Chapter 2 The Revelation

• "It all started about twenty years ago, when I was your age" My mother began, almost gasping halfway through her memories. "I had just graduated high school, and your grandad was struggling with money, so I had to find a job right away. Obviously, working for Mr. Hunt didn't seem like the best idea, but it would help me pay the bills at home"
• Mom’s words hung in the air, heavy and charged. "Mr. Hunt was...complicated," she continued, a faint tremor in her voice. "He was a brilliant businessman, but his tactics were shady, to say the least. He had a lot of powerful friends, and they helped him get away with many financial crimes. Fortunately, that had nothing to do with me. I was just a servant at his house."
• "And you had an affair with him" The words almost spilled out of my mouth. "Mom, how could you?"
• She sighed, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. "It was wrong, I know. But I don't regret it, Lisa. Not for a second. You are the most beautiful gift he ever gave me." I couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy for her, for her hidden pain, for the guilt she carried. But there was also a deep sense of unease. I wasn’t sure how to feel about Mr. Hunt anymore, his image now tainted with this new knowledge.
• "I was young and didn't know a thing about love, but our love was real, or so I thought. The problem was, he had another girlfriend back then, someone he would end up marrying a couple of years later. This woman was a narcissist and a master manipulator, so he chose her over me. Their marriage didn't last, evidently, but it was enough to put an end to our secret relationship"
• My mind whirled, trying to grasp the complexity of it all. Mr. Hunt, the man who had always seemed in control and so distant, had been entangled in this web of deceit, love, and betrayal. And I was now privy to his secrets, secrets that felt like a burden on my shoulders.
• "So, why did you hide your pregnancy from him? Even if you were no longer together, maybe he could have helped you with some money. I mean, money ain't a thing for him anyway" I questioned, visibly struck.
• Mom shook her head in denial. "His ex-wife, Samantha, was jealous, possessive, and made my life a living hell. She threatened to kill me if I ever came back to him. I was terrified" She sobbed. "I decided to raise you on my own, and it was the best I could do. It kept you away from that murky world and from Samantha's cruelty"
• I sat there in silence, absorbing my mother's words, trying to reconcile the image of the strong, independent woman I knew with the young, vulnerable girl she had been. I felt a mix of emotions: sympathy for her, anger at Mr. Hunt, and a sense of sorrow as I realized the tranquility I had enjoyed due to her sacrifice.
• "I understand now, Mom," I said softly, reaching for her hand. "You were scared, and you wanted to protect yourself and me. I'm sorry you had to go through that alone."
• Her eyes, brimming with tears, met mine, and I saw the weight of her memories reflected in them. "I am too, Lisa. But I want you to keep this in mind forever: I don't regret having you. You were the light in my life during those dark times."
• As I listened to my mother, the pieces of the puzzle fell into place. I realized that Mr. Hunt's world had been far more intricate and flawed than I'd imagined. His power and influence had drawn people in, but it was also his downfall, leading to a web of lies.
• "So, what about Roselyn?" I suddenly asked, as her face danced in my mind.
• "Her parents were Mr. Hunt's close friends, who passed away in a tragic accident around those years. He was devastated by the news, so he decided to adopt their baby girl. Samantha didn't like that, of course, but she had no choice but to accept. After all, she was desperate to marry him"
• Her last explanation hit me like bolt lightning. Perhaps Roselyn Hunt's life wasn't picture-perfect after all.
• "Thanks for telling me all this, Mom. You were so brave" I hugged her tightly, grateful for her courage and honesty. Tears streamed down her cheeks, a mixture of sadness and relief. I could feel the weight of her past struggles lift off her shoulders as she opened up to me. My mother was my hero, and this moment only solidified that fact. Regrettably, I had no idea what I was supposed to do with this information.
• Over the next few weeks, I tried to push everything away. I refused to speak about it with anyone, not even my best friend, Lynn. I didn’t want to be associated with Mr. Hunt, his past, his sins. I wanted to forget the whole thing ever happened. But fate, it seemed, had other plans.
• The bad news came, whispered through the hallways of our school, a news that sent a ripple of shock through the entire student body: Mr. Hunt was sick, gravely ill, and he was fading fast. The rumors spread like wildfire, whispers turning to murmurs, and murmurs transforming into hushed pronouncements.
• “He’s changed,” a classmate whispered, his voice filled with pity and awe. “He's trying to help the community. He's doing what he can before it’s too late.”
• It was as if a switch had been flipped, as if a new chapter had been written in the story of Mr. Hunt. He was no longer the imposing figure, the ruthless businessman, but a man seeking redemption, a man grappling with the consequences of his past. Obviously, the news hit Roselyn particularly hard. Her classmates and teachers tried to console her.
• I watched the scene unfold, a strange mixture of emotions bubbling inside me. The sight of Roselyn, so vulnerable and heartbroken, sparked a flicker of empathy. Maybe, I thought, it was time I let go of my anger, my resentment. Mr. Hunt had hurt a lot of people, but he was a man, fallible and flawed. And Roselyn didn’t deserve to carry the burden of his mistakes alone.
• I decided to reach out to her in private, offering a hesitant hug. Her fragile embrace surprised me; there was a strange sense of connection, of shared sorrow. As I stepped away, I caught her grey gaze, a flicker of something in her eyes I couldn’t quite decipher. So, I approached her, my steps tentative.
• “Roselyn,” I said, my voice barely a whisper. “I'm so sorry..."
• “I know. I know... It's okay," she replied, trying to be tough; yet her eyes gave away a storm of fears. "My dad is currently at the hospital, but he will be home soon. He wants to retire from business and focus on charity work. He's probably looking back on his past and seeking a different life now"
• I nodded, understanding the weight of her words. We were bound by a web of secrets and shared pain, but her story was completely different than mine, and so was her experience of pain.
• "Well, that's a good decision. He needs to rest and take care of his health from now on. I volunteer at the local charity, by the way. Please, let me know if he ever needs any information or assistance"
• Roselyn displayed a sweet, coy smile, a sight of her I had never seen before. "Thank you. I'll let him know for sure. He's really trying to make amends. He wants to change all the things he broke. Nothing would make him happier" she tells me, her gaze intense.
• I think of my mother's words, of Mr. Hunt's complicated nature, and wonder if people can truly change or if we are all just products of our past. I finally mustered up the courage to speak then, as if I was meant to do it all along.
• "Roselyn... There’s something I need to tell you."
• She lifted her head, visibly confused. "What is it, Lisa?"
• I hesitated, my heart pounding in my chest. “The thing is... I need to speak to your father. Urgently "