Chapter 5 Five

The morning rays Pierce the curtains and through the room, casting a glow on Lily's face. Her cheeks were stained with tears from the fitful slumber of the night before. Her mind is heavy from the weight of the letter she read last night.

The alarm buzzed, filling the room with its beep sounds. Lily, with a heavy sigh, pushed herself upright. She wiped away the remnants of her tears and summoned the courage to face the day ahead.

Lily made her way to the kitchen. The aroma of freshly brewed tea filled the air. With efficiency, she begins to make breakfast for Andrew and his son.

The bubbling pancakes and sizzling bacon filled the kitchen. Lily feels a sense of purpose and a reason to keep pushing on despite the adversity that lies ahead. Andrew and David sat on the dining table while Lily served them breakfast.

"Are you alright?" David asks Lily. Lily gave a fake smile as she brushed David's hair to assure him she was fine.

"Dad and I will be going out to the park; you should join us," David says. Lily looked at him and then turned to look at Andrew.

Andrew shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows anticipating an answer from her.

"Om, I will love to join you, but..." Lily tries to explain. "Please, Aunty Lily," says David as he tries to convince her.

"Okay, but I have somewhere to go now, so I will join you both later," says Lily.

"Promise?" David asks.

"I promise. Now eat up before your food gets cold," Lily answered.

The serenity of St. Mary's Hospital looks calm and quiet. It's almost like a cemetery. There weren't many nurses around. It is a weekend.

Lily watched her mother through the open glass cover on the door. She stood there for about five minutes before she finally opened the door to the patient room.

Lily sat close to her mother, who was on the verge of dying. She held her mother's hands tightly.

"Why did you hide the truth from me?" Lily says as she sober.

"You told me that my dad died in a car accident," Lily says as she looks at her mother helplessly.

And Lily started recalling what she had read in the later. It was as painful as watching her dying mother. All these years of been alone with her mother, she finally found out the truth about her dad, who is he and what happened to him.

"To my dearest Lily,

I write this letter with a heavy heart that weighs with sorrow. I understand that my time in this world is nearing an end, ever since I knew I had brain cancer. And I can only hope you find solace in the memories we share together.

If you are reading this letter, it means I am dead or can't speak to you anymore. I wish to tell you these things I am about to tell you in person, but my body is no longer as strong as it used to be.

Forgive me for the burdens that I am about to place on your shoulders, but there are certain truths I need to tell you about your father before it's too late.

First, my daughter, I must reveal to you the identity of your father. His name is James Montgomery, a man whom I love but who has been torn from me by circumstances beyond my control.

A man who loved me and you, our daughter even before you were born. He would have been wonderful to you if he were to be alive now, Lily, but his life was cut short before you were born, leaving me alone to raise you.

Despite his absence, his love and light became our guiding light and strength against the darkness that threatened to consume us. And now, I must tell you an important truth.

Lily, I am sorry but your father, James, didn't die in a car accident. He was murdered by his brother. Sterling, an envious man, who was jealous of your father's success. He couldn't withstand how successful your father has become with his business.

I had to take you away from him and go into hiding, for I fear the danger that he may bring upon you.

But now, as I lay on my deathbed, you must take courage to live a good life for yourself. I hope that you will find it in your heart to forgive me for keeping this secret away from you for so long.

I intended to protect you from the heartache and pain that often accompany the truth. Lily, know that I love you more than words can express. You have been the light that kept me going and the joy I will take with me into eternity.

My dying wish is to see you marry and live a happy life. And I hope and pray you find a man who will know your worth and be a good husband to you.

Yours, loving mother."

Lily wipes away the tears running down her cheeks, sniffing her nose oftentimes. She watched her mother lay helplessly with the oxygen mask on her face.

That is when it occurred to her, the surgery that was done on her mother the other day. Who could have the heart and sympathy to pay the bills.

Who paid for the surgery when she was away? Lily thought for a second and rushed out of the room to look for the doctor who had operated on her mother.

"Excuse me, nurse, I need to see the doctor," Lily asked the nurse at the reception.

"He isn't around; he is not on duty today," answered the nurse.

"When will he be on duty?" Lily asked.

"On Monday," the nurse answered while looking at the computer screen in front of her.

Lily left and went back to the patient's room where her body lay helplessly.

