GAVIN

Some wise guy who is probably dead now once said, 'Be careful what you wish for. And he was right because I wished never to have been born a Mileford and my wish was granted. I just found out that I don't have a fucking drop of the Mileford blood in my veins. I was bought from some poor woman who couldn't afford to pay for her father's medical treatment.

Her broke ass saw the only option as to sell her baby for what? Two million dollars. That's my worth, two fucking million dollars. Fucking joke. I knew that I had serious mommy issues but I never imagined that my biological mother sold me before I was even born. Like some merchandise in a store. What's worse is that she sold me to non-other than Octavia Mileford. Couldn't she have sold me to some other person instead?

I don't fucking understand how a mother can doom her own child to a fate like this. Couldn't she have found another way to get the money? Was it necessary to sell her baby to a soulless woman like Octavia? Then after all these years, she drafts an email requesting Octavia to give her back her son. The same son she sold years ago without giving it a single thought. Hypocritical piece of shit. Fuck her.

It's too late for her to claim a son she never wanted in the first place. I managed without her. Fought my battles and made something of my life. I don't need her to swoop back into my life like she owns me. Coz she doesn't fucking own me. Sure, we have similarities in our DNA but that's it. No emotional connection whatsoever. She can fuck the hell off.

A myriad of emotions was coursing through my soul. Ire, being the key emotion. I yelled severally, grabbing and throwing whatever my hands came across. I yanked the 70 inch Samsung TV from the wall, tossed it across the room where it crashed loudly. Electrical sparks floated in the air as the electronic lay lifelessly on the floor.

"Oh no, my parents will kill me for this. Wait a fucking second, they aren't my parents. How the fuck could I forget that." I yelled, a maniacal laugh departing my mouth. I wanted to vent and what better way to do it than to smash stuff.

Grabbing a hockey stick from the garage, I started breaking things in the house. The family photo that hang gracefully on the wall was my first target. I was five when the photo was taken. I was seated on Octavia's lap and dad was standing on her left, his right hand shoved in his pocket while his left hand rested on 'mom's' shoulder. Everyone was smiling in the photo. Like a happy little family.

What a fucking lie!

This is my worst photo because it is a constant reminder of what I could never have. The love of a family. It was a picture perfect family but in reality, it was the opposite of perfect. All my life I had to fight for my parents' attention and affection. Their validation meant the world to me. I was incomplete without their presence in my life. I felt worthless without their love and approval. Nothing I did was ever enough.

I was so stupid. So fucking moronic for feeling that way. Coz turns out, they are not even my fucking parents. I don't fucking need them. If my biological mother didn't want me then what makes them think that I need them? Fuck them. All of them.

Tearing the family portrait from the wall, I threw it on the floor and smashed it to bits using the hockey stick. Shards of glass from the portrait, flew around, some of it sticking to the flesh of my legs. They pierced my skin, causing it to bleed. However, no amount of pain could match the ache that had resided in my heart. The pain that was spreading, gobbling every part of my being.

I broke and smashed my anger and pain away. But that was not enough. I raided the liquor cabinet and grabbed a bottle of whiskey. Taking a swig, the alcoholic drink scalded my throat, prompting me to shut my eyes. I wanted to drink as my pain away. To drown in alcohol and forget this evening ever happened. This was a terrible nightmare, one that would end when I wake up tomorrow.

The pain will go away.

I will be back to being me.

Everything will be okay again.

I wanted to believe all that but it was impossible. Not when the private Investigator's words kept replaying in my head. The same P.I I had hired two weeks ago to investigate the child that my mom had paid for years ago from some café owner. Little did I know that I was the child. I can still hear the private investigator's voice in my head...his revelation which changed everything. I remember asking him five times if he was sure about the results of his investigation. And he said, yes, each time.

"Fuck!" I screamed, the anguish overpowering my senses. With trembling hands, I took out my phone sent Carlito a series of texts but he didn't reply to any of my texts. So, I called but his phone was switched off. Paranoia suddenly crept to my mind. The fear that he had abandoned me. That he didn't need me anymore.

