“Your daughter?” Lisa's mother mocked.
Valerie smirked with an affirmative nod. “You heard me. She's my daughter, and you have no right to bully her.”
“How is that possible? The Audrey I know doesn't have a mother, you're an imposter. Or probably she hired her to pose as her mother.” Lisa scoffed.
With that, Audrey shook her head with a calm smile. “Are you so blind that you can't see it? Is there anyone who doesn't have a mother?”
Lisa glared at her, and turned swiftly to her mother. “Mommy, don't believe them. Throw them out of here. Audrey can get anything she wants, but there's no way I'm letting her and her imposter of a mother ruin the party.”
“Isn't that what we call partiality? Everyone was told to come to this party with their mother, and just like every one of you, Audrey came with her mother, and you want to throw her out? What makes you so sure that I'm not her mother?” Valerie snapped.
“Young woman, we all know that she doesn't have a mother.” Lisa's mother snapped.
Tears circulated in Audrey's eyes. All her life, she has always been bullied by Lisa for not having a mother. Her birthday was in two days. She had always wanted to celebrate her birthday with her mother. “Mommy, let's go.”
“No, Audrey! We are going nowhere. We came for this party, and no one is entitled to deprive you of the fun you should have, my child.” Valerie smirked.
Grabbing Audrey by the wrist, she pushed Lisa's mother aside as they marched towards the pool. In Audrey's life, she had never felt so happy and relieved until this day.
“You…” Lisa's freaked out.
“It's pointless trying to throw her out of the party. You are not allowed to dictate who is her mom or not. If she says that's her mother, then that is it.” The other parents defended Valerie.
Valerie and Audrey walked into the powder room to get changed into their swimming trunks.
With smiles all over Audrey's face, she held Valerie's hand. “Mommy, I wish I had a mother earlier, I would have attended this yearly pool party every year. Thank you so much for being my mother.”
Audrey's words brought cold shivers down Valerie's spine. She felt so fulfilled, like she was hearing it from her biological daughter. Even if she wasn't able to take care of her child, at least she will do everything in her power to take care of Audrey. “You know, Audrey, I once had a child. I mean, the child would have been your age-mate if the child had grown up with me.”
“You had a child, huh? Where's your child? Why isn't the child with you?” Audrey asked anxiously.
Valerie smiled a little, and combed Audrey's hair properly. Her voice was teary, but she was wearing a smile. “Actually, the child was taken away from me. It's a long story, but I just wish that I was able to look at the child's face even for a few seconds. I mean, if I should see my child right now, I'll never be able to recognize the child.”
Touched by Valerie's statement, Audrey sniffed hard. “Don't be sad, Mom. You can just see me as that child whose face you weren't opportune to look at.”
“Thank you so much for your sweet words, Audrey. Ever since I got to know you, I've taken you as that child. Don't worry, since I'm your Mom today, I'll take good care of you.”
…
Some hours later, the party had already gotten to an end. The driver excitedly drove Audrey and Valerie back to the villa.
They got down from the Range Rover Sport car and held hands as they walked into the mansion.
“Baby!” That was her daddy's voice coming from the sitting room.
Smiles escaped Audrey's lips as she ran to President Ethan and hugged him tightly. Her excitement knew no bounds, and it didn't take her father a minute to realize that she was so excited. “Audrey, you look so excited. Where did you and your Miss old-fashioned go off to?”
“You mean my mommy?” Audrey raised her brow.
Meanwhile, President Ethan was gobsmacked. How did his daughter find out that Valerie is her real mother? He was sure he didn't tell her that.
“No one else knows that Valerie is Audrey's biological mother, who could have told her that?”
“Uhm… Did you just call her Mom? Who mentioned to you that…” Ethan was still speaking.
Audrey shook her head. “Daddy, I want her to be my mommy for today. Guess what? Because of her, I was able to participate in the mother-daughter pool party.”
President Ethan heaved a sigh of relief. He wanted that to be Audrey's birthday gift. Giving her a real mother. That which she has always wished for after blowing the birthday candles.
“Gosh! I almost spilled the beans.”
“Is that so? That's good. Thank you, Miss Valerie.”
“Sure. I'll go upstairs now and get your cereal ready.” Valerie walked upstairs while Audrey continued telling her Dad everything that happened at the party.
**
Valerie was stirring the cereal when she heard a faint knock on the door. “Come in.”
The door creaked open, and a servant walked in with a glass of milkshake.
“Oh, Regina. What are you doing here?” Valerie asked with her eyes narrowed.
“Here! Ma'am Veronica told me to get you a glass of milkshake.” She said, as Valerie nodded and took the glass from her.
Without hesitation, she gulped the milkshake down hungrily while the servant walked out of the room.
A few minutes later, she felt a sharp pain in her stomach. Blood oozed out of her nose and then from her mouth. She struggled out of the room, groaning in pain. “Help… help me.”
She approached the staircase, but couldn't take the pain anymore. Thus, she rolled down the stairs and lost consciousness.
“Valerie?” Ethan rushed to her. She was in the pool of her blood.