"Mom, what are you talking about? I don't know what your intentions are, but if you think you can ruin my relationship with Jasmine, you're going to fail. I love her more than words can say, and your plans won't work."
"I don't want to hurt you, my son. Jasmine is the child who was taken from me. I lost her in a gang fight. If you don't believe me, she has a birthmark on her shoulder."
"Mom, I don't trust you. You only just appeared in my life. Stop with this nonsense and leave."
I heard a shout from downstairs, so I went down to see what was going on between them. The atmosphere was calm, no sign of any argument. A few minutes later, his mom told me she was leaving, which was strange because she had agreed to stay the night at the villa before going to the spa.
She insisted that I drive her home, but Raymond quickly stepped in with a smile, offering to take my place. I was tired, so I didn't argue. I sat in the living room, watching a TV show about caring mothers. It reminded me of my mother and how she died because of my mistakes.
As Raymond passed by me, muttering angrily to himself, I asked what was wrong, but he just shook his head and went to the room. I didn't know what had happened between him and my mom, so I went inside to check on him. When I asked if he wanted some adult time, he responded, "Not interested."
It was the first time he had ever turned me down for sex, and I didn't want to make things worse, so I just wished him a good night. The next morning, I had the strangest dream: my deceased mother was chasing me with a cane.
I told Raymond I was going to visit my birth mom. I called the investigator again for the location and spent half a day traveling to the northern part of the city. When I arrived, I asked around until I found her territory, but everyone was armed. I was worried about the safety of my child, but I had already come this far, and there was no turning back.
Luckily, I was told she had traveled, so I didn't meet her and avoided the disappointment. I returned home late, and there was noise in the hall. I went in to see what was going on. Raymond and his mom both greeted me with a "Welcome." They seemed to be hiding something, but I didn't press it. I just went into the kitchen to make myself something to eat.
"Honey, is everything okay with you and your mom? I heard you two arguing when I arrived."
"Arguing? We were just having a conversation. Sorry if it sounded loud, I didn't mean to worry you."
"I heard your mom mention something about a sister. Do you have a sister?"
"What? I don't have a sister. Why would I keep that from you? I think you misunderstood, so don't worry about it."
I trusted him without a doubt and explained how my day had gone. He asked a lot of questions, as if he was confused by my answers. His confusion made me talk even more, which felt tiring. He seemed more surprised than I expected, his mouth hanging open in shock.
On Tuesday morning, while I was at work, I got a call from Raymond's mom asking to meet. She insisted on meeting somewhere quiet, which wasn't bad since I was in a phase where noise irritated me. When we met, her expressions and gaze felt very personal.
She asked a lot about my past, which made me uncomfortable, but I still told her everything. Her eyes filled with tears as she hugged me passionately. Suddenly, Raymond walked in, looking angry. I was surprised that he knew where we were.
"Jasmine, we're leaving now."
"Raymond, I don't understand you lately. Why can't I have a simple conversation with your mom without you interfering? Are you hiding something? This feels so strange, and I'm starting to suspect something."
As we approached the villa entrance, I noticed a glowing light. I asked him about it, but he just smiled. When we got closer, I saw the light was coming from the gate, and I approached to figure out what it was.
"Marry me, Jasmine. I know this is sudden, but I've already made all the arrangements. There's nothing to worry about. I don't want to wait any longer. Our baby could come any moment, so let's get married this weekend."
I was overwhelmed by his sincerity. I'd been waiting for this moment for so long. The only strange thing was that he didn't give me time to prepare properly, but I still loved him and wanted to be his wife. With just three days to prepare, I called Bela back from her travels to help with a quick arrangement.
Saturday arrived, and the joy of becoming his wife was indescribable. I made Bela my bridesmaid. Walking down the aisle, I missed my dad and wished he could be there. The hospital president walked me down, and I saw the joy on Raymond's face as I approached the altar.
The priest asked if anyone objected, and the entire place was silent. Suddenly, there was a shout.
"Raymond, you can't marry her." I turned around and was shocked to see his mom. She kept repeating it, and everyone stared at her as she approached the altar.
"Jasmine, he's your brother. He refuses to accept it, so I had to tell you."
I stood there in disbelief. "Raymond, I think my water just broke."