"Vin was not at fault.", I heard 'her' meek voice, "I was...He loved me selflessly, and had my escape planned out after an year and half of Jessica's escape, as soon as her matter lost significance in the Brothel. We had everything figured out and we were about to escape, when I realized I was pregnant. I was very happy and wanted to inform Vin straight away.  But he couldn't come due to certain business reasons for two weeks. I was very worried for him, because I didn't even receive any message from him like I used to.

One night, while I was getting all restless in my room because of my pregnancy, my caretaker, offered we go out for a walk. After getting permission from the management, we went out and she took me to this Italian restaurant near the main building. I was very happy to go out but I never knew that would be the end of everything.

There was one newspaper in the restaurant that I came across.

*

"Embrey! Did you see this!?"

I shook my head, "No Hannah! Nor I want to...my baby is hungry and so is me."

"Un no! Here is the same man who visits you frequently."

I was busy eating, "Vin!? In newspaper!? It is common for him. He is a well known entrepreneur."

She was aware of my feelings for Vin, but I never explicitly said anything to her.

"You would want to see this."

And so I did.

There was one picture where a very beautiful woman was standing beside Vin, both smiling at the camera, and a two years old child in Vin's arms pointing at the camera.

That was not what baffled me, but the headline that I read.

'Vincenzo Wellington and his wife, The Castillo princess present to us their son, David Wellington.'

The article elaborated about how the relationship between the husband and wife was seen through the eyes of doubts due to several arguments and so they came forward to prove their point to the world, that they were a loving family.

*

I cut the world out after that. The first taste of heartbreak was bitter, and that turned me into a very bitter person. I refused to meet him after that, when he came a week later. He never told me about being already married and having a son. Whatever it was between us, it was pretty dreamy, and so when I was harshly pushed back to reality, I was completely damaged.

While I was still carrying his child in my womb, I also carried a hatred now, for him. I thought I was better off without him. I burned everything associated with him.

The news about my pregnancy created a havoc in the Brothel. And the very next morning, I was asked to abort the child. Though, I thought I hate Vin, I could never even imagine how I would remove this part of him from inside me.

And so I begged. I knew I will be rendered useless for the brothel after my pregnancy. And thus they decided to spare my child if I take up the administration and sign over the rights of my child to the Brothel. I never wanted to do that. But it was either killing my child, or giving it a chance to live, but as miserably as I did.

I went with the second option. If it was a girl, they would push her into brothel business, and if it will be a boy, they would send him away for another purposes.

Turned out it was Angel.", The heaviness I felt in my heart forced me to give up. Here I was knowing the truth of my life, which made me feel it was better to live in oblivion.

"They were pretty glad to know it was a girl. And I wanted to run away as soon as possible, but I couldn't. Because now, it was not just me who had to run. I had my baby girl with me...

The first time I held her was enough to tell me how much I will love her. But the moment she opened her eyes, those same brown black ones, I couldn't look in her eyes. She inherited them from her father.

And I did something I will regret till death finally takes me away. I extended my hatred towards Vin to her. Even when my conscience forced me not to, I was not ready to see my child disappointed in me when she comes to know I sold her to the Brothel even before she was born. To save myself from this, I distanced from her as much as I could, not worrying about how much I am hurting myself and my child both.

I know apology wouldn't do it Angel. But please consider me once. If you address me as your mother, I would die peacefully. Please!", I could hear her tears, but that soft part of my heart that was always yearning for her love was long dead. I don't care! Not now! And never will!

"James! I don't think that is all!", I completely disregarded her though my mind still couldn't take up everything.

He nodded and continued, "Vin was completely distraught after he couldn't realize what happened that broke him and Embrey. He always talked to me how bad he feels about hiding things from her but he was afraid  that she would hate him and leave him. But as you see his fears were not wrong.

He was definitely happy with David, but not with Dianna. She was never a subject of his happiness. And so was he for her. And they couldn't hide this distance from the social circle which led to the doubts in their relationship. David was still two, and so they pretended like a happy family, and that was what Embrey saw in the newspaper.

Two years into misery and one day I receive a call that my friend and his wife has met an accident. And he wants to see me.

I rushed to the hospital to see David standing beside his mother's corpse. He was a child and completely oblivious to how his life has completely changed.

Vin was fighting between life and death but he was conscious enough to know what to do. He called his lawyers, and associates from business near his death bed.

