I dedicate this chapter to Alana_doesnt_care and  SowmyaVenkatesan1 for their motivations.
They are the most lovely irreplaceable people to me.
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Emerald's POV

My eyes flickered twice before opening. I couldn't wait to go to the park with mum meanwhile, my dad used his work as an excuse. Well it was his routine so if he ever spends time with me, then you know something *great* actually happened.
Though it was just 1:00 am in the morning, I was hearing noises like a heated argument which was unheard of in our home because, my mum doesn't like arguments.

I waited for like five minutes to pass but this argument wasn't going down. I contemplated if I should go down or not. Slowly and quietly, I decided to see the cause of the argument.
I've never experienced my mum arguing loudly with my dad because of her easy going nature. She'll rather apologize whether she was wrong or not than to argue. She always called it 'a waste of strength and time.'

Two days ago, a plate slipped out my hand, but instead of my mum to scold me, she just told me to be careful. Well, I wasn't surprised. Hell! If it was my dad, he would scream out his lungs on why I broke his most fancy plate. All the plates were always fancy to him.
I don't know, but I guess I dislike my dad.

On getting downstairs, I moved to the corner so they won't sight me. I know if my dad should sight me, he'll release the whole anger he has been storing for years on me.

"So you've been cheating on me?!" Dad boomed in anger.
I could see his ears reddening. That happens anytime he was angry, nervous or anxious. But in this case, he surely is angry.

"No!" My mum screamed all the whole energy in her.
I guess that's why mum doesn't like arguing because she looks like a dying cat. Guess it's draining all her energy. I'm thinking if she should scream any longer, she'll collapse. Or am I being hyperbolic.

"That's my elder brother's friend. His wife just put to bed! I hugged him because he was extremely happy about the successful delivery of his second daughter."

I could feel the tension in the air.

"Besides, are you supposed to be talking? You think I don't know you make out with your so called 'receptionist' and use work as an excuse to avoid spending time with our family?!" I could see my mum air quoting when she mentioned receptionist as she seethed.

"What family?! Is it the girl you pick from the under bridge?" My dad retorted.

Is dad trying to say I wasn't theirs?!

"Oh don't! Emerald is my daughter Vincent! My daughter! Besides if I didn't bring in Emerald, people would have thought I was barren! We never slept together and you know it! I'm still virgin but I bet you're not!"

What was mum saying? I'm hers but she's virgin? I shouldn't be here. They are just angry so they are blurting out whatever comes their mind.

Walk away! Emerald walk!
I moved a step backward to go to my room only to find my self crashing into a flower vase.

Damn! Why didn't this flower vase co-operate.
They were now staring at me.

"That's my money you just broke! My fancy flower vase!" My dad yelled.

Now I get it! I'm not his daughter so he's angry with mum on why she brought me in and hates me for coming into this family.

I could see my mum scanning my body through her eyes to see if I was hurt.
But I wasn't.

"How much did you hear?" Mum asked as I could see fright skate through her face.
"Virtually everything." I responded.

I don't lie besides, there's no need deceiving myself. I could still look for my biological parents.
My mum held her head. I know she must be having a severe headache now. She didn't expect me to find out like this.

"Emerald, just forget what you heard. It's nothing. Okay."
My mum's voice sounded more like a plea.

I was about raising my head to nod not until my dad blurted
"Not without my permission. We've been deceiving this girl for God knows how long. It'll be best if we talk about this issue."
My dad felt less concerned if I agreed to it or not.

"Vincent she's still a little girl. How do you expect her to react to what you just said?"
My mum asked dad.

I'm fourteen. I'm not little.
I was deliberating on whether to talk or not.

"I know you hate me because I'm not yours. But I would love to tell you that I'm not interested in discussing this issue.
Mum, I'm going to bed." I say living them stunned.
I guess my dad's eye should be bulging out of the socket by now.

Wow! I'm growing. I've never talked back at my dad in that manner.

The last thing I'll do is to think about what just happened.
I believe in living life the way it is regardless of my circumstances.

I'm on my bed forcing myself to sleep. After so many trials, I could feel my eyelids dropping slowly, slowly, before closing.

I opened my eyes slowly to be welcomed by the chirping birds.

Today was supposed to be fun but with what happened, I'm sure no one was ready to go to the park.

I wasted time planning how this Saturday will be.
After a long shower, I fed Drake on what happened. Drake was my closest friend so it's natural I tell him everything.

I descended down the stairs only to see my dad an mum in another heated argument.
But they were in the kitchen.

"God! Why?" I muttered below my breath.

"You had a son?! Outside our marriage?!!" My mum growled.

No response came from dad. My mum continued nonetheless.

Anything could happen. They were in the kitchen for crying out loud. My dad is too temperamental.

"You've been cheating on me Vincent but I pretended like I didn't know for the sake of us.
Is it her again? Huh?!" My mum was fuming.

"Enough Cassie! Enough!" My dad growled.

"No! It's not enough!" My mum hollered.

Everywhere was silent. I could hear stuttering.
Mum!

I rushed to the kitchen almost tripping only to see blood.
Dad quickly ran out. If I go after him, mum will die.

"Mum."
"Mum don't die." I muttered.

I saw her shaky hand moving. She was trying to give me something. A picture of a man.

"Da-d. Y-our, Your..." My mum stuttered. She was losing blood. But if I go, she dies. If I stay she dies. What do I do.

"My dad?" I helped her.

She simply nodded slowly.

She slowly placed her left hand on the right side of my face.
"You - Yo- a-r-e my dau- ter."
My mum is dying!

I quickly nodded.

"Yes. Yes I'm your daughter."
I let out a soft cry. I was tearing apart as tears kept streaming down my face.

"Mum, don't die. I'll call the ambulance. They'll be here. Wait..."
I was rushing my words.

My mum shook her head telling me no.

"St-a"

"Stay?"
I knew that's what mum meant.

My mum's hand dropped from my face. I called Drake minutes ago before dad stabbed mum, to come get me out of this lion's den. Why isn't he here.

"Mum."
"Mum."
I called her, but she wasn't responding.

Drake was already here shouting my name when he saw the house deserted.

I wailed loudly forcing him to come towards the kitchen.

"Emerald." He called in disbelief.
I'm sure he is surprised himself.

"Mum is weird." I look up to stare at him.

"She was definitely holding me, but, but she... I said she's acting weird!" I wailed loudly trying so hard not to accept the fact that she was dead.

Drake rushed to pull me into a hug in which I accepted.

Now I'm left alone. Dad will surely pay. Dad!
My battle has started and no one's stopping me.

A/N:
This is my first piece and
I would love to see your comments. Whether good or bad. But I'll appreciate it if I see good comments since it'll help in motivating me.

Thanks for your time💖