Chapter 34: chapter 34

Chapter 34Ray's POV'What!' My parents both asked at the same time, looking at the three of us dumbly. That is until Ava held out the hyper realistic mask and the photo.I swear mum gasped, her face turning pale as if she had seen a ghost. Dad hang his head in shame running his hands on his hair repeatedly.They both looked at Ava with pleading faces. As if feeling their eyes on her...she looked up at my mum for the first time since she stepped feet in the hotel room.'Is it true? ' Ava questioned, throwing the two items at my mother, hitting her square on the chest.My mum blundered uncertainly with her words, eyes shifting in all directions. I had never seen my mum shot of words, she always had words to say no matter what.'It's time Ren, they deserve to know the truth. ' Dad squeezed her shoulders. She put her right hand on top of his, a defeated sigh leaving her mouth. 'Okay, follow me. ' She shamefully muttered, her gaze not meeting ours.'No, I want the answers here and now! Ava screamed, breathing heavily in nothing but anger.'Please Ava, you said you wanted answers. Come with us. ' Mum begged.'We are taking you where you will find all the answers you want. You need to see them before listening to the whole story. ' My dad added, pleading Ava to agree.After a much uncomfortable silence, and deliberation she stood, taking my hand and Bryson's. ' please don't leave me. ' She muttered.I was happy that she finally acknowledged us. She wanted to be with us through this, no way we would let her deal with it alone.We piled into my parents SUV, suspenseful silence enveloping the interior of the vehicle. Ava leered outside the highway all the way there, shutting her eyes occasionally. Bryson took her hand in his, massaging the back with his thumb. I could see my mothers shoulders shaking on the passenger seat, I could only assume she was crying silently. In no time we were parked at the Nairobi Women's hospital.'What exactly are we doing here? ' I questioned, Bryson's face mirroring mine.Were the answers in this hospital? This made no sense. I was filled with uncertainty and doubts.'You'll see. ' That's all dad said making his way to the entrance.Once we rode the elevator, we stood in front a metallic door and judging by Ava's reaction, this is where she had been.Mum didn't give us time to think before she pushed the door open. In one single glance, there on a hospital bed, lay woman who was very much awake.The first thing my eyes registered was the striking resemblance to our girl. She looked so much like Ava, even when her face appeared to be bruised, the similarity was just too much, only that she was older.'Auntie Eve? ' Ava stood for a few seconds, a smile breaking on her pained face then ran to her, pulling her into a hug.'Mum, call me mum. ' Her aunt smiled at her. That's when I realised what was happening. A surprise sound left my mouth.'Honey, that is not your aunt. She is your mum Ava, your real mum. ' Mum spoke. To say Ava was shocked would be an understatement.She slowly stood straight, lifting her hand to cover her mouth. Her eyes widened in a fraction, taking in the words. It seemed as if her world had frozen around her, blocking her from the real and the outside world. She was looking right at us, but not really.The line of his mouth tightened a fraction more. Then shock turned into anger, with her previously wide eyes turning into slits. Her nostrils flared, face flushing with rage. Her face showed it all and it became all familiar to me once again.'How could you? you were exploring the world out there knowing so well that I was all alone? Is that what a loving mother does?' She spat out the words spewing them with malicious glee.'Of course you wouldn't know. ' Her voice dripped with venom.'You even abandoned me at the age of 4 to a fake mum. ' She then turned to mum, fire in her eyes.'And you, you fucking lied to me for all those years, she used you( referring to her real mum ) to lie to me.'She stomped towards her, waving her hands in the air. 'What I don't understand is why?. ' She was now crying, tears flowing rapidly with no control. She was finally was showing some emotions.'I've lived for one year mourning, missing you. I have suffered, and the worst part is that you saw it all. You kept quiet about it, knowing how your death took a toll on me and to think that you weren't even..' She couldn't even get the words out, she just broke into sobs.Bryson pulled her in his arms, hugging her like her life depended on it. He rubbed her back soothingly, trying his best to calm her down.'Ladies, now is the time. ' Dad addressed mum and Eve. Telling us to sit down for what was about to be told.'All that we've done over the years was for your protection Ava. I couldn't lose you honey, your life was in danger since the day you were born.I protected you for 4 good years, but when I realised I couldn't do it anymore, I decided to do something.Ava it was all my plan for Renata to put on that hyper realistic mask. I wanted so much for you to see her for who she really was, I wanted so much to spend time with you, raise you up and make good memories with you, but I couldn't.Renata told you that she gave birth to