CHAPTER 234: THE FIRE

Althea’s eyes swam with tears as she looked at Abigail. "You’ve grown so much. Although you look quite different now. I’m glad you found your voice. I always hoped you would. I..."

"I’m sorry to cut you off, but could you tell me what happened? Time isn’t on my side right now. I have a lot I need to do, so if you could get to what you’ve been wanting to tell me all these years," Abigail said, trying not to sound too impatient.

Althea nodded. "Yes. I will tell you. I’m sorry, Dawn. I really am. I’ve wanted to explain for so long. You deserve the truth."

"Then tell me," Abigail said firmly. "Tell me what happened that night. And how you’re still alive. I thought everyone died in the fire?"

Althea let out a soft breath and pressed her fingers against her chest. "That day... the day everything fell apart... your mother gave me the day off. She was taking you out with your grandparents because it had been a while you all spent some quality time together, and your stepfather, that devil was conveniently away on a business trip. Your mother said I should rest so I went to spend time with my sister. I didn’t know... I didn’t know what I’d come back to."

Her voice cracked, and Abigail felt a knot form in her chest.

"I returned late that night," Althea continued. "I was just at the gate. I was about to let myself in when I smelled smoke... and then, suddenly, there was fire everywhere. I was frozen at first, but then I ran toward the house, wanting to help... wanting to find you. I thought maybe you were back. But before I could reach the door, I heard gunshots."

Abigail’s eyes widened. "Gunshots?"

"Yes. I knew immediately it wasn’t an accident," Althea said grimly. "I moved away from immediately but waited and watched from the dark. I took out my phone and recorded what I could, though it was shaky... but I saw a car leave. A black car. But I couldn’t see the driver’s face or that of those in car but I heard male voices."

Abigail’s heart raced as she listened.

"I ran," Althea whispered. "I was terrified. I didn’t know what I had just witnessed. I was confused. But the next day, I saw on the news that your mother and you had supposedly been in a car accident. That she died, and you survived, but barely. I didn’t believe it was a coincidence. I thought maybe Mr Harris had been a victim of some assassination attack, and that he died in the fire at the house too. But then—" her voice shook "—I saw him on the news. He was alive and well. All the domestic staff present died, and even his parents too. I have no idea why they were there in his house at that time. I tried to go to the hospital where they said you were. But the guards he left there wouldn’t let me in. I was told no one could see you. Then men began looking for me. Mr Harris’s men. I knew then that I had to disappear."

She paused to take a shaky breath.

"And then, some months after, he introduced Genevieve to the world. He said she was you. But I knew that wasn’t true. I know Genevieve, and I know you. It then occurred to me that maybe that was why he killed everyone. And maybe he thought I was dead too until I showed up at the hospital. That was when I knew something was terribly wrong and confirmed my suspicions," Althea said.

Abigail leaned forward. "But why didn’t you go to the Hanks? Why didn’t you tell them what happened?"

Althea shook her head. "Because the Hanks never really cared about you, not from what I heard or saw after the scandal your mom caused..."

"But I heard they tried to take me away but Ryan wouldn’t let them," Abigail said.

"I wouldn’t know about that. I was in hiding. So maybe I missed all of that. I just didn’t think they’d want to be involved again. Besides, for a long time, I wasn’t even sure you were alive. Genevieve had taken your place so well, it was like you never existed."

Abigail swallowed hard, her throat tight. "Then how did you know I was alive? How did you find me?"

"I started working for the agency Ryan used to hire his house staff," Althea said. "I became close friends with some of the women who were sent to his house. That’s how I learned... everything. They didn’t know who you were, but they told me of a mute girl in the house."

Abigail blinked. "You know the cook?"

"Yes. She’s my best friend. That was how I got your number. She didn’t know the whole story, but she helped me keep an eye on you."

Abigail’s brows furrowed. "So... she knew who I was?"

"She knew you were someone important to me," Althea said softly. "I had told her about Dawn. I’d showed her a picture of you and asked her to keep watch and let me know if she ever saw a girl like you. She did, the very day she resumed work."

Abigail leaned back, the pieces clicking together slowly. "Is that why the cook and everyone else were always so kind to me? Because they knew who I was?"

"Maybe at first," Althea said. "But they grew to care for you because you’re a good person. A sweet girl. You made them your family, even without words."

Abigail wiped at her cheek. "Why didn’t you tell me sooner? Why wait so long? Why didn’t you tell me who I was all these years?"

"Because I heard you were mute. That you lost your memories. You were only a kid. I didn’t want to confuse or scare you," Althea said, her voice laced with guilt. "I thought it would hurt you more than help you. I decided to wait until you were older and could handle it. I wanted you to regain at least bits of your memories too."

Abigail bit her lip. "Then why did you start sending those messages five years ago? I hadn’t regained my memory yet."

Althea’s eyes softened. "Because you asked the cook about Dawn. That’s when I knew... your memories were slowly returning. I didn’t want to overwhelm you, so I reached out little by little. But I was scared. If Mr Harris found out—" she trailed off.

Abigail frowned. "Why didn’t the cook just tell me?"

"Because it wasn’t her place," Althea said gently. "And she was afraid too. She didn’t want to get into any trouble."

Abigail sighed, her heart aching. "I just wish I knew all of this sooner..."

Althea smiled softly. "You know now. That’s what matters."

There was a pause before Althea asked, "How did you regain your memory? And why did you call me with a new number? Did you buy a new phone just to reach me?"

Abigail looked down at the phone. "Ryan took my other phone and gave me this phone."

Althea’s eyes widened. "Then we shouldn’t be saying all this! What if the call is being monitored?"

"Don’t worry," Abigail said calmly. "He’s not going to hear a thing. Not in his condition. We’re safe. For now."

"What condition?"

"He had a cardiac arrest and is unconscious right now. And by the time he wakes up I won’t be here. I wanted him to know I know everything now."

Just then, a call-waiting notification popped up. It was Jamal.

"I have to go," Abigail said. "But I’ll stay in touch. And I hope... we get to see each other someday."

Althea nodded, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "We will. Stay safe, child. I hope I get to see your little boy too."

Abigail hung up the call and quickly answered Jamal.

"Are you ready?" Jamal asked.

"Not yet," Abigail said. "I was on the phone. I’ll quickly freshen up..."

"The car’s waiting outside already. Maybe just throw on something simple. We can leave now and you can freshen up when we get to our location."

"Okay," she said quickly, already reaching for the clothes she had laid out to wear.

She helped Josh get dressed first. Once they were ready, she paused in front of the mirror and took off her mask. She smiled at her reflection.

Finally, she was never going to have to hide her face.

Then she grabbed the two small duffel bags she had packed. and walked downstairs with Josh.

Jamal stood waiting in the living room. "You took off your mask," Jamal said, gazing at her with a small smile.

She smiled back. "Yeah. I couldn’t wait. Here," Abigail said, handing Josh and the bags over. "I’ll be right behind you."

"Where are you going?" Jamal asked with a confused frown.

"I’m going to say goodbye to the staff. They must be waiting in the kitchen. They’re my family. I can’t leave without saying goodbye or showing them my face and talking to them."

Jamal looked at her for a moment and nodded. He knew how much they cared about her, so he couldn’t stop her from doing that.