bChapter /bb217 /b

    She waits for Alex to say something, anything…..but nothing

    He wentpletely still for few seconds, the next second he was back to eating. Even though it was clear he wanted to say something

    His shoulders were looking like tiny creatures were hiding in it. Stiff and awkward.

    This is exactly what she is talking about. The effect of just that name on him.

    Just then, the sound of footsteps echoed down the hallway, a maid stepped into the dining room.

    The woman, dressed neatly in her uniform, carried something in her hand. An envelope. A in, simple envelope

    Oh shoot not now!

    Esther didn’t need to be told what it was. She knew.

    Her heart began to pound instantly.

    The maid walked closer, head bowed respectfully, and ced the envelope gently on the table beside Esther’s untouched te. “This just arrived, ma’am, it’s for you” she said softly.

    Esther didn’t answer right away. She stared at the envelope, her stomach twisting. For days she had been dreading this. Now it was here.

    Her fingers twitched slightly against the edge of the table.

    “Thank you,” Esther finally whispered, her voice low and a little hoarse.

    The maid gave a short nod and excused herself quietly, slipping out of the dining room.

    Her eyes stayed glued on the envelope. She didn’t even want to touch it. She felt as though if she did, if she so much as brushed her fingers against it,

    something terrible would break open.

    “Mom, what’s wrong?” Jullian asked

    “Nothing” Esther said

    “What’s that?” Alex asked.

    She can’t tell them anything, at least not now. She has ito /iisee /iwhat’s inside the envelope first.

    After a few more seconds, she stood abruptly, the chair scraping softly against the floor.

    Her hands trembled as she picked up the envelope. She clutched it tight.

    She ignores her children’s curious and confused looks.

    She turned and walked quickly out of the dining room.

    Her feet carried her down the familiar hallway and straight to her bedroom.

    The curtains were drawn slightly, Everything was neatly arranged, just the way she liked it.

    She closed the door behind her and leaned against it for a bmoment/b. She pressed the envelope to her chest, her hand shaking against it.

    For several long seconds, she just stood there, staring nkly ahead.

    b38 /b

    48%

    +38

    Did she really do the right thing?

    Slowly, she walked to the bed. She sat down on the edge, her body stiff, she ced the envelope on herp and just stared at it.

    She thought of the private investigator, the hushed phone calls, the meetings she had arranged in secrecy. She thought of why she had done this….why she had gone this far.

    She had to know. It was as if God brought that girl and delivered into her hands and she has a son? There’s no way she was going to ignore the possibility of that boy being her grandson.

    If Alex finds out, it will be hell….

    But what if the boy is Alex’s….

    Now the answers are right here, inside the paper envelope.

    She wanted to rip it open and get it over with. But at the same time, she wanted to throw it away, pretend it had never arrived.

    She wanted to stay in this world where the truth was unknown–because once she saw it, once she knew, there would be ino /igoing back.

    Esther swallowed hard, her throat dry. She could hear her own heartbeat echoing in her ears.

    Why on earth was she so nervous?

    Maybe she’s scared of ripping the tiny bit of hope he has for his son and Mia.

    If the boy turns out not to be Alex’s, she is not sure she can keep her in thepany.

    If Alex finds out she has a child for someone else he might actually loose it.

    Minutes felt like hours as she stared down at the file.

    Finally, she took a deep breath. She picked it up with both hands. She stared at her name written neatly on the front

    She hesitated, closing her eyes for a moment as though gathering thest bit of courage she had left. Then slowly she tore it open.

    Inside was a file. in, simple and harmless–looking, then a piece of hair in a ziplock tiny nylon.

    She ced it on the bed beside her, staring at it for several more seconds before finally reaching for it again.

    Her pulse raced, every beat painful, as she opened the file.

    The first thing she saw were images.

    And the moment her eyes fell on them, her entire body froze.

    Her hand slipped, the file tumbling from her grasp and falling to the floor with a soft thud. The photographs scattered on the floor.

    Esther’s eyes widened, her lips parting in shock. “Olymy god,” she breathed out.

    “Mom”

    She paused, next second she was rushing to pack the pictures that were on the floor.

    Before she could say anything, Jullian walks in

    “Are you okay?”

    Esther tries ito /isteady herself, giving Jullian a small smile.

    10:19 Tue, 26 Aug bM /b

    “I have been knocking since” Jullian says, looking around the room

    Oh? she didn’t hear.

    “I’m fine Jullian, just need to rest”

    Jullian nods.” I had to check on you because of how you left the dining”

    “I’m fine” she said, smiling a little. “Where’s your brother?”

    “In his room, probably working. You sure you’re okay?”

    “I’m fine Jullian”

    “Alright fine, see you tomorrow mom… goodnight”

    “Goodnight baby”

    Jullian turn to leave but stepped on something on the floor.

    It was one of the pictures that fell from her hand.

    He bent down to pick it up and froze immediately.

    Esther watches him carefully, at least it wasn’t Alex that walked in

    Well, she doesn’t have to be the only one to see what she saw.

    Jullian might not agree with her way of handling things….but…

    “What the hell mom….. is that….. what the hell?”

    色