did you do it? Why are you saying it now?" Arthur frowned.
"Because I was jealous." Tears rolled from his eyes. "Since the day Dawson introduced Laura to me as his girlfriend, I became jealous because am a flirt and was never ready for relationships and commitments. But when you guys seeked for my help, I thought it'd a good idea to steal her and the kids away for good."
"So, are you saying that Simone and Nora are my true biological kids?" Dawson reconfirmed.
"If you think am faking it or telling a lie, then let's go for a DNA test. I swear on my life, I didn't touch her. I only touch Blanca and that was my child in the miscarriage. Laura is legally yours, and am not dragging her from you, bro."
"You think so? Huh?" I pounced on him and began to hit him. "You nasty thing." I rushed to Dawson and began to do the same too. "You shameless creature, you asked your brother to fuck me. And you pretended I was sharing your meal with somebody else."
"Ow! But it never happened, look, he just confessed." He tried to cover his head and face from the blows.
"I hate you!" I screamed it to his ears and rushed towards the stairs. I stood on the staircase and shouted, "I hate all of you. You guys are pretenders, traitors. You're all liars! And am leaving this house with my kids. I swear you won't ever see us again."
Dawson quickly got up on his feet and ran after me, "Laura, Laura wait, Laura please don't. Listen to me, am sorry for real."
"Police." We paused on the staircase as two officers walked in uninvited.
Arthur stood up, "Yes, how may I help you officers?"
They took out their IDs. "We are here to see Mr. Jake Anderson."
"Yes?" Jake identified himself.
Luciana got up, standing beside her husband worriedly. "What has my son done this time?"
"Am sorry, ma'am. But your son is under arrest for the murder of Blanca Suarez."
"What?!"
"Jake?!" I gasped. So it's been him all these while? All Blanca talked about. He has been the one pestering Blanca and encouraging her to break my marriage?
One of the officer signaled the other and he approached Jake with an handcuff. It's true. We waited for him to defend himself but he just stood there, saying nothing and letting the police officer take him away.
Luciana cried, wanting to follow them but her husband held her wrist. "My son is not a rapist, he's not a murderer, you got the wrong person, let him go!"
Even though Jake is not Arthur's biological son, they still loved him in the family just as they loved Dawson. But that won't change my mindset from parking up my belongings and taking my kids away from the Anderson's for good. I don't want to ever set eyes on them again.
That night, I took my kids through the back door after lying to Dawson and making fake promises that I won't leave anymore. He was so dumb to believe me. Who would want to spend the rest of her life with a lying bastard? Not just him, but his entire family was behind the whole plan.
I was the only stranger and novice person in their midst. They used me and played me just for their selfish interest. All these while, I was dying to come back to him, to marry him again if possible. To stay by his side and spend the rest of my life with him, only to know that…..
You know what? I'm done and dusted with these people. I don't want to do anymore. I have a well paying job and more than enough to take care and provide for myself and my kids as I promised myself from the very beginning.
Whether the kids still belong to Dawson or Jake, I don't want to know. I carried them for nine months and bare the pain to push them out. I'm worth a mother if I can take care of my two little munchkins.
As for the Anderson's? I wish them farewell. In my next life, I hope never to cross path with them. Especially with the man I once loved and trusted, who later played me to his brother just because he wants an heir for his selfish desire to cover his infertility.
That night, I boarded to Alabama with my twins. I told everything to my parents and they were glad I finally made up my mind to move on. With what Dawson did to me...I don't think I would ever trust a man let alone falling in love again.
Not too long after two years passed by when my kids turned 5 and I've started a new life with myself, my kids and family, I heard the news on headlines that Dawson committed suicide out of depression and frustration and his cousin Jake, was sentenced to life imprisonment.
Wow. If I were to be that judge who made the pronouncement on Jake's case, I would have twisted that LIFE IMPRISONMENT to sentenced to DEATH BY HANGING. I'd have done the same to Dawson too but thank God he died a good death at last.
May his soul rest in pieces.