Page 36 of Grumpy Bossy Billionaire Enemy

My breath hitched when it hit me that I was not only visiting my parents, but I was also meeting my only brother, the product of my father’s infidelity. The ride to my parent’s house seemed long. The cold air from the air conditioner felt hot instead. The rage washing over my body was gone with the wind, but I couldn't seem to get a hold on how I felt about everything. I was filled with uncertainty. I wondered what he looked like, what he did for a living, and most particularly, how he had grown up.

I also wondered if the business trips Father went on yearly were really for business. I wanted to know if he was tough on him the way he had been tough on us. I wanted to know if he loved his mother.

I broke the silence in the car. “Father was always distant to me as a child as if he had somewhere else he’d rather be.”

I was not sure Henry understood, but I continued anyway, “He looked trapped in our world, like a bird that was not allowed to spread its wings.”

“You’re probably thinking about it too much,” Henry said, his hands fixed on the wheel. “I’m sure it’s nothing.”

Henry didn’t think it was nothing. He only wanted to be as logical as he could.

“Thank you for doing this with me.” I squeezed Henry’s hand and said, “I’m grateful that you are in the car with me.”

“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”

Henry played my favorite music, a way to reduce the tension and to get my head clear before reaching my parent’s house. Henry made the last turn and entered my parent’s huge compound.

The car’s ignition was turned off, but I turned to Henry before I opened the door. “I want you to come in with me.”

I reminded Henry that the forever in our marriage started right now. He held my hand as we walked into the mansion. The whole family turned their heads when they sensed our presence. My two sisters were sitting together on the sofa. Their blond hair was adorned in the same way that made them look like twins. Mom sat alone on a cane chair. She looked like she had been crying, and her heavy makeup at this time of the evening confirmed my suspicion. Dad sat on opposite my sisters. He sat alone, his face devoid of any emotion whatsoever.

There was the new face. A brown-headed man who looked like a younger version of my father, Only that Father now had gray hair. Henry and I sat on the last empty sofa in the living room. Everyone except for my father looked toward the new member of our family. We probably had the same question running through our heads. However, Mother’s head was bowed.

She didn’t look at me for long, as if she couldn’t bring herself to look me in the eyes.

“I’m sorry you had to find out this way,” Father began.

“How did it happen?” I asked in a matter of fact manner.

“About the time we had you,” Father replied, “I had an affair with my secretary. It lasted for a long time. I didn’t mean to hurt you or your mother.”

Father explained that he’d relocated his pregnant secretary to Wallace a few weeks before she gave birth. He’d been there for the child, but now, he wanted us to accept him as family. His name was Nolan.

Nolan Johnson. My sisters were speechless. They were my typical sisters, who accepted everything thrown at them. But now? I tried to let out the rage in my head without sounding rude to my parents. I’d also love to consider Nohlan’s feelings in all of this. He was harmless, a product of the infidelity of two adults.

“You had a child with her…” I argued, “a child sitting in this room with us. A child you hid for twenty-four years?”

“This wasn’t an affair; she was your mistress,” I stammered.

“It’s more complicated than you think.” Father’s deep voice went even deeper. “There is a lot that you don’t know.”

“Oh, I think I know that you never loved Mother. I know that you loved your mistress, and you’d rather be with her than you’d be with us.”

My rage continued, “So what happened to your pretty mistress? Is she dead?”

“Yes,” Father replied. “She died from cancer a few days ago. Nolan came here to look for his family. He needs to be with family now.”

“He can stay here for as long as he wants,” Mother uttered her first word since I had arrived. I looked at her in disbelief. Why was she trying to be noble to the man who had betrayed her all her life?

“Mom, can I talk to you?” I stood up and headed to the kitchen. I closed the door behind her once she had entered.

“What are you doing? Why are you trying to defend the man who cheated on you for twenty-five years!”

“There is a lot you don’t understand, Amelia,” Mother replied. “A lot!”

I shrugged and muttered, “I want to understand. Make me understand.”

“Your father had met his secretary before he met me,” she said and paused. “They were lovers but your father married me because our parents said he had to.”

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