Chapter 53: “I have a sister?”
Chapter 53: "I have a sister?"
Freddie sat in the private room in his mansion. He was going through some documents, when all of a sudden, he heard a knock on the door.
"Who is it? You know I hate being disturbed when I'm in here." He responded, without looking up.
The door opened despite his words of warning, and he looked up to unleash his anger on whosoever it was.
When he sprang to his feet and saw who came in, his words just stuck in his throat.
"Mr. Freddie, it's been years. How are you today?"
He asked and walked in majestically.
"Mr. Hopper?" Freddie responded with great shock.C0ntent © 2024 (N/ô)velDrama.Org.
"Why do you sound so shocked? I told you I'll pay you a visit one day. You can't expect me to just forget I have a daughter somewhere. Can I sit?" Hopper asked, walking to the single seater in the office and sitting before Freddie could say "Yes".
"But... Why didn't you tell me you will be paying me a visit? I would have made more preparations." Freddie said nervously, rubbing his palm on his thighs.
"Well, I never thought I would come here too. Remember what I told you years back? I told you when her sister is twenty and is home with us, I'll come back for my daughter."
Freddie gulped hard and walked to the mini bar in the office to pour a drink for Hopper.
"Tell me, Freddie. Have you told her at all?"
"Errrmmmm... Mr. Hopper, I am yet to do that. I have always wanted to tell her but I couldn't bring myself to do so. I don't think she is ready to know the whole truth."
"Freddie, she is twenty. I have given you enough time to talk to her about this. This is why you are being paid a wholesome amount, right? She has the right to know her sister."
Freddie bounced his head and walked to the couch. He pulled a stool with him and placed the glass of wine on it.
"Have you told her sister about this?"
"Not yet, but I believe she will understand. They are not babies any longer. They are mature and this truth shouldn't affect them in any way."
Freddie nodded and lowered his head. He shook his legs and rubbed his thighs anxiously.
Hopper noticed this and he furrowed his brows in wonder.
"What is wrong with you? Why are you so nervous about this? If you can tell her everything, I will. It's no big deal."
"No! No, Mr. Hopper. I think I should tell her about this myself. I have been the one keeping her away from the truth for so long."
Hopper heaved a sigh and took a sip from his wine.
"My wife, Penelope, has been bothering me to bring her home. She wants her two daughters back together. She wants both of them to be around for their next birthday."
Freddie sprang to his feet all of a sudden and began to pace in front of Hopper.
'Why now? Why are they coming back now? Everything is going smoothly, Amelia is happy, I am happy. Why does this have to happen now?'
"Say something, Freddie and stop pacing."
"Why, why didn't you take her when she was five? Why wait till she is twenty? You never told me why you asked me to take her in."
"Penelope tried talking to her sister about how she would feel if she had a sister, and her sister was so mad and said she doesn't want to share her parents with anyone. Penelope was scared that her daughter would hate her, so she told me to tell you to keep her here with you until her sister grows more understanding
"Ohh...so that is it. Can you at least give me some time to talk to Amelia about this?"
"How much time? A day? Or two?"
"I don't know, Mr. Hopper. It's not as easy as you think. Amelia is just getting her life in order. How do I just walk up to her and tell her i have been lying to her, her whole life about her parents?"
"Well, we have to tell her one way or the other right?" Hopper responded firmly.
***
Amelia parked in front of Freddie's mansion and headed out of the car. She pulled the bag of wine she had gotten for him along with her.
She got into the mansion and met the cook setting up the table.
"Mrs. Alba!" Amelia called with a bright smile, and Alba looked at her.
"Mrs. Amelia. Good evening, Ma'am. How are you doing?" She asked and walked up to where she stood.
"I've been fine. And you? It's been a long time since I saw you."
"I have been fine, Mrs. Amelia, I understand you are busy and have a family now." She responded, and Amelia bounced her head.
"Soo..." she looked around the house to see if she was going to catch a glimpse of her uncle Freddie.
"Where is Uncle Freddie?" She asked.
"Oh. He is in his private office."
"Really? I should go and give him this wine. It will help me study better." Amelia said, and Alba gave a slight bow.
Amelia walked to Freddie's private room and when she was about to open the door, she heard Freddie say her name, and it caught her attention.
She took a pause and knitted her brows. She leaned closer to the door and placed her ear on the door to eavesdrop.
