Divorced?

Today is the day I meet my new family. It was a long way from Austria to the US — well, it should have been, but I was picked up by a private jet. My mother was really excited about it, to the point it was annoying. And my siblings... we don't talk about them, disturbing as ever. As much as I hated the jet, I also loved it. I guess the comfort got to me.

Well, before everything starts, let me explain how I got into this situation.

My mother — my lovely yet irritating mother — once flew to New York to let off some steam because she had a terrible fight with my father once again. But this time, it really escalated to a critical point. She said she couldn't bear to be here anymore and needed to go away for some time and left us for three months.

For fucking three months, she was gone. She just left, leaving her four children behind and not contacting us the entire time. The only time she contacted me was a small message saying:

"We are moving to New York."

I was really speechless. It didn't register in my brain what was on the screen. At that time, it was already past midnight, and I was chilling under the blanket while watching a movie when the message popped up. I don't know what was going on in her head, but this time, I was sure it was the end of her marriage. I just knew she was planning on leaving my father behind while taking us to the US.

I remember how angry and confused I was. I had many questions. The 'why' she wanted to leave my father behind was already answered. They often fought about many things: their image, us children, the house, their in-laws, his alcohol problem, his lack of work, and the money. Money was the biggest issue between them.

But the question was, why does she want to move to the US? Was it because it was so awesome that she wanted to move there right away? Or did she build something up there in a short time? Like a business? Or got a job and climbed to a high position in that time?

Never.

My mother — Olivia Bennett — is someone who can't do business or build her life up in a short while. She is like a child. Spoiled at that. Everything she touches just crumbles to dust, as if it never existed. Maybe that's why my father couldn't build something up for himself. Because this woman always has to destroy something and then blame it on others.

But this time, my gut told me that a man is involved.

A man who is not my father but someone else. I knew my mother was a free-spirited person, but I never would have guessed that my mom cheated. She has her pride and dignity, even if it doesn't show sometimes. But my mother would never cheat because of the respect and the fear of being judged by others... right?

That was the moment when I immediately called her. The phone rang, but she didn't pick up, so I waited for a minute. I called her again and again until the fifth time. She picked up, and I could hear her hoarse voice.

"Celeste, my darling, how pleasant that you are calling me. I would have picked up sooner, but I am at a high-class restaurant right now and my phone was—"

"Mom," I mumbled, not knowing how to start.

"—on silent. You know, sweetie, that it's rude to have your phone on loud because it will disturb others, so—"

"MOM! What are you doing? WITH WHOM ARE YOU? EXPLAIN YOURSELF! YOU CAN'T JUST WRITE A MESSAGE LIKE THAT AND NOT BE AVAILABLE AGAIN!" I didn't mean to shout, but she never lets someone speak up, and the emotions I have right now are also a bit at fault.

"Oh gosh, that startled me! You can't just scream at your mother like that!"

"Yeah? Then why don't you explain yourself?!"

"Oh sweetheart, didn't your father tell you already? I met a wonderful man here and fell in love with him. We already got married because we couldn't wait any longer—"

"Married? How's that? Aren't you still married to Dad?" I asked hysterically and in disbelief.

"...Celeste, didn't your father tell you already? We got divorced three months ago. You sound like he didn't tell you anything... that bastard. What is he planning this time, not telling my kids that we were divorced! Celeste! I want you and your younger siblings to come here! The man I met is a good person and has a high status here. He also has a lot of money, so we won't have to worry about finances. Please, sweetie. Come to New York."

Divorced? Why would Dad hide this from us? And she's already married too. Fuck! Why is this family so fucked up?!