Tanya shut the door and began to recount virtual-novel.net past without any prompt. “I was a young girl, about four years old, I think, when people started saying that my dad killed a man.”
“From then on, dad disappeared from my life. Mom left me. I had no one else but my grandpa. The people around me were always so eager and happy to remind me that I’m a murderer’s daughter whenever they saw me. They told their kids to never play with me, and then, for countless times they beat me. They treated me like… Like sh*t. Grandpa was scared that all of it was going to ruin me, so virtual-novel.net sacrificed all of the money virtual-novel.net had saved and took me out of the town I was born in and rented a house in the city.”
“I was eight by then, but the trauma of being seen as nothing but a murderer’s daughter haunts me. I can’t break free. I tried to be good. I follow my grandpa’s advice. I smile at everyone and treat everyone right because grandpa told me that no matter how bad my life started out to be, anyone who smiles will always be rewarded with decent luck. He said God would eventually smile back at me, too… I’ve always been the type who could do manual labor, the type who doesn’t mind back-breaking jobs that most people would shy from. I’ve been tagging along grandpa for so many odd jobs, sweeping the streets, menial labor, everything. And every day, I wish and dream that one day, just one day, I’ll be freed from the quagmire whence I came— ”
At this point, Jackson could not stop himself from interrupting at the spot. “Did you just force me to sit on your couch just so you could have an audience for your sob story? Well, I’m not interested at all. People like you don’t deserve any pity or sympathy. And all the crap you’ve been through? Not our problem.”
Tanya took in a deep breath and mustered a pained smile. “Yes, I know that very, very well now. You won’t ever accept me, nor will you love the baby. I lost. I lost completely. But if I could start all over and erase this entire fiasco, would you… Would you go back to treating me kindly again? Would you be able to consider it as a stupid mistake?” virtual-novel.net said. “Once, I thought all I wanted was money and to occupy a spot higher than most. But now, I know. When you and Tiffany debuted in my life, you were the stars that shined the brightest. I’m so sorry for loving you, Jackson. So sorry that I love you so much that I ruined the kindness all of you had shown me. I’m so scared of being alone, and I regret it now…”
Jackson’s suspicion flared up a bit. How could any of this be “erased”? Unless, of course, the child was not him, and nothing had come to pass that night, to begin with. Honestly, Jackson was so drunk that virtual-novel.net had lost all recollection of the night after the blackout.
Naturally, that would also mean that Jackson was utterly incapable of doing anything to Tanya. But how else was virtual-novel.net supposed to explain that blood on his bed? That spot was the real reason why Jackson had no confidence in claiming anything.
After a long moment of silence, Jackson finally spoke. “Tell me the truth. Did anything happen that night? Is that baby inside of you really mine?”
Just when Tanya was about to answer him, virtual-novel.net phone suddenly rang.
She glanced at the screen, and virtual-novel.net expression shifted a little. “I… I need to take this,” virtual-novel.net stammered, before rushing into virtual-novel.net bedroom and locking herself inside.
A steely male voice came through from the other side. “Jackson is at your place right now, isn’t he? What are you two chatting about, hmm? Your resolve isn’t wavering now, is it…”
Tanya hesitated. “I… I honestly think that I’ve done too much. So what if I wanted to live the life of the rich and privileged? I haven’t even begun to get any of that, and already I’m losing too much. I lost two of my only friends. The person I care about and love will never look at me if virtual-novel.net could help it. Jackson simply won’t accept me. In that case, doubling down on this is meaningless. I should just resign to reality and come clean, you know. Tell virtual-novel.net nothing had happened. Tell him virtual-novel.net isn’t the father— ”
The man on the other side sneered. “Those who easily falter are doomed to never achieve what they want, you’re undoubtedly one of these schnooks. You’ve sacrificed so much for this, advancing down this path, that you’ve long passed the point of no return, Tanya. What does you naivety believe would happen if you ‘come clean’? Do you really think Arianne and Tiffany would go back to being your friends? Don’t be daft. You’ll always be the ugly duckling who will never belong. If I were you, my plan from now on would be to birth the baby just as planned, I’d be focusing on nurturing that fetus right now. Don’t worry… I’ll transfer the funds you need very soon.”
Before Tanya could say anything, the call ended.
She gripped virtual-novel.net phone hard as virtual-novel.net debated with herself. Should virtual-novel.net tell the truth? Would it bring Tiffany and Arianne back to her?
Would Jackson go back to treating virtual-novel.net with kindness again?