Nathan's Mother

Arthur and Nathalie stood outside the pristine glass doors of the high-end rehabilitation center, their hearts heavy with the weight of the revelations they had uncovered. The new rehab facility was nestled among lush gardens and state-of-the-art amenities, a far cry from the sterile environment Nathan had been in before. They knew their brother deserved better after the harrowing incident at his previous center, where someone injected him with heroin. It was a cruel twist in an already dark tale.

"Ready?" Arthur asked, turning to Nathalie, who nodded solemnly. He took a deep breath and pushed open the door, his hand lingering on the cold metal momentarily as if bracing himself for what lay ahead.

They found Nathan sitting in a sunlit common area, his bright blue eyes staring out at the world beyond the windows, lost in thought. A smile broke across his face when he saw them approach, but it quickly faded as he noticed their somber expressions.

"Hey, guys," he said hesitantly, sensing something was amiss. "I miss you guys. Thanks for the visit. It's been a while."

"I miss you too, brother. You know I have to go to school, so I don't have much time to visit you," Nathalie kissed Nathan's cheek.

"That's not a problem. Be good in school," Nathan strokes Nathalie's hair as she sits beside him. She is still his little sister.

"I'm sorry, Nathan, I've been so busy that I barely have free time to visit you," Arthur said. He only talks to Nathan on the phone twice to thrice a week while the rehab center director is giving him updates about Nathan's improvements.

"Guys, it's okay. I just missed you both." Nathan noticed an awkward atmosphere surrounding them. "Guys, what's going on?"

"Nathan," Nathalie murmured, her voice barely audible. She fidgeted with the hem of her shirt, her hands visibly shaking. Arthur sat beside his brother, his eyes never leaving Nathan's face.

"Let's find a place where we can talk properly, just the 3 of us," Arthur said. He leads his siblings to a private place, perfect for a confidential talk.

"Look, I won't sugarcoat this," Arthur began as they were settled on the couch, his voice betraying anger and sadness.

"We've discovered some...disturbing things about Alicia."

"Like what?" Nathan asked, his eyes narrowing in suspicion. As Arthur recounted the evidence they had gathered against their mother – the manipulation, the deceit, and the unthinkable charges she now faced – Nathan's face paled, his lips pressed into a tight line.

"Are you telling me," Nathan choked out, his voice trembling, "that our own mother tried to have me killed?" He looked from Arthur to Nathalie, a desperate plea for reassurance in his eyes. But all they could do was nod silently, tears welling as they shared his disbelief and horror.

"No," Nathan whispered, shaking his head vehemently. "No, it can't be true." He buried his face in his hands, his shoulders heaving with sobs. Nathalie reached out to touch his arm, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"I'm so sorry, Nathan," she whispered. "We never wanted you to find out like this." Nathalie already knows what Alicia did, although she has yet to see all the evidence Arthur has gathered.

Arthur clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white with the effort of holding back his own emotions. This wasn't just about revenge anymore; it was about protecting his family from the monster that had once been a part of their lives.

"Stay strong, Nathan," he said quietly, touching his brother's shoulder. "We're going to make sure she pays for everything she's done."

As they sat together, the three siblings clung to one another, their hearts bound by a love that would not be broken – even in the face of unthinkable betrayal.

Nathan's breaths came in ragged gasps as he tried to process the horrific truth about his mother. Arthur hesitated momentarily, exchanging a look with Nathalie that seemed to say, "It's now or never." Then, taking a deep breath, he spoke again.

"Listen, Nathan," he said gently but firmly. "There's something else you need to know."

"Wh-what?" Nathan asked, his voice still shaky from crying.

"Your biological mother isn't Alicia," Arthur revealed, his gaze unwavering. "You're the son of our father's mistress."

"Wha— that's impossible!" Nathan stuttered, shock and confusion etched across his face. His eyes darted between Arthur and Nathalie, searching for confirmation or denial.

"Arthur found out through a private investigator," Nathalie explained softly, her heart aching at the thought of what Nathan must be feeling. "Alicia discovered Robert's affair but chose not to divorce him. Instead, they had an agreement to raise you as their child to keep her prominent status. And Alicia, at that time, wasn't rich as she is now, so it was understandable that she chose to stay with Robert. But after that, she became smarter and decided to have several investments besides being a socialite."

"An agreement?" Nathan echoed, his eyes widening. "Why?"

"Because Alicia cared only for herself and her social standing," Arthur said bitterly. "She was more concerned about maintaining appearances than anything else, even the well-being of her own children. If she divorced Robert, I believed she would lose her socialite status, so she forgave him to save face."

Nathan stared blankly at his siblings, the weight of this new revelation seeming to crush him. His hands clenched into fists and trembled as emotions churned within him. Betrayal, anger, sadness, and confusion vied for control over his battered heart.

"Is there any proof?" he asked desperately, his voice barely a whisper.

"Documents, photographs, testimonies," Arthur assured him, his eyes filled with empathy. "We have everything we need to back up what we're saying."

"Then it's true," Nathan murmured, his eyes again filling with tears. "My whole life... it's all been a lie."

"No, Nathan," Nathalie said fiercely, gripping his hand tightly. "Your life hasn't been a lie. We are your family, and that bond is real. It doesn't matter who your biological mother is – you are our brother, and we will always love you."

"Always," Arthur echoed, placing a hand on Nathan's shoulder again. "No matter what."

As they huddled together in the dimly lit room of the rehab center, the three siblings found solace in one another's embrace. They knew the road ahead would be difficult, but they were determined to face it together - as a family united by love, not just blood.

Arthur's eyes darkened as he remembered when Alicia disappeared for a year, leaving them and Robert behind without a clear explanation. He was a kid back then, but he remembered some events. During that absence, she had been pregnant with another man's child.

"Wait," Nathan's voice broke through Arthur's thoughts, his face pale but curious. "How did all this happen? Not being leaked by the press as she was a famous socialite before."

"Ah, yes," Arthur said, his jaw tightening. "When she left, she told us she needed some time alone to 'find herself.' We discovered she was hiding Dad's mistress's pregnancy from the press."

Nathan's eyes widened in surprise while Nathalie's lips curled into a snarl, her disdain for their mother growing stronger with every revelation.

"Mom went to great lengths to keep Dad's mistress." Arthur continued, his voice heavy. "They stayed at a secluded villa in Italy under an assumed name. Only a few close friends knew where she was and helped them maintain the façade."

"So, from then on, she cared for me like I'm her son?" Nathan asked, his heart racing as he tried to connect the dots.

"Exactly, Nathan," Arthur replied gently. "Your biological mother, our father's secretary, was pregnant; she knew the consequences of her actions. They had a deal."

"Deal?" Nathan muttered, his mind reeling with the implications.

"Your mother –" Arthur paused, correcting himself, "Alicia agreed to care for you as if you were her son. In return, she demanded that your biological mother leave the country and never return or make contact with any of us."

Nathalie's fists clenched in anger, tears streaming down her cheeks. "How could she do this? To her own family?"

"Because she's selfish," Arthur spat, his emotions boiling. "Alicia's only concern is her reputation, and she couldn't bear the thought of people knowing that Dad had had a child with someone else. So she manipulated everyone, even her children, to maintain her image."

"Arthur," Nathan whispered, his voice trembling. "How do we know all this? How did you find out?"

"Trust me, Nathan, I spent months piecing everything together," Arthur said, his resolve unwavering. "I hired private investigators, talked to countless people involved, and uncovered documents that prove this beyond a shadow of a doubt."

"Then we have to make sure she pays for what she's done," Nathalie declared, fire burning in her eyes.