Encounter

Aleia felt a sudden ache in her heart after knowing that Nathalie was just a meter away from her husband. She sighed heavily and forced a smile. Just right in time, she was in front of a mirror in the women’s section. She shopped alone to buy some formal clothes in case she might need them in future events with Zach.

She was looking at herself in the mirror and noticed some changes in her. She seemed to be gaining weight these days. She was not able to do some work- out routines. She always felt tired and dizzy. She was about to go to the men’s section when she saw something in the reflection in the mirror.

She turned around to see who passed by her. She was right, that was her stepmother. Her brows furrowed as she was with another man. She did not know why but she followed them secretly. She kept on thinking who is this man with her?

Maybe, a friend or colleague. But her heart raced when she saw some suspicious moves from them. They looked so sweet. The two went out from there so she sneaked to still follow them. She pretended to be busy looking around with her eyes focussing on them.

Until they ended up in a coffee shop. The two ordered coffee while she grabbed a magazine and pretended to read it. She was sitting at the table behind them. But she was facing the man and could see him exactly.

“So how’s Nat?” the man asked with a smile.

“She’s fine but still recovering after losing the man in her dreams because of Aleia,” her stepmother said. Unfortunately, she could not see her facial expression. But it’s okay as long as she can hear their conversation.

“So when are we going to tell her the truth?” the man asked again and she saw how sad he was after that.

It rings a bell. What kind of truth he was referring to? She could not afford to blink and her heart is pounding hard.

“When everything is ready and when we can make sure that Nathalie will get the inheritance from the Grymes. That Aleia will be getting nothing from her father,” her stepmother said.

Although, she could not see her face. She can still imagine her bitchy expression. So that was their purpose, to make her crawl and suffer. But luckily, she still knew how to live even if she won’t get a single penny from her dad.

“That is impossible. She has all the rights to his father’s wealth,” the man said but her stepmother butted in.

“And so is Nathalie. She is a Gryme and she is his daughter, too,” her stepmother said firmly.

“Nathalie is my daughter and she is not a Gryme, we all knew that from the very beginning. You were pregnant with her already when you broke up with me,” the man said.

Aleia froze for a while. She could not even blink. She was shaking and her heart was racing fast. Did she hear everything correctly? Her brain was still processing every single word. She suffered enough because of them. Did her father know this side of the story? Did they scam her dad intentionally?Exclusive content © by Nô(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

That explains why Nathalie and her could not go along well unlike Morraine who is so close to her.

“You are not allowed to say that Steven! Someone might hear you. We could not ruin our plan,” her stepmother said while looking at both sides to make sure no one heard it.

Aleia was also busy covering her face. When everything went back to normal, she decided to leave ahead of them. She went to the washroom and called her dad.

“Reign,” her dad answered.” How are you? Is everything okay?”

She was speechless for a moment. Still reluctant to tell her father about what she heard a minute ago.

“Hi! I just missed you, dad. Are you getting enough rest these days? I wish to visit you,” Aleia said trying to control her emotions.

She heard him laugh on the other line. “That’s so sweet of you, princess. I might visit you one of these days at your house. Where are you now?”

“At.. the mall. Dad, I don’t know if I should tell you this. I saw Tita Norraine with another man here a moment ago-” she paused to catch some air. Her other hand is squeezing her thigh.” Dad, I heard them talk. They mentioned that Nathalie is not your daughter.”

“What?” her dad screamed. “Are you sure about that?”

“Yes,” she answered.

“Let’s meet in my office, Reign. Be safe.” The call ended and Aleia composed herself again.

But she was shocked to see her stepmother behind her when she was about to leave the washroom. She was looking fiercely at her.

“So, I am right. You were the woman behind us. Did you hear everything?” she asked.

“No. Excuse me,” she said and left but stopped when her stepmother said something.

“I knew you heard something, Aleia. I’m warning you to keep it to yourself. Your living a good life now so don’t ruin ours.”

Aleia chuckled. “Good life? In which part? I grew up in a broken family. I grew up without a father on my side because he chose all of you instead of me. You betrayed dad and you have to pay for it.”

She left immediately and went to the parking. But before she could start the engine, her phone rang.

“Zach!” She answered.

“Oh! Hi, sis.”

Her brows furrowed when she heard Natalie’s voice. Why is she using her husband’s phone?

“Nathalie?”

“Yes! Sorry to bother you, sis. I just wonder if you could pick him up at home. He is a little bit drunk. You know, I invited him for a drink after lunch. Ah, I forgot to tell you. He gave me a ride home. I was not feeling well.”

She felt dizzy for everything that happened today.

“Sis, can you pick him up?” Nathalie asked again after she became silent for a while.

“Okay, I’m coming,” Aleia said. She even heard Zach’s voice. Her heart ached. Why did he choose to be there? Worst, he did not tell her about it.

“Nathalie! Who are you talking to?” Zach asked but Nathalie ended the call before she could speak to her husband.

She spent a few minutes staring blankly outside before she decided to pick him up at his father’s house. Why did he choose to give her a ride? The company has lot of drivers. He could tell them to drop Nathalie at home.

She felt heavy until a tear escaped from her eyes. She ended up weeping silently. Maybe tired of all the drama in her life. She wiped her tears up when her phone rang again. It was her dad who is calling.

“Dad?”

“Reign, where are you now? I’m waiting for you. Did you have lunch already?” he asked.

“Not yet, dad. Dad, can I come late? Nathalie called. Zach is drunk and I need to pick him up. I’ll come to you after that.”

“Okay, princess. Be safe always. See you, later.”

“Bye, dad. Dad, sorry if I was being hard on you the past years. But I love you so much, dad.”

“Reign, it made me want to hug you right now. Come to daddy very soon. I love you too, my child.”

After she ended the call, Aleia went to pick Zach up. She did not know why, something seemed not right today.