Chapter 15

Chapter 15

"Hey, how was your stay here?

Gabe asked trying to take a little iron out of the matter. Ian smiled, he was disheveled as if his hands had been run through his hair a number of times and he looked like he hadn't slept.

"Well, it's not exactly a five-star hotel, and they didn't give me the best concrete slab you can imagine to sleep on, it's quite cold, so I couldn't enjoy my concrete slab well.

This time it was Gabe who gave him a sad smile, his friend was going through all this because of him.

Gabe took a breath, he knew he would need it for the next few minutes, he didn't want to ask the questions he had to, but Ian needed to tell what happened that day whatever it was Gabe would be fine with it. And he had to make him say something that seemed reasonable to the policemen one way or another.

Ian, where were you after your mum left you in Liverpool? Where did you go?

Ian laughed without grace, it couldn't be that he was precisely asking that question.

"Since when are you a policeman?

Seeing that Gabe didn't laugh but remained serious staring at him, he spoke seriously.

«I told Figuera I went to eat something, and then I came back, nothing more, I don't understand any of this; You are supposed to believe me out of all of them. You know me Gabe.

«Yes, I know you, I do it and I know that you are not capable of hurting anyone, but they need to hear what they want and you are the only one who can give it to them.

Ian stood up, his hands cuffed behind his back, which made Gabe feel worse about himself as if he'd suddenly kicked an injured puppy.

What do you want to hear, Gabe? Because this is definitely not what the police want to hear about, you want to hear that it was me, well I was, are you happy? Gabe feels better, you feel like he's over.

Gabe got up too

"Ian stop it! We are not here to play, do you want to be the center of attention? Well congratulations you are now!

Anger was consuming him, this had suddenly turned on Ian somehow he always made it all about himself.

" Do you want the truth? Okay Gabe, but then don't say I didn't warn you, there are things that no one has to know about, things that would have been better left as they were until your little girlfriend dug them up.

Ian took a breath, Gabe was looking at him, now only him. And somehow he couldn't get it out, he was afraid, afraid that Gabe might hate him later, but it was what he had done when he was in Liverpool he called Carson to talk about all this meaningless secret.

»You and all your family have been all that I have had, and I could not fail him, I could not fail you. I didn't tell you because I couldn't lose them.

Gabe was just there listening trying to make sense of Ian's confused preamble.

»When mum left Liverpool for me, I called your father, I needed to talk to him...

"But why you...

Ian yelled at him like a little kid who doesn't pay attention in class.

"Just listen, it's okay. I found out something a few months ago...

He couldn't say it, he felt that if he said it it would be real much more real, if Gabe knew there would be no turning back.

»I found out that Roland is not my father, my mom was unfaithful to him for many years with… with…

Gabe put the dots together, it wasn't so hard to see now, he knew that his father was hiding something or someone, after all, Lera wasn't crazy to put divorce papers on the table without meaning, but that he was unfaithful forever, it was too much.

Gabe felt really bad for her mother, she didn't deserve this, no one deserves to be lied to like that.

"My father.

Gabe finished for him, Ian nodded vigorously.

«Yes, but that's not all, he, Carson is not your father either, your… Gabe your father is Roland.

Gabe jumped on Ian in a second and began to hit his brother, this was a lie, it had to be a very bad joke, he could insult Carson all day if he wanted, but not his mother, the blows they continued, he knew punching didn't solve anything but he really wanted to hurt something, Gabe's hands ached, Ian's face was covered in blood.

Suddenly the door slammed into the wall and Figuera was holding Gabe against the wall opposite Ian, Amanda was helping Ian to his feet, she was looking at Gabe scared like someone looking at a monster, Gabe looked at his hands, his knuckles tears and the cut on his friend's cheekbone his…his brother.

Ian coughed and spat out blood. This really was the last straw, he knew they should have kept it all to themselves, yet with anger coursing through his veins he looked at Gabe and said the words his brother didn't want but he had to listen.

« Lera is not your mother, Marianna yes, the rest to find out for yourself I am no longer interested in you, I was taking care of you, but for what? I'm the one who lost anyway, you still have good parents and me. I have the idiot.