Carlito is the best thing that happened to me in a long time. Ever since we started dating, happiness has found its way to me. I didn't know how loving someone, immensely felt, until he came along. He completes me in ways that I never thought possible. All I want is him. It's why the very thought of him leaving scares me more than death.

I need him, like the air that I breathe. Now, more than ever. I want him to hold me and tell me that everything is going to be fine. He is the pillar of strength that I need to lean on right now.

Suddenly, my phone rang. Thinking it was my boyfriend, I reached for it. Upon witnessing the caller, blood boiled in my veins. The bitch chose the worst time to call. Oh, she's in for a good time. She is going to answer every one of my damn questions.

"If it isn't mother of the year." A sarcastic remark flew past my lips.

"I am going to assume that's a compliment." She replied from the other end of the line.

"I wish." I rolled my eyes, disdain dripping from my words.

"Anyway, why the fuck did you call?" I fired an inquiry.

"I am going to say this one last time, stop cursing at me or else..." She started.

"Or else what Octavia Winston? Gonna replace me with some other kid? I hear babies are on discount now." I spat, the words burning my tongue like nitric acid.

"What in God's name are you yapping on about Gavin?" Puzzlement was knitted in her question.

"I am gonna jog your memory since clearly you are too old and tend to forget things." She was sensitive when it came to her age. Hated being called old. One time, a business magazine mixed up her age. Instead of writing her real age which is 45, they wrote 47 years old. She was enraged. Ended up suing the magazine company along with the CEO for the incompetency.

"Gavin, you seem to be forgetting your place. Need I remind you who you are addressing?" She was infuriated but I didn't give two shits right now.

"I don't need to be reminded shit because I know exactly who I am addressing. An opportunistic rich bitch who bought me for millions from some pauper. All this time I thought you were my mom but turns out you're not. You didn't give birth to me. Just bought me like some condoms in a store and raised me to do your bidding. Now I understand why you never showed an ounce of love for me. It's because I was never your real son." The words spilled from my mouth as tears gathered in my eyes.

"Gavin...who told you this?" She shakily inquired. I have never heard or seen her scared before.

"The private investigator I hired. He dug up everything about the child you had paid for years ago."

"You foolish child. Do you know what you just did? Do you know what will happen if this gets out?" Fear and anger laced her voice as she reprimanded me.

"I don't fucking care." I spat.

"Well you should because you don't know shit Gavin." For the first time I heard Octavia curse. She never does that.

"Why don't you enlighten me Octavia?" I probed, taking a swig of the whiskey which didn't hesitate to scald my throat.

Silence followed. I almost thought that she had hung up on me.

"Well, if you want to know the truth I will tell you everything." She finally spoke with a slight tremble in her voice.

"The reason I did what I did was because I couldn't give birth. I was diagnosed with Endometriosis when I was 17." Shock surged through me at her revelation. I didn't know that fact about her.

"I was desperate for a child because I was at the brink of losing everything I had worked for. According to our marriage contract, if I didn't give birth within the first years of marriage, everything I own would go to your grandfather and I will be thrown behind bars. Let's just say, your grandfather and I had a really complicated relationship. He claimed that I wasn't good enough for your dad so he had the contract drafted." She paused, letting me absorb the information she had just poured on me, like cold water.

"I knew that I had to do something. Anything to have a child of my own. Lucky for me, I met Nora who was pregnant back then. She didn't want to keep the child because she was still in college and had hospital bills to take care of. Her father was ailing from stomach cancer and she needed to pay for his treatment. I made a deal with her, signed a contract to seal it. The deal was that in exchange for her unborn child, I would give her enough money for her father's treatment." Her confession left me swimming in a sea of emotions. My own mother didn't want me. I was a mistake that she wanted to get rid of. Octavia showing up when she did, saved my life. She bought me from a woman who wanted nothing to do with me.

"Gavin, I don't regret the choices I made back then. My only regret is that you had to find out the truth this way." Sincerity laced her voice.

"Still doesn't change the fact that you hid this from me."

"Your father and I did it to protect you."

