I was in the middle of my dinner when Mom suddenly barged in so I had to stand up and welcome her. "Mom, you're here-"
But I was stunned when she slapped me and I slowly touched my left cheek where she slapped me. I would have been fallen if I hadn't just leaned over and clung to my chair. "M-Mom..." Anger and irritation were evident in her eyes and I wasn't brave enough to look at it longer but she grabbed my jaw and pulled me closer to her.
"You do know how much I value our family's image, don't you?" She gritted her teeth when she saw my teary eyes. "You keep on disobeying my orders and becoming bolder... You really want to make me angry, huh." She smirked and let go of my face. "Now, go. Eat whatever you want because this," she pointed her finger on my forehead and I can feel the pain of how her nails scratched my forehead. "will be, the last time you will be in this house." She threw me a death glare before she marched upstairs and I was left there, looking so messy.
I looked down at my food and sat down again to continue eating. I was silent the whole time but I can feel how the maids want to comfort me. Besides me, myself, and... my brother, they are the other people who can understand me because they knew how terrible my mother is.
But I chose to avoid their eyes, especially Miss Sena who cared for me for such a long time. I don't want to feel like I'm just a hopeless child whose asking for help.
I don't need anyone's help. Much more, I don't need their sympathy.
I finished my dinner and went to her office. I thought that this might be the right time to ask her about... the things I've been asking all by myself.
I caught her there drinking whiskey-which she only drinks when celebrating something-while looking at the view through the glass wall. My heart became heavy at the thought.
"Mom..."
She turned to me and smirked, holding her glass. "Oh, you're here. Why? Gonna say goodbye? Oh, sure. This will be the last time I'll see you, anyway."
"Can I ask something?" I asked carefully but her eyebrows shot up and her smirk faded, she didn't say a thing. "Why... Why are you always like this to me? I-I w-was wondering i-if I'm really your... daughter?" My voice broke and I looked down.
There was a long silence when I heard her chuckle. "Sorry..." She covered her mouth to stop herself from laughing but I knew it had no humor at all. "You? You're not my daughter? Well, I wish you were not. Anyway, is that all? If that's all you wanna ask, you may now leave. I'm tired of hearing your bullshits." She turned her back to me and drank her whiskey.
I smiled in frustration and clenched my fists. What did she say? She's tired of hearing my bullshits? Is there even a time she listened to me? Is there even a time she spared a time, hearing my side? No. There's none. So she has no right to say that to me!
"Why are you still here? Gonna ask me again? You can ask me over the phone. So, leave. I don't want to see your face, anymore."
I looked up at her and when our eyes met, I can feel the tension between us. But I chose to cut it. I don't want to waste my time here, anymore.
I turned my back with heartache and packed my things. She didn't tell me where will I be staying but I know it would be a hotel. I didn't pack so many things for less hassle and immediately went down.
I was right. We headed onto the nearby hotel and checked in for my room. My feet were getting heavier and heavier as I stamp on the ground. I feel like my body doesn't want to do this but my mind is stronger to decide for this.
I sat on the edge of my bed staring at my reflection through the whole body mirror. My eyes were swollen and my tears were already dried up. I just wore my sunglasses to not look like a mess. While looking so deeply at myself, I can see how I resemble my mother.
High cheekbones, natural hazel eyes, small nose, but the only difference was that my face look softer than hers that I got from my father.
I laughed softly. He's so busy that he didn't even get the chance to see his daughter for the last time. Well, as if he wants to see me for the last time, anyway.
I rolled my eyes and stood up to come into the balcony. A tear slided from my eyes that I quickly wiped.
The view was somewhat amazing and breathtaking but I can only feel nothing but loneliness. Is there something I can do for them to be proud of me now?
Accepting and inheriting their business, staying on top, being the best caring daughter, and valuing both Triore and Reagan family at the same time?
Maybe? But can I even do that? No one else can but him. No one reaches him for that. Not even me.
I glanced at my phone when it suddenly rang. I took it only to see that Mom is calling.
"Hello?" I answered.
"My secretary already took care of everything. She already booked a plane ticket to-"
"I'm sorry but I would like you to let me decide about the place where to live." Just this once.
It took her a while to talk back and I was expecting her to be mad or to disagree with me but for the first time, she let me. "Fine. Call my secretary, I'm exhausted right now. I'll send you her number. Bye," then she hanged up.
I leaned over the glass balustrade and inhaled the fresh air. It has been a long time since I inhaled a fresh cold evening breeze. And it has been a long time since my brother and I went to that place with this kind of air.
My attention went to my cellphone when it beeped. My mother already sent the number of her secretary so I didn't waste a time and called Miss Heather, her secretary, right away. We've known each other but we're not that close so I can't ask for her number for no reason back then.
"Hello? Heather Reyes, speaking. Who is this?"
"Hello, Miss Heather. This is Beverly. I'm sure you remember me," I told her without saying what I hated to say, I'm the daughter of Frecia Reagan.
"Yes, of course! You're the daughter of the famous theatre actress, Frecia Reagan." Because they're the ones reminding me that I'm her daughter. "Anyway, I'm her secretary. What do you want me to do, Miss Beverly?"
"I would like to change the place where I will live. Please take the plane ticket for yourself or give it to someone if they need one. I don't want to waste it."
"Really, Miss Beverly? Thank you so much. I will call my mother to say this good news."
"Wait. There's one more I would like you to do."
"Yes, Miss Beverly?"
"I want you to keep this from my mother." I smiled while looking up at the sky and said, "I want a new identity."
I slept for the night after preparing for tomorrow afternoon's arrival of the van which would take me to the place I wanted to live in.