Before his death, inspite of David having a huge number of uncles and aunts, he signed all rights on him to me and Jess. He trusted us with David. He also devised a will where he made me the acting CEO until David is old enough to take over. He divided his wealth in two parts.

When I asked him who he wants to give the second part, he said he has not yet forgotten the woman he loved with his heart. And that was Embrey. He asked to me take care of David like my own son and to look for Embrey and bring her out of that place and tell her for one last time, that he loved her. And those were his last words."

I sighed, "So my father never knew about my existence!?"

James looked at me with an expression that showed his concern for me, but that broke my heart more if that was possible.

I am never going to get over this. Never!

"Dad may not know you existed Erica but I do now.", I heard David say, and that broke me into more sobs.

He was my brother. My half brother!
I have known him for an year, yet I never realized that. Though he was everything I would want in a brother, but I missed so much with him will always hurt me in the worst way possible.

He came and sat beside me, and then pulled me in an embrace. You may meet thousands people in the world but blood relations are always special.
As he hugged me today, I felt no more like as I used to when I knew him as my friend. Today, for the first time in my life, I felt a shelter over me.

He rubbed my back imparting me comfort, but the pain just was not ending. It was years old sufferings that came upon me.

"I was born out of a compromise, but my parents gave me whatever love they could. And your parents couldn't love you, but you were born out of love! It's a shitty logic, but we complement each other as siblings!"

I nodded and retreated back.

"How did you find me then James? I think it was not a coincidence?"

He nodded, "There's more to it. When we brought David with us, Eve was just born. David and Eric were diaper friends, but their friendship went to another level when they started living together. Enrolled in the same pre school, school, college and trained in business together, I had planned my boys' future completely. Eve had an artist vibe. And I loved my daughter too much to tell her beforehand about what to do.

David, Eric and Eve went to the same school. And it was just another day when I dropped all three of them in the morning. But the earth was swept off my feet, when I came to know that the three have not returned yet. The driver found David and Eric, but Eve was nowhere to be found.

I rushed to school and went frantic when I saw Eric in tears and David trying to console him.

Gathering myself, I put all my efforts in searching my child, but all went in vain. Two weeks! For two weeks, I tried to unearth everything that would give me the clue of Eve. But nothing came. Jess and Eric were completely shattered, by this. Me, Nonna and David did my best to help but all in vain.

One day, I received a call from an unknown number. And when I picked the phone, it was Embrey."

He breathed a shaky breath.

I looked at Eric to see him crumpled, and everything in me begged me to go and hug him, but my own misery wasn't any less.

"Apparently the Brothel management extracted their revenge in the form of my Eve!"

"Dad!!", I hear his voice, "It was that Brothel!!!!??"

James nodded, "It was. Embrey informed me how the brothel had held my little girl in the cell, and that they are planning to put her into work."

I flinched when I heard something break, and then I saw the glass flower vase beside Eric broken into pieces.
Nonna rushed to him and hugged him, "Hear it out my child..you will be in peace after years."

"I tried my best but the cells were not managed by us. Instead they were looked after by the higher people. And so I couldn't do anything to stop them. The girl was so sweet she lighted up those dead cells. She smiled even when she was held their captive. I was not knowing who is it, unless one day, I had to go and feed her because one of the woman was not well. She reminded me of my own daughter, and so while I fed her, I started talking to her.
I asked her her name, her father's name and her mother's name, and that's when I came to know she is James'and Jessica's daughter.
I had no way to contact anyone. But when I asked her, she managed to tell me a few digits of James phone number. I called hundreds of combination when one matched James.

And that was how I told him about Evelyn."

James sighed, "But I couldn't manage to save her. A deadly encounter happened instead, where I was shot in my leg. Few policemen were shot. Even two managers from the Brothel were killed. But amidst all this my child was killed too.

That day, I realized there was no point in living. But it was for Jess, Eric and the promises I made with Vin, that kept me alive. Eric was drifted apart. Jessica was starving herself. David tried his best to help me out, but he was himself a fifteen year old. But among all this, one thing still intrigued me.

That night, during the encounter when I was out to bring Eve, I stumbled upon someone. Someone who had same eyes as the man who has been my companion since ages. Vincenzo.

You were still a little girl Erica who was very terrified because of the commotion, when I first saw you.