you at the age of 18 right? Well she wasn't lying only that she meant me.Your father was a very bad person Ava, I didn't know that until you were born. When I got pregnant with you, he had made it pretty clear that he didn't want us or the responsibilities that came along with your birth.I couldn't abort you honey, believe me it never crossed my mind even once. So I stayed with my parents till you were two years old and that's when the problem started.Growing up, my dad used to tell me stories about a well known and feared Mafia leader. His name was Alpha Moreti, the man was a devil Ava. He killed people for fun, he enjoyed it all.He was extremely powerful, with countless connections allover the world. He only had one child , a boy named Mathew Kenyatta Moreti.Mathew was my age mate according to my father and no body really knew him. His father kept him hidden from people, training him to take over once he was of age.So when you turned two, your father started forcing his way back into my life. I didn't want anything to do with him and so I asked him to leave me alone.He wouldn't listen and it reached to a point where he even threatened to kill me and take you. I didn't believe him until he actually tried killing me.He had fired a shot through my bedroom window, no doubt aiming at my head. You were playing at the floor and I was bending over to pick you up just when the shot was fired.It was a miracle Ava, one that I'll never forget. He knew that he had missed and he called me after that, telling me that I was just lucky that one time and that he would be back for more.He warned against involving the police saying that he would kill you too if I tried.So I ran Ava, I stayed at different places for a few weeks before moving again. Somehow someway he would track me and issue the threats again and again.It continued for another two years until I couldn't take it anymore on your fourth birthday.Renata was my best friend, she still is my best friend honey. She and Reynard knew what was going on and decided to help me.Our lives were in danger Ava, and as long as I stayed with you, your life would continue being in danger.That's when Renata volunteered to stay with you till you became an adult, she sacrificed spending time with her children to raise you up honey.Your father knew Renata and I were best of friends and so she needed to change her identity and I needed to stay far away from you.I couldn't keep in touch with you because he would catch on it and come for you.We needed to conceal Renata's identity at all costs. One mistake and we'd be all dead.That's when we learnt about hyper realistic masks and with thousands of dollars we were able to get one for Renata.One that looked like a real human face, it cost a lot Ava but as long as her identity was hidden, we didn't mind.We didn't want to risk your dad tracing her to you once he realised I was gone. She would be the first one he'd go to.So with my parents help I flee to Korea, I didn't stay long because he had already traced my location. And that's why I never stayed in one country for too long, I was afraid of him honey.I made sure to share my life with you by sending pics, it hurt me not to be there for you honey, it was killing me but keeping you safe was all I cared about.When you turned 17, we knew it was time and that's why Renata faked her death. That way she would go back to her kids life for good.She however decided to take you in as her maid once she learnt about the demise of your dad. She knew you wouldn't accept help without working for it .So she decided to let you work for them for some time before relieving you of your duties.Dad and mum blamed you for my absence in their lives. That's why they didn't like you, they went as far as planting ideas in your cousins heads. But thanks to Renata you are all safe honey. I'm so sorry honey, I never wanted to hurt you. Running away at that time seemed like the best idea, I wouldn't change a thing to compromise your safety.Ava, I'm here to stay, I want to be in your life. Please, I know we lied to you honey for so long but now you know the truth.I will totally understand if you don't want me in your life honey, after all it's all my fault. ' By the time she was done, Ava had cried till she couldn't no more.'I have one more question for you, who is my father? ' Ava wiped her stained cheeks with the back of her hands.'Mathew Kenyatta Moreti.' Her real mum answered pulling her daughter closer to her.'He wanted you to be the heir to his wicked Mafia organisation. I couldn't let him turn you into a cold blooded killer Ava, I couldn't. 'Ava's mum was already crying, she kept on saying sorry over and over again. She hated her actions but she didn't regret them. I totally understood her, she did what was best for daughter.Ava wouldn't be here now if her mother and mine had just given up.'Now that today we speaking the truth, Ren honey don't we have something to tell the boys? ' Dad asked mum politely.What was he talking about, had they been keeping another secret too?'You mean don't you have something to tell them? ' Mum asked dad.'Mathew Moreti is my estranged brother'Bryson sighed and I suddenly felt betrayed too, for the second time.