Gabe tried to break free of Figuera, he wanted to hit Ian again; this was too much. Gabe felt like

Or if a building had just been thrown on top of it. Ian didn't know what he was saying, he was confused or he was just lying, that couldn't be true, but it was useless to get rid of Figuera, the man was putting all his strength to contain Gabe.

So all that was left to him were words, poisonous and deadly words.

«You see how you make everything about yourself; you just told me that my family is not my family and yet you still feel sorry for you, you're a jerk Ian and a coward that's what you are. You knew it, you knew it for months and you didn't tell me. You selfish idiot, I hate you.

Tears began to run down Gabe's cheeks, it became inevitable, he didn't want to cry, not in front of those people, but the emotions were too intense. A part of him felt bad for throwing all his anger at Ian, he wasn't cataloging everything he was saying he just wanted to hit something, he wanted to smash everything really.

Grace didn't let me tell you, I'm sorry Gabe, but this isn't just about you, I lost someone I loved in the process too. Roland can't even look at me, you on the other hand will always have your sisters and…

Those simple words of self-pity from Ian made him explode, scream and kick trying to throw Figuera away from him but still to no avail.

«They are not my sisters and she is not my mother you told me a second ago!

Ian couldn't understand, his brother just didn't understand that this had shattered him, that this simple truth was destroying him. Ian stepped dangerously close to his brother, Amanda tried to stop him but he jerked free.

«Nobody deceived them to love you, I know that the girls will love you the same, and Lera, she is really incredible, I know that she will continue to love you, my friend... you did not lose anything, you just opened your eyes.

Amanda took Ian and when Figuera was sure that Gabe was calm he let him go.

«Sorry boy, if what he says is true. I'm sorry.

Gabe walked straight to the exit, all the memories he shared with those people were just a hoax, when he saw Marianna he felt anger grow again but he repeated himself in his mind to stay calm.

«Marianna I need you to accompany us to ilem and to my house there are some things that we should all discuss.

Ilem that annoying little tick that never went away from him, that was not only his sister but his friend, saw her walking there with him, determined to go where he asked her to, stopped her for a second and wrapped her in his arms, hugged her as if he were going to lose her. Maybe that was how it would be.

"Hey everything alright?

She asked looking at him surprised by that sudden attack of affection. Gabe just nodded at her and kissed her forehead before continuing to walk to the car.

Marianna followed him just like ilem without saying anything, he sent a message to Lera, and Carson knew that Roland would be there for Allin so they all resolved this today. No more lies. If Ian didn't dare face everyone and seek the truth, he would.

When he got home, Lera was already there, with a worried face, and Carson was sitting in the dining room next to Roland, who apparently would also join the party just in time, at least his grim face was already there.

"Honey, what's wrong?

I ask Gabe, but looking at Marianna who was walking behind him. He gabe walked past her non-mother and went to where Allin and Ellen were, he convinced Allin to take Ellen to the park a few blocks away, they didn't have to get hurt by this.

When his two sisters were gone, he decided to ask the question that had been tormenting his head all along the way.

"Okay, I'm going to ask a question and I need you to answer it honestly, who in this room knew that Roland Martin is my father and Marianna is my mother?

Everything was silent, nobody spoke or moved from their place, nobody until Lera began to cry, that was what made everything explode. Gabe felt as if a hot knife had been plunged into his chest at the sight of Lera crying and her guilt as well.

Roland got up from the table and started arguing with Marianna, Carson tried to help Lera but she pushed him away. Ilem hugged Lera and Carson started yelling at Marianna about lying to him. Roland was looking at Gabe with sad eyes.

Gabe wasn't really listening to any of the arguments around him, he was just finding a way to breathe again without crying, now he could see how much he really resembled his real father, the blue eyes he always thought he had inherited from Lera really belonged to Roland and that inexplicable black hair that didn't fit in with the Fullers was because it wasn't from the Fullers.

Lera suddenly pulled herself together and took command of the situation, her face red and tears still running down her cheeks, but that didn't make her look weak for a moment.

I want someone to explain everything to me now.

«Me too, Roland supported her.

Marianna was the one who took the initiative e talk and explain what all this mess was. Gabe started to look at her too but he couldn't take it for long before he just turned his gaze to the ground and fell into himself.