I couldn't ask Embrey anything because I didn't want to accuse, and so after encounter and Eve's death, I decided to avenge and end that whorehouse for once and all. My child, my wife, and even my friend had to go through so much because of that hell hole, I couldn't sit down calmly.

And so I completely out myself in that.
Two years later, with the help of Embrey and a dedicated police force, we managed to bring down each and every soul that was associated with that brothel. I destroyed the place.

But a night before, Embrey finally told us about  her and Vin's daughter. She knew she will have to go to Jail because she was one of the managers, but she wanted us to save Erica."

I took a deep breath, when she spoke up, "The last time I saw you in person Angel, was when I gave you the clothes to wear so you could go the next day when James comes."

"But when I came the next day, you were already gone!", Said James, "And when finally me and Jessica found you, it was too late."

Jess shook her head, "Not too late! She's a fine woman today, and that's because it was not too late. Her kidney was gone, not her spirit and determination!"

I was overwhelmed with everything. Our lives were so closely associated yet we were living so aloof.

I knew all my answers tonight. Even about my father. I had a brother today. Someone who I can call mine. But my mother was here too. Someone who will never get my love.
Then I had the man I loved. I don't know what to do now. I was just not feeling like myself.

"Angel! I am sorry!!!", I heard my mother sob.

I looked at her, and the words I had stored in myself for years finally came out, "Five years of mental therapy  Ten years of carrying those hedious marks. Lifetime of insecurity and loss.
Now a forever long resentment about not meeting my own father. My own mother never acknowledging me. Your sorry can't bring that back. Can it Ms. Embrey!? And so I would advise you to go and let me live as if this day never happened. I am happy I know everything now, but I feel like I am slipping away from my own self."

She looked at me as if remembering my features and then slowly stood up.

Now when I look at her, I can see her hollow cheeks, pale colour, lifeless eyes, everything she was not before. She was a beautiful woman, and that gave her confidence but today she looks like a lifeless leaf hanging through like a last winter leaf.

She turned and attempted to walk away when Eric came before her, "Ms. Embrey you aren't going anywhere!"

E R I C

I had to stop her.

She is dying for god sake! And I am cruel but not cruel enough to let a woman die on her own. Especially when that woman is responsible for bringing the love of my life to this world.

I could feel Erica's eyes on me.

I know it is overwhelming for her. It was overwhelming for me too. But she is oblivious and I am not.

"Please go away Ms. Embrey. I am no more your daughter. Our relationship ended way back, and I am not keen on mending it."

"She is not going anywhere Erica!", I said this time directly to her.

"Why is it a issue that she is going to go Eric?"

"Erica she is currently d....!", My words halted when I saw David shaking his head, signalling me to not tell her right now.

I know. I know Erica is not as harsh as she pretends to be. The fact that her mother is dying will break her, no matter how angry she is at this time.

"What Eric? What is her proposition here?", I hear her.

I stand firm, "She is my parent's friend. She is the one who helped us during the times of Eve. I can't let her go like that!!", I gave a shitty reason.

"The fact that I suffered so much because she hated me back then...won't you consider that Eric!? Do I mean nothing to you Eric!??"

You do!! You mean the world!!

"Erica! Be practical for once. Let's put this all behind us. You and your mother can have a fresh start. It's not good living with grudges, and no one knows this better than me..."

She chuckled, "Wow!! Being sensible now Eric!! Where was your sensibility when you were inflicting pain in your parents!? And now you want me to act great? I have realized what you will choose by your stance. But tell me nonetheless, should she stay here or me!?"

My eyes widened at that, "That's foolishness Erica! You know I love you! I told you...."

"Answer me Eric!!"

Stone heartedly I uttered the words I hated myself for, "Sorry! But she can't go anywhere."

She nodded, and then giving a last look to her mother, who was baffled at our conversation, she walked past me and then out of the place.

David ran behind her with a file. The file that supposedly contained Ms. Embrey's cancer related documents.
He told me yesterday to not tell her at once. And after knowing so much, I would never burden her with her mother's cancer.

I went behind the two to see David standing beside her with the file, "Read it once you've managed yourself."

"No David! I won't take anything with me.."

"Erica you are angry right now. Take this with you please!! For my sake!"

She looked at him for a second and then took the file.

Her eyes then drifted to me. I walked forward to her so I could explain her and ask her to stay. Heck! I can even beg her...

But as soon as she saw me approaching her, she got in her car and took off.