“Half-brother?” I asked confused.
Imagine my surprise hearing the family details of my father’s, who have very rarely mentioned about his complicated family. Other than their names, he never said anything, and that too was because I happened to see grandpa’s letter on the table.
“Oh! He might have never mentioned about us to you huh. Though it shouldn’t be surprising, that he does not want to talk about the people he hate.” He smiled wistfully yet continued- “Natalie is my second wife. Damien’s mother, my first wife, the love of my life had passed away during a robbery that had gone wrong at our neighbour’s house. My kind-hearted wife had gone to help after hearing their screams, from which she never came back from. When I returned home, I was welcomed to a very unusual silent home. To say the uneasiness I felt at that time was the worst feeling ever, would be an understatement. For unexplainable reason I felt panicky and my chest ached. Still to this day I cant forget the feeling nor the picture I saw when I went to look for her.” He said with a shaky voice.
I went to sit beside him and wrapped my arms around his waist while resting my head on his shoulder. I always used to do this for my father, when he got panicky and were shivering after hearing any news about robbery. I never knew the reason then, though I could see mom weeping quietly whenever she saw my dad in such a state.
” My poor boy, he was midst all the bodies holding his mother’s body while rocking back and forth. Apparently he had gone out to play when it happened, which saved him. What pained me even more was he didn’t shed even a single tear back then. He was full on denial. I showed him to a therapist, and after several months he finally cried. To this day I wish if only I reached home a little early I could have saved her.” He wept.
I tightened my hug while trying to hold back my tears. I didn’t try to console him by my words knowing fully well how it has no effect.
I feel sorry for grandpa and my dad. If I still couldn’t come to terms with my parents death from just the new and their corpse, how could he have felt after being in the scene and seeing his mother’s and others bloodied body.
“So when did Natalie come into your life?” I asked curiously, after he calmed down.
” I couldn’t properly look after Damion as I used my work as my coping mechanism. Though I did spend my time with him I felt like he needed a mother, as he was only 8 then. My poor boy must have felt lonely whenever I was deep into my work .” He whispered while he looked at me with his tear-filled eyes. I swallowed the lump in my throat and exhaled, as I tried not to cry in front of him.
“You were just grieving grandpa. My dad doesn’t hold it against you. If he did, I wouldn’t be here now would ? ” I asked trying to ease a little of his guilt.
He nodded while keeping his head down. But I could see the uncertainty and guilt in his eyes. Of course I knew just the words wouldn’t be enough. I definitely know how the words works. But I felt like I should say something to comfort him even if it wont work. Yet i chose not to.
Sometimes, when others words wont work, it is us who needs to find ways to be comforted.
“Anyways, I had hired Natalie to take care of Damien. Which is something I am going to beat myself up for the rest of my life.” He sighed. “one night I had drunk too much to lessen the pain from the grief , I don’t remember anything. But next morning I had a naked Natalie next to me. Though she said she would pretend it never happened and leave the house, she came 2 weeks later to tell me she was pregnant.” He said, which made both Amanda and me to cringe. She shrugged showing she was sorry to which grandpa just waved it off.
“Though it had been fake then, I hadn’t been on my right mind and only considered to give Damien a mother, so I agreed to marrying her and accepted her daughter Dahlia as my own. I only came to know the truth when I happened to hear her conversation with her friend. And afterwards everything happened exactly according to her plan, while I was ignorant to everything that happened before. And afterwards too.” He added the last part under his breathe.
“okay let me guess, she drugged you and got pregnant? And manipulated for not to divorce?” Amanda asked though it was more like a statement earning a glare from me.
“Sorry, I deduced that in my mind when Mr. Black said Mike was Uncle Damien’s half-brother. And it was not so hard considering the witch’s attitude.” She said while apologizing for calling Natalie names to which grandpa laughed it off.
“Let me guess now, from Drama?” Grandpa asked her to which she giggled and nodded. Okay I am confused. Natalie really did that?
“Yeah, she watches too much drama as well, unfortunately for me it worked on me.” He said shocking me. It seems that some people can be so evil that they make sleeping beauty’s stepmother shameful. Or was it snow white’s ?
“But why?” I asked to which I saw Amanda shook her head. Why am I too slow in grasping stuffs.
“For his asset’s duh! Though I must say she was too smart to use a guy who didn’t even remember if he wore a pant to office.” She said amused.
Though from the way she said it, it was meant to be a metaphor but I noticed grandpa going stiff and silent. I moved a little away to properly look at his face. His expression made my eyes go wide.
“Jesus! Don’t even tell me.” I said shocked making Amanda laugh while Grandpa turned beet red, making me laugh as well.
“Yeah effects of a great hangover.” He laughs along with us.
But soon we sobered up. There are too many questions to be answered.
“And poor Damien was in middle of it all.” He sighed.
“Sorry Mr. Black for the inappropriate question.” She stopped, waiting for his approval, to which he nodded urging her to continue. “I can’t help but ask. Has Mike ever mentioned of the company he is now working in?” Amanda asked making me aware of the real reason we are here for.
“Yeah. Something called Black Jack.”
A/N: hi guys. so sorry for not uploading the last week i was trying to complete the book. And its completed guys!!! i have only completed the handwritten version, i need to type it out then proof read it so by the end of March 2024 itslef this book will be done. Thankyou for reading my book guys…