THE MAFIA’S MISTAKEN BRIDE

Jasmine’s POV

My Aunt’s flat is the third one. Seeing that he is at the first flat, I nod at him in appreciation. He must be a local for him to have known the description so well.

I tap Xavier and we both get down. The driver is going to wait till we are done so we can take us back to the airport.

Xavier wanted us to come with his helicopter but I told him not to. I have my reasons.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

Dropping out of college was not intended. I wanted to go to school but I had to drop out when I could not afford my fees.

Despite the years of working my ass off, I still don’t have any savings. But I intend to still go back to school which was why I was in search of another job in Chicago before I crossed paths with Xavier.

I don’t mind going part time but I intend to start working again so I can afford my fees and go back.

When we get close to the flat, I knock on the door and Xavier holds my hand, making me flash him a smile.

I can hear rustles from inside and a few seconds later, the door is thrown open by my Aunt whose eyes go wide the moment she sees me.

“Jasmine?” she demands with surprise before shifting her gaze to Xavier.

“Aunt”, I say and pull her into an embrace after letting go of Xavier’s hand.

“Where have you been, you silly girl?” she hits my head playfully when we disengage. It makes me smile and turn to Xavier who has a grim look on his face.

Unsure of how to introduce them to each other, I clear my throat nervously, taking note of the curiosity on her face.

“Come in”, she mutters, leaving the doorway for us to enter and winking at me.

Xavier goes in with her and I follow. The apartment is still the same. Just like how it has been for years.

Everything is almost falling apart so I look away, feeling embarrassed and hoping Xavier won’t mind.

In opposition to what I am thinking, Xavier looks pretty comfortable as she slumps to the nearest chair. I move to sit with him.

My Aunt disappears for a moment and comes rushing back with two drinks. She must have figured out that Xavier and I are together but that is not why we are here.

I want to satisfy my curiosity. It keeps disturbing me. The fact that I might be sisters with Andre and the fact that her parents are mine too is giving me sleepless nights.

“Aunt”, I call to her as she begins to chatter away about missing me. I barely came home and I am sure she never knew I was missing.

Glad about that, I take into account how I need to come check on her more regularly instead of sending her money for upkeep.

She seems to be lonely and looking frail.

Three years ago, she almost died as a result of an unknown ailment which cost us a lot of money. That was when I had to drop out of school.

She recovered and ever since, she had been unable to work. She relied solely on what I gave to her.

Now, I can’t help but wonder how she has been surviving on for the past four months. I always send her some money without her requesting for it.

“We are here for something important”, I mention, making her go to a seat immediately with curiosity written all over her.

After a moment of silence, she demands. “Are you getting married?”

My heart skips a beat.

How do I tell her I am already married?

I shake my head. We will get back to that later. For now, I need to know who I am.

“No. It’s about my mom”, I say in a low tone. Standing up, I go to where she is sitting and sit next to her, holding her two hands. I know my mother died when I was still young but we have pictures of her and Dad everywhere in this particular apartment. Now I want to know everything. The only thing I know is that my Aunt took me in when my mother died in a car accident.

“Is she my real mom?” I ask and a sharp gasp leaves her mouth as she moves backwards.

Watching carefully, I see how she looks down with tears glistening in her eyes. I think she knows. She knows about this too but she chooses to hide it from me.

“I know she isn’t and that is why I am here. Why did you lie to me?”

I don’t know if this is the right thing to say but I can’t help it. Right now, I feel nothing but pain. The pain of betrayal. For the deceit all my life.

“You lied to me, didn’t you?” I demand when she isn’t saying a word. “Talk to me, please. Why did you lie to me? Who am I? Where are my real parents? How did you two find me? Why did they take me away from my real parents?”

“Jasmine, you are mistaken…”, she trails off but I am not ready to give in.

“Answer me then. Is she my real mom? If she is, then who is my real father?”

If my mom is my real mom and Andre mother isn’t, then perhaps, my mom and Mr. Moore had a thing together which explains why Andre and I look alike

She shakes her head and stares at Xavier. As if knowing we need some privacy, he nods at me before going out.

As soon as he is out, she turns to me. “Who is he?”

I don’t reply to her. I ask instead. “Where is my biological father?”

“I don’t know”, she replies and I detect a tone of honesty. We are finally getting somewhere.

“What about mom?” I question, with my heart thumping wildly within my rib cage.

She falls silent and she avoids my gaze.

“Is she truly my mom?”

No reply.

“What are you hiding from me? Is she my mom?” At this point, I am already crying in frustration. I want to scream at her to answer me. I want to shout at her for deceiving me all along. For telling me I was an orphan when I wasn’t.

I can’t help the tears falling off my eyes at this point but she isn’t looking at me still and it angers me.

Instinctively, I rise to my feet and rush towards the exit with blinded tears. Just before I can throw the door open with anger coursing through my veins, her voice stops me.

“I’m sorry, Jasmine”, she apologizes, her voice breaking. When I turn to her, she is wiping her tears with the back of her hand. “I don’t know much but I know you…”

She pauses.

I take long strides towards her and kneel in front of her.

“What do you know?” I question as I try to control my anger and tears.

She shakes her head. “Nothing.”

“Nothing?” I shoot to my feet angrily. She is saying nothing yet I can see it all in her expression. I can see she is lying. She is trying to hold back the information that will change my life forever.

Did she vow to my mom never to tell me the truth? If she doesn’t tell me who I am then who will? Does Mr. Moore even know I am his daughter? What about his wife? She never even acknowledged me even after seeing how much I look like her beloved daughter. She sacrificed me for that bitch and I doubt if I can ever forgive any of them.

Now that I think of this, I don’t even know if I am ready to know if I am their daughter. I don’t like that woman and Andre too.

Without any more words, I rush out. I don’t care if she tells me anymore.

Ignorance, they say, is bliss.

I would rather stay in complete ignorance than satisfy my stupid curiosity and get to know that I am the daughter of a woman I despise.

“Jasmine!” Aunt’s voice reaches out to me as I step down from the front porch, sighting Xavier in the distance, making a call.

I whirl around to face her.

“I’m sorry”, she mutters hysterically, tears streaming down her eyes. “I’m sorry I had to hide this from you for years. It’s not my fault. I promised Judith. I’m sorry…I…she told me…she bought you… She took you…”

Confusion clouds my mind.

She bought me? Did she take me? What the hell is she talking about?

“What are you talking about?”

“I don’t know the full story”, she grabs my shoulders, shaking her head. “But I know she is not your biological mom, Jasmine.”

I knew it.

Nodding, I accept the truth letting it sink inside of me but before I can turn away from her to leave, a tear rolls down my eyes.

I turn around finally to see Xavier behind me with a shocked expression. He must have heard what she said.

My chest tightens and I run into his arms before breaking down into tears.