It is 2:30 p.m., and Andrew and David were at the park having some fun. Andrew took David around the park, but he didn't seem happy. Despite Andrew trying his best to cheer David,it didn't improve his mood.

"What's wrong, son?" Andrew asked David.

"Lily isn't here. She promised to join us," David answered.

"Well, I guess she won't be able to..." Andrew was trying to comfort David when he suddenly ran off.

Andrew looked up, and he saw Lily approaching.

"Miss Lily" David called out her name, running towards her.

David ran towards her and hugged Lily tightly, almost bringing her down.

"I am here now. I kept my promise, right?" Lily says to David: David nodded in agreement. They both went on to have fun together.

After all, it was the best idea for Lily to cool off her head and plan for her future. Andrew took this opportunity to make Lily feel relax and bond with David more. It could help her find more reasons to accept the marriage Contract.

Later that evening, at exactly 7:45 p.m., Andrew met Victoria at her place. He is there to know why she wanted to see him and about the involvement of his son.

"Let's get this straight: I am only here because of David," says Andrew.

"Relax, Andrew; it's been 3 years since we had a good conversation," says Victoria as she pours some wine for Andrew.

Andrew stared at her and the drink. He looked at her with distrust. He wasn't here for a chit chat over some drink.

"I didn't put anything inside, Andrew," Victoria said as she assured him of his drink. Victoria put forward the drink to Andrew.

Andrew took the drink and sipped a little. "I know of a mysterious woman," says Andrew.

Victoria laughs seriously at Andrew. "Wow! I know I am mysterious, but that's what gives my beauty its virtue," says Victoria as she looks at Andrew with passion.

"Why do you want us to meet Victoria?" Andrew asked again.

"I want to be with my son," Victoria answered, sitting opposite Andrew on a leather sofa.

Andrew pause for some seconds, processing what he just heard.

"Are you been serious right now?" Asked Andrew

"That's not possible. You know that?" Andrew dropped his drink as he answered Victoria, looking serious now.

"He is my son too!" Victoria replied, but with a high-pitched tone. She sounds angry.

Andrew paused for a few seconds, wondering exactly what her intentions were for coming back to their lives. He looked at Victoria with a raging eyes.

"That moment you stepped out of the door three years ago... You lost the right to call him your son." Andrew said to her that he seemed to be angry too.

"Well, you can't blame me. You were always busy and going from one job to another." Victoria was explaining, as she sip her drink.

Andrew cut in. "I was trying to provide for you and our son. You didn't support me or wait patiently for me."

"We're you be fair?" Andrew added.

"Oh, talk about been fair" says Victoria as she rolls her eyes and raise her hands in disappointment.

Andrew sigh and lean back to his seat. He kept mute and was short of words.

"You know you are crazy sometimes" says Andrew.

Victoria stood up and walked towards Andrew, looking a bit sober and frustrated. She sat beside him, looking straight into his eyes. And then she lean closer to him, trying to whisper something into his ear.

Victoria whispered into Andrew's ear, "I will get him no matter what."

"And, oh, Andrew! I am truly mysterious and crazy" she added.

Andrew pulled back away from her and stood up. He was about to walk out when Victoria held his hand back. She stood up and was too close to him not to hear his heartbeat.

"I am your dream and nightmare. Your urge that you can't resist," says Victoria.

These words spark burning urge in Andrew, igniting their old love memories.

Andrew is now burning with passion and desire to grab her into his arms but was holding back his feelings. Victoria could read his eyes, the desire to have her. She begins to caress his hair and then kissed him, grabbing him tightly to her body.

Andrew grabbed her bosom and began to kiss her more passionately. He raise her up and straight into the bedroom. Both of them are now naked on the bed. Andrew begins kissing her leg upwards to her lap and to the lips of her Virginia.

Victoria releases a loud moan into the air.

13 minutes later, and they are both breathing heavily as they lie next to each other. Victoria smile as she look at Andrew.

"You are such a naughty boy" she says.

They lay barely covered by the bedsheets as they both fell asleep.

By 10:45 p.m., Andrew's phone rang, waking him up. He lazily grabbed the phone to see who was calling. It was Lily calling.

He looked at the time, and it was 10:45 p.m. Andrew hurriedly stood up and dressed. Grabbing his car keys as he rushes out of the room.