“My greed ruined this family. I lost my wife and my eldest son. Just like Luke, your father never wanted to join the business. He dreamt of being a pilot after graduating, but I stopped him. I forced him into the business. Until the day he met your mother, he was overseeing the shipments. And since I didn’t want them to get married, he disowned this family. Changed his name and started a new life away from me.” As he spoke, Melissa felt the pain in his voice.
“Did my mother know about you?” Melissa asked the question that had nagged her for days.
“No, Peter never told her about us. For years, we lived like strangers until the day your father started investigating Mr. Stevens. That’s when he realized what Luke was up to. With your mother working closely with him, she eventually found out.” He took a sip, then glanced at her. “My child, don’t blame your uncle. He would never hurt Peter.” He sighed as he leaned back in his chair. “Go get some rest. Meet me at the office tomorrow. There are things I need to show you.” He closed his eyes, ending the conversation.
David nodded at her, motioning for her to follow him inside.
“So you are my brother?” She inquired, walking beside him through the flower garden.
“Yes, I’m two years older than you are.” He gave her the dimpled smile, then picked a flower for her.
“I don’t understand why dad would keep this from me. Why he never told me about you.” She wondered, touching the petals.
“That’s because he didn’t know I existed. My mother worked as his assistant for years. They got into a romantic relationship, but it didn’t work. When they broke up, she left town, not knowing she was pregnant. And later when she came back, father was nowhere to be found. He had moved away from the family. So she raised me by herself” He closed his eyes briefly, thinking of his mother. “When my mother fell sick, I struggled to take care of her. Needing to find my family, I insisted every day for her to tell me who my father was until she finally told me before her death.”
“I’m sorry you had to go through that alone.” She touched his hand, knowing well how painful it had been for him.
“When I came looking for father, I met grandfather Edward, who took me in and later took me to meet father at his company. That day I saw you as I was leaving the office. We bumped into each other.”
“Huh!” Melissa smiled, remembering how she had gone to her mother’s office that day, complaining about how a rude employee had broken her bottle yet didn’t apologize.
“You broke my favorite bottle.” She playfully hit him on the shoulder.
“Sorry, I’ll make sure to buy you another one.” He smiled, touching his shoulder.
All her life she wished for a sibling. Diana was that sister she never had but it turns out she had an older brother.
“Hey, you keep zoning out a lot.” He snapped his fingers to her face.
“I never expected to have a brother but I’m glad you’re here.” She said hugging him.
“I’m glad too. Let me show you to your room. Get an early rest, we have a busy day tomorrow.” He said walking to the house.
“Thank you for agreeing to help.” When she called him earlier asking him to train her in self-defense and help her convince Mr. Edward to lead his security and transport to get into Johnson’s ranch, she didn’t think he would agree.
“Anything for my baby sister.” He winked at her walking to his room.
....
“He is one of the men who abducted me. What is he doing here? Did you plan all this to bring me here?” Melissa asked her grandfather pointing at the man she found in the home office.
“It’s okay, you can go.” Mr. Edward dismissed the young man. “When we got wind of your planned abduction, I sent him to protect you and find out who ordered them." He explained his gaze trailing outside the floor to ceiling window.
“You didn’t hand them over to the police? Why” She asked taking a seat.
“No, and I’m not planning to. Not until they tell me who sent them.” He turned his gaze to her. “I asked you to come here so we can talk about your plan. David told me all about it and I don’t agree one bit.” He spoke taking a seat behind the desk.
“What! Why? I have to get my son back.”
“I understand, but going to the Johnsons is not the right way. Talk to Mark and sort out whatever differences you two have. Mark is a good man. I know how much he cares for you that is why I trusted him with your safety.”
“Is that why you worked with him behind my back? You know what, I don’t care what you think Mr. Edward. You owe me this much for not showing up when I came looking for you. I’m going to get my son with or without your assistance. " She huffed then got up ready to leave.
“Sit Isabella. I’m your grandfather, you never forget that.” He shouted at her authoritatively. “When your father came to me, he asked me to stay away from you. I’ve caused him so many problems and he didn’t want you involved in any of this. Over the years I’ve been working hard to change my business and lifestyle watching you from a distance. And when your name came up in the investigations, I had to give them your location.” Calming down he explained.
“What investigation are you talking about?” Melissa asked getting back to her sit.
“Someone has been trafficking illegal drugs. After years of investigation, it was concluded that they were using your identity. When Mark and his team started looking for you, I anonymously gave him your location under the condition he had to protect you.”
“What? All this while he has been investigating me? What of the investment in the province?”
“To get to you he had to set up a business there. I also gave them information about the organization but we are yet to find the culprit. Though the organization is gone that person still runs the drug and human trafficking. Right now you are still in danger. We can’t afford to go against the Johnsons. We need them so we can stop these people.” He tried to explain to her but Melissa had made up her mind.
“We need the Johnsons? But I thought you two were mortal enemies?”
“The differences between our two families don’t matter. All I want is to keep you safe and happy.”
“Sorry, but I have to get my son back no matter what. If I have to break into the ranch to get him, so be it. Mark is not part of my life now.” She said before walking out.
In the bedroom, Melissa stood on the balcony holding the family picture they took at the beach. “Falling in love with you was a mistake. Sadly to you, I was just a case you were investigating. That's why it’s easy for you to forget me.” She wiped the silent tears staring at Mark’s face in the picture.