«Carson and I went out for years, even after we got married, we still see each other, Ian, well, he's Carson's son, I think we can all see him now, I... sorry Roland, I never apologized for hiding it and you'll find out in a tantrum of mine.

Then she turned to see Lera and continued her speech. Lera cheekily turned her back on Marianna, everyone knew she could still hear her, but she couldn't look at her, Gabe guessed this was because she didn't want to jump on Marianna and strangle her.

“Lera, I suppose you remember what happened after the accident and that this miracle baby never existed, Carson took Gabe from me because I wasn't sure if it was his or Roland's. Lucky for him we were both expecting a baby.

Roland was no longer paying attention to Marianna and was just looking at Gabe, like someone looking at something for the first time.

»I'm sorry again Roland I couldn't protect your baby; all out of pure selfishness for not wanting to lose everything; I lost one of my children.

Roland didn't say anything, he just looked back at Gabe, he admired him, but that wasn't the time for the two of them to talk.

Lera released ilem and lunged at Carson.

" You! You selfish bastard, you lied to me, you made me love a baby that wasn't mine, you stole someone else's baby to make up for your mistakes, you made me lose my son, you're so selfish you couldn't even tell me the truth.

Carson did not move, he only received Lera's blows as someone who knows everything he did wrong and gladly receives his punishment.

" I did it for you!

»So that you wouldn't suffer, I was also deceived by this... this fourth-class whore.

Lera punched Carson that left everyone stunned. Blood ran down the lip of it.

"Shut up, this was just for you, so I wouldn't sue you for causing that accident and you'd lose everything. Do you know what I've done for him?

I point at Gabe sharply.

»you… you deceived me.

Ian said that Gabe wasn't going to lose anything, but he had lost Lera and he knew that one way or another thanks to that he had also lost his sisters.

«Mom I'm sorry I... I'm sorry I'm not your son

Gabe walked over to Lera. She caressed his cheek and gave him a warm kiss, they say that cowards kill with a kiss and the brave kill with a sword, that's how Gabe felt at that moment, that kiss was just a goodbye.

"Honey, it's not your fault. I don't want to make you feel bad but… Can you go? Gabriel, just for today, I can't see you sweetheart, it hurts me to see you now.

He nodded and walked away from her towards her front door. It was broken, now there was no going back, Roland went after him just like Marianna.

Ilem stayed with her mother. Which she also told her father to leave her and she never dared to come back.

I spend one, two, three hours. Allin and Ellen returned and ilem sent them to her rooms, while she waited for her mother to tell her something, she knocked and knocked on her door until her mother let her in.

There were clothes scattered on the floor, and shoes here and there, photos torn to shreds. Her mother seemed fixed and unperturbed, that scared Ilem a bit.

"Mom, are you going out?

She asked doubtfully, Lera didn't answer, she took her bag and went downstairs, she didn't want to talk to anyone, certainly not her daughter, Ilem went after her, asking more questions that apparently her mother didn't want and wasn't going to answer.

Ilem was surprised by the cold and distant behavior of her mother, maybe Carson if she was right and she didn't know Lera well enough.

When they got to the door they both saw the white Jeep parked in front of their house, the teacher Aaron from Art class got out of it, he could see ilem, he was blond and very handsome, all the girls were in love with him, he smiled at ilem, It wasn't a flirtatious smile or much hands, it was like the smile of a wolf, predatory and dangerous.

"Honey, take care of your sisters, I'll be back later.

Lera desperately needed to get out of that house, that place so full of hate was no longer a home, it was just an empty house.

"Breast?

Ilem called his mother but this came out more like a question, Aaron Piedmont was anything but someone to be trusted, he had the beauty of belladonna, cute but poisonous, even she could see him, he didn't want his mother near him, in fact he didn't she believed her mother should be around no one now.

Her mother turned to see her with a smile of anything but joy.

"That? Carson can and I can't, stop it Ilem, stop it; I didn't love him either. Learn to live with it.

She reproached her mother and then he walked away from her, she got into the art teacher's car, and ilem repeated to herself that it was just her pain talking about her, that her mother would never hurt her. Not on purpose. Lera didn't want to hurt ilem but she needed her daughter to be stronger than her and shield her heart. Because hope wouldn't break any other family member of hers, she took it upon herself to