'Does he know I am around?' She thought.
"...Amelia is just getting her life in order. How do I just walk up to her and tell her I have been lying to her, her whole life about her parents?"
"Well, we have to tell her one way or the other right?"
Amelia's eyes popped wide open as she heard their conversation.
'Lie? About my parents? What is Uncle Freddie talking about? And who is in there with him?'
Amelia was more confused than angry that her uncle Freddie was keeping something from her.
"I'll tell her the truth today. She will be coming to see me, so I'll tell her about it." She heard Freddie say.
She inhaled very hard and turned the door knob afterward. She walked into the office and said;" I'm here. Let's talk about it now."
Her eyes moved from her shocked uncle, down to the unfamiliar man that sat on the couch next to him.
"Amelia... errr... I. You are here. When did you arrive?" Freddie answered, showing how very nervous he was.
"Early enough to know you have been keeping something from me, uncle. What is it? Tell me?"
Amelia had no idea when her voice grew louder. She had no idea what the secret could be, but she knew it was a great one, considering the manner at which Freddie was shocked.
Freddie looked at Hopper speechlessly. He tried finding the right words to say to her, but he was too stunned to speak.
Hopper sighed and looked at Amelia.
"Hi, Amelia. Why don't you sit down first?" He said with a sweet smile.
'Why is he smiling at me like that?' She wondered as she stared at him.
"Ermm. Mr. Hopper. Can you please let me talk to Amelia? Alone." Freddie interfered.
Hopper stared at him for a few seconds and nodded. He stood up and walked to where Amelia was.
He stopped when he got to her and stood in front of her. He let out a warm grin and patted her head carefully, minding her neatly combed hair.
"You have the same eyes." He uttered, and Amelia creased her brows.
"Who?" She inquired.
"Mr. Hopper, please!" Freddie added.
Hopper let go of her head and stepped away from her. "I'll be outside, waiting for you."
After he stepped out, Amelia swallowed hard and looked at Freddie.
"Uncle, who is he? Why did he say that? What have you been hiding from me?"
Freddie walked to where she stood, looking all confused and held her hand.
"Amelia." He called sweetly and took a pause. "Do you remember your graduation day at the party, I mentioned something about a present to you?"
"Yes, Uncle." She nodded.
"The present I wanted to give you isn't a gift, but the truth about your parents."
"My dead parents?"
"Your biological parents are not dead, Amelia. They are alive."
"What?!" She yanked her hands off his. "But, I saw when they were killed. It was right in front of my eyes. Why are you doing this, uncle?" She muttered as tears heated her eyes in a few seconds.
"They weren't your real parents, Amelia." Freddie said and lowered his head.
"What do you mean?" She mumbled in more confusion.
"Your biological parents aren't dead. The man you just met is your real father."
"No! No, Uncle Freddie. How is that possible?"
"You were adopted by those you thought were your parents. It's a long story, Amelia. I need you to stay calm and listen to me carefully. Sit down."
Amelia cleaned the tears on her cheeks and headed to the couch. She sat on it and Freddie sat on the wooden stool in front of her.
"Your biological mother's name is Penelope. She was unable to carry children in her womb, but had eggs ready to be fertilized. That was where your gestational mother, Clara, came in. She helped Penelope carry the baby."
"Oh My... why didn't you tell me this before, Uncle?!"
"Let me finish, Amelia. When you were born, you had a sister with you. Your twin."
"Now I have a sister?!" Amelia smacked.
"Calm down, Amelia. Penelope wanted her two daughters from Clara, but Clara couldn't let go of the both of you, because she was yet to have a baby with Stanley, your surrogate father. So Clara said she wanted one of you as her own, and she chose you. That's how you became their daughter, Amelia."
Amelia lowered her head and let her tears gushed out of her eyes without hindrances. She had been in the dark her whole life and she was so stupid not to notice.
"Penelope,"
"Before you continue, do you know my sister?" Amelia cut him short.
Freddie lowered his head and fondled his fingers very hard. He nodded, and Amelia closed her eyes in pain.
"All these years, you knew I had a sister and you never mentioned it? Who is she? Tell me." She mumbled.
"Your sister... Your twin sister is..."
"Who? Tell me?!"
"Elena! Your twin sister is the same Elena you know!"
"What?!"