Desy started crying as tears after tears dribbled down her eyes as she told everyone that she suffered due to her father. Grace ran and brought a glass of water for her, which she dipped quietly. I could see pain as well. She has always considered Desy and Ansell her children.
“Your father told me everything before he brought Desy to meet me and when he blackmailed her in the name of taking my life, I asked her not to do anything because my life was already a hell and all I wanted was to die” their mother spoke as Desy was getting his breath back while sipping on the water.
“I didn’t want you to take up the responsibility of the gang and I was relieved to know that you are acting like a human and not a devil, which your father wanted to make you”
Now all the attention was on their mother as she narrated.
“The motive of my life was fulfilled. I also met Desy and after that, all I wanted was to die because I didn’t want to create havoc in the lives of my kids. I asked her to let me be and let her father kill me but she didn’t listen because, as much as I loved you both, she also loved me”
I could se pure love in her eyes as she said all this and her eyes remained fixated on Desy as she said all that. The air was filled with overwhelming emotions.
“And how could I do that?’ Desy questioned Ansell. “Tell me, brother, haven’t you done as you were told if your mother was in front of you at gunpoint?”
Ansell remained quiet, just as confused as Desy and me about who to blame in this situation. Desy had been involved, but she was also trapped. I couldn’t help but I think that I might have done the same if I were in her shoes.
“I felt like I had no other choice back then. I was so terrified, all I wanted was to save mother, no matter what. I believed it wouldn’t cost anyone their life. My plan was to save mother first and then somehow confess the truth to you later. So, with that thought, I reluctantly agreed to father ” Desy explained with a shaky voice.
She hiccuped as she reminded that day.
“He handed me a knife and a gun for protection and led me to where he held William. He told me that he had already informed you about William keeping me captive and you were on your way. I needed to take William to a room and do anything to take William to a room and do anything that would make you believe he had actually” Desy couldn’t bring herself to say the word. “Or else he would harm mother”
She cried, looking down, because she could not meet his gaze with the next things she was about to reveal.
“I did as he told and cut myself with the knife he gave to me, giving myself the punishment for what I was going to do, scratched myself with my own nails and tore my clothes”
Sob after sob escaped her throat as she continued looking down.
“William didn’t even look at me, let alone touch me”
I could see how guilty she was for her deeds.
“When you came, I made sure that he was above me, so that you could believe what father wanted you to believe ”
She cried and cried and cried.
“My head started spinning with so much crying and I instantly felt guilty when you beat him like a punching bag. While you were beating him, I saw a man moving towards William with the motive of killing him, and I knew that his father must have ordered him so that he was not left with any evidence ”
My heart beat up as she continued.
“I became so scared that I did what felt right at that moment. I just pulled out the gun and shot him but the voice that I heard afterwards was that of William, which made me think that I had shot him and I lost my consciousness at that very moment, thinking that I killed William instead of that man”
She again started crying as fresh tears rolled down her cheeks.
Ansell, like all of us, what too stunned to know that. I could feel my brain going numb while listening to her. None of us moved from our places.
A long, ear-piercing silence followed her words, which Ansell decided to break.
“Why, Desy? Why did you do that?” Ansell’s voice was barely audible as he struggled with the overwhelming emotions of the moment.
“I trusted you do much that I didn’t even listen to him. Your actions not only ruined my relationship with Leonara. You know I struggle with controlling my anger, and you witnessed all of this firsthand, yet you didn’t say a word”
He gulped down the emotions building in his throat.
“I understand that you did all that because you were not left with any other option and you wanted to save your mother. After that, you thought that William had died but why didn’t you tell me about it after I held Leonara captive?” He questioned, pouring out his feelings all at once.
“I couldn’t because when I was in the hospital, he came to visit me and blackmailed me, saying that this time he would not only kill my mother but also you because now you have taken up the responsibility and have become just the way he wanted. He told me that if I said anything to you and you decided to leave everything back, then the first person whom he would kill would be you”
Her revelation made me and their mother gasp. How could a father even think about killing his own son?
“According to him, if you couldn’t become a mafia gang leader and take over the empire, then you were worthless to him. He threatened to kill you, mother, and and throw me onto the streets ” she sobbed. “You know, Ansell, after mother, you were all I had. I couldn’t bear the thought of losing you, so I did everything I could to protect our family, you, and our mother. Since childhood, I was well aware of how evil our father was, and I knew he wouldn’t hesitate to carry out his threats ”
Tears still glistening in her eyes, she continued, “I kept up the act for those three months because father believed that my pain would stoke the anger he wanted in you”.
She paused to catch her breath after revealing so much at once.
“Do you think it was easy for me to watch what you were doing to Leonara right before my eyes?” Desy asked, her tears wiped away, a newfound determination filling her.
“It was tearing me apart too. I blamed myself and felt responsible for everything that unfolded. I thought William had died, and I never expected you would involve Leonara in all of this” she sobbed.
She sobbed.
“I tried to help her in any way I could. On your first night with her, I heard her cry, and I couldn’t bear to let her suffer like that because Grace had told me about the girl you had brought home and with the description, I understand who it was. I did all that drama to distract you and save her”
My heart was filled with emotions with her revelation. I was thinking wrong about her while she did that to save me.
“I spoke positively about you to her, hoping she would listen to you, and your torment might become more bearable for her. I gave her advice on how to escape because she was braver and stronger than me, with a will I didn’t possess. I even pleaded with father to help her and set her free. After many requests, he finally visited you the day you kept her in that dungeon ”
Ansell moved back and forth, pinching the bridge of his nose. He couldn’t believe that so much was going on right under his nose and he was completely unaware of that.
The reason is that he never tried to look after the truth.
His other palm was tightly fisted, and each step was strong and authoritative. There was a pin -drop silence as we waited for his next move. We all knew that one word from any of us would make him burst out of anger so it was better to keep our mounts shut. I am sure he regrets everything he has done but wasn’t able to say it openly.
“Desy, go away from my sight” Ansell ordered in a calm but heavy tone, his audible breaths revealing the storm of emotions within him.
“Brother, please ___”
“JUST GO AWAY, DESY!”
His sudden shout startled everyone in the room. Desy’s eyes briefly met ours, silently seeking forgiveness, before she turned and retreated to her room.
“Grace, take mother to her room”
Ansell ordered.
Grace didn’t waste even a single second rushing to his mother, helping her stand up and taking her to the room.
The lawyer present seemed to understand the need for privacy without being told. He swiftly left the scene.
I clung tightly to my brother, who only tightened his hold around me as Ansell approached us. His anger was evident, and I silently prayed that it wouldn’t be directed at us.
We had been undeserving victims of his anger in the past, and the possibility of it happening again loomed large today.