"That's bullshit and you know it. You don't care about me. You are only concerned about people finding out what you did in the past. Because you are scared of losing everything. I was never a son to you. So stop acting like you care." I spat the words, like sour acid.

"I know you think me a villain but son, everything I have done has been for you. So that you can have everything I never had." She stated.

"True. I consider you a villain because you never cared for me. At least dad would care to drop me off at school when I was younger. He showed up to some of my basketball games but you... never showed up. I wanted you to be proud of me but, that day never came. I starved for your affection and attention. Mom, I fucking worshipped you and never stopped hoping that someday you would love me back." I confronted her.

"Son, I am sorry that I made you feel that way. I was so enmeshed in my work that I didn't realize how much I failed you as a mother. No amount of apology can rectify the damage I caused. But one thing that I have always been sure of is my love for you. I love you unconditionally, son. You are my world and I'm sorry that I never got to show you that. I wanted to toughen you up because I believed that showering you with affection would turn you into a weakling. But I was wrong. You are no weakling. You are strong, outspoken, talented and everything that I could ask for in a son. I am so proud of you, son."

She was sniffling as she confessed the words I had so long yearned to hear. Like a creek, tears flow from my eyes, dampening my cheeks as mucus slithered from my nostrils.

"I love you so much and I should have said it sooner." She added, sobs departing her lips.

"I hated you for the way you treated me. Mom I needed you so many times but you were never there and whenever you were present, all you ever did was remind me how much of a failure I was." I cried, mucus slithering from my nostrils like a slug on grass.

"I am really sorry Gavin. I wanted you to be the best because someday you are going to take over Mileford Co-orp. I didn't realize that I was pushing so hard. I am truly sorry, son."

"I told you time and again that I wanted to pursue basketball as a career but you were against it."

"Because I didn't think it was important. Basketball was a distraction, it still is. But if that's what makes you happy then I will let you pursue it as long as you pull up your grades." Is this happening for real? I can't believe it.

"For real? Are you sure?"

"Yes Gavin. I am certain. At the basketball pitch is where you belong. I have watched quite a number recordings of your tournaments over the years and I couldn't be prouder. I should have let you know sooner how much you make me proud."

Her words were like a blanket, wrapping me up and sheltering me from the cold. For the first time, she actually listened to what I had to say and respected my wishes. This is what I have wanted all my life.

"Thank you, mom." I whispered, meaning each and every word.

"I love you son. I will never stop apologizing for the hurt I put you through over the years."

"I love you too mom and I wish you were here so that I can hug you." I revealed.

"Then it's a good thing that your father and I will be returning from our trip next weekend. We are wrapping up a few things and we will be home for next week's charity gala."

Fuck. I forgot about the charity gala.

"I forgot about that." I voiced my thoughts.

"Good thing I reminded you. It's the reason I called in the first place."

"Can't believe I'm saying this but I am really glad you called." I stated.

"Me too. Glad we had this talk. I can't wait to see you next week at the gala. Also, bring Carl along. I would like to officially meet the boy that has captured my son's heart." How could I forget? Octavia Mileford sees and knows all.

"I haven't asked him yet but I will. Please go easy on him. Don't want you scaring him off."

"Of course. I am no monster." She laughed.

The conversation continued and I ended up laughing on several occasions. Turns out, my mom is very funny.

The serious, control-freak and workaholic woman I had known most of my life was gone and was replaced by a sweet, motherly and understanding woman. Wish I got to see this side of her when I was a kid.

"Okay son, I have to go. There's a meeting in a few minutes. It's probably going to be boring but I will put up with it because that's my job." She pointed out sarcastically, prompting me to chuckle amusedly.

"Bye mom. I know you're gonna kill it." I hang up afterwards.

Getting up from the floor, I yawned and stretched my limbs which creaked in response. Surveying the mess I had made, I made arrangements for some cleaners who arrived soon after.

They cleaned up the place, restoring it to its former glory. Since the TV was damaged beyond repair, I ordered another one which was delivered thirty minutes later and was mounted on the wall, like a delicate painting. It was 6.40 pm when I headed upstairs to take a much needed shower.