“Stop pretending!” Thea hissed, “I didn’t even hurt you that much! If you want to go to court, I’ll see you in court! I won’t take blackmailing!” Thea was pretty tough compared with her Mom. The two men seemed a bit stunned. And soon, the police just came, “What the heck is happening here?” The police officer asked, frowning.
The two men thought the people who hired them had bribed the police as well. So they went forth to explain, “Sir, these people just started to sell hot dogs here, and they blocked the way. We nicely asked them to move, but they refused to. And they even beat us up.”
The police officer smiled coldly, “You’re telling me the ladies beat your asses up in the middle of the street? And you two are grown-ass men. I need you both to come to the station with me. I don’t believe you are responsible for this mess.”
A couple of pedestrians had witnessed the whole thing. They explained to the police, “We saw everything. These men came to harass the poor ladies. Other people are also selling street food here. But they just came to seek trouble against the ladies. It was disgusting!”
The police stare coldly at the two punks, “Are they telling the truth?”
The two men looked at each other, not daring to say anything. Why would the police give them a hard time? The person who hired them had told them that everything had been staged! But now, they could only deny it, “Sir, we’re not lying… They are!”
“Sir, these men came here to bully Mrs. Todd and her mother. I’ve seen everything,” a man selling sandwiches suddenly cut in, “I was gonna help, and Mrs. Todd’s daughter just showed up. These men are lying!”
The police officer sighed, “I need you both to come with me to the police station. As for the ladies, please calm down. You stay here and continue what you’re doing.”
And then, the officer turned to Thea’s Mom, “I will call you when I need you during the questioning.”
“Thank you, officer,” Thea’s Mom nodded instantly.
“You two,” The police officer looked at the two men threateningly. “Get into the car. I just saw a surveillance camera at the corner of this building. I’ll go through the footage and figure out who’s lying! Now, get your ass in the car!”
The two men exchanged a look, knowing they were forced up.
The police cruiser drove down the road. Thea’s Mom let out a breath. Thea, on the other hand, was at ease.
Grace turned to look at her daughter. And then, her eyes filled with tears. She had so many things to tell her daughter.
Thea, however, felt so much anger against the person behind the bullying of Mom and Granny. She was not only angry with the two street punks but with the culprit, and she surely knew who it was. She was also devastated that her Mom didn’t even tell her anything that they came out to sell hot dogs on the street. They didn’t have to do it to get money!
If Grace wanted money, she could just call Thea!
“Thea… I…” Grace started.
“Mom, please,” Thea said, “I really don’t want to hear anything. Let’s go back to your apartment first.”
Her Mom and Granny had come to the city where Thea’s stayed a couple of days ago, saying they had found an apartment near her company.
Grace felt guilty. She could only follow Thea’s words. Their truck was parked in the parking lot near their food cart. Thea helped her Mom to pack the stall together and pushed it to the truck, stacking things up before getting in the driver’s seat.
Thea learned how to drive trucks when she was a teenager. Back then, her Mom’s restaurant was quite busy, and her Dad was nowhere to be found every day. Thea was forced to learn how to drive the truck to purchase kitchen supplies for her Mom.
Her Mom helped her Granny to get in the seat. And Thea started the truck, “Mom, address.”
Grace went pale and suddenly went silent.
Thea’s eyes widened as she turned to look at Mom, “Don’t tell me you and granny are living in this truck, Mom.”
“Listen… Thea…” Grace looked like she was gonna cry.
“Thea,” her Granny looked sad. “Your Mom and I.. we don’t have money. Your Dad took our house away, and we don’t know where to go.”
“I KNEW IT!” Thea slammed the steering wheel, “It knew it was that dip bastard!”
Thea’s eyes went red. She clenched her teeth as she tried calming herself, “It’s okay. You both don’t need to worry. You can live in my place. The company just bought me a nice apartment. It is big enough for the three of us.”
“But Thea…” Grace quickly felt agitated.
“Mom, please don’t talk right now,” Thea breathed as she got the truck out of the driveway, “I felt so terrible after finding out the truth. I will probably say something that I don’t mean to say. Let’s go back to my place. So you guys can have a proper rest and a proper meal. And then, I will get everything sorted out. I will make John Gordon lose a limb for doing this to you!”
Anger still filled her heart as she drove the truck. She forgot to get the window up, and some of the pedestrians recognized her and pulled out their phones.
****
Meanwhile, Zara was shocked by the posts on Twitter. Some people got the pictures where it looked like Thea was confronting the police, saying that she was acting like a punk and broke the law. They said she was trying to get everything using her privilege as a celebrity.
Some people knew the truth, so they came out to speak up for Thea, saying that Thea was only explaining something as two men went to harass her Granny and Mom.
Zara sent out all her PR employees and social media accounts to stick on Thea’s side, trying to get those hating comments down.
The photos where Thea drove a truck were posted everywhere after that.
Some fans thought it was sweet that Thea would stand out for her mother and grandma. Some fans found those photos cute.
How many female celebrities these days can drive a truck? They thought Thea was not pretentious. And she was also so down to earth.
Some people who were there that day even posted the whole video about the truth. Everyone thus ignored those hating comments sent by Thea’s rivals.
#Truck Driver TheaTodd was trending again.
But Thea didn’t even know that. She was at home, talking to her Mom, “Mom, why the heck did you let John take away the house? Why do you always tend to do what he tells you? And what the heck was that 5 million contract?!”
“That bastard told you about the contract?” Grace seemed shocked.
Thea sighed, “I can’t help you if you don’t tell me the truth, Mom. Please don’t hide anything from me.”
Grace cried, “That bastard threatened me that you must leave showbiz. He said he would expose your relationship with Derek if you don’t leave the industry.”
“Derek is only from my past relationship. That won’t threaten me.” Thea blurted out.
“What else he used to threaten you with?” Grace seemed hesitant.
“Mom, come on,” Thea sighed, “I really need to know the truth.”
But her Mom remained silent.
Her Granny couldn’t hold it back anymore, “He’s threatening the secret of your birth, Thea. That bastard, he’s not your real father.”
“MOM!” Grace snapped, stopping her mother from telling Thea something.