Chapter 3 A Dangerous Fate

• Roselyn stared at me, her brow furrowed. “Talk to my father?” she repeated, her voice barely audible.
• A nervous tremor ran through me. "Yes," I said, my voice unwavering. "I need to talk to him."
• Roselyn’s expression remained unreadable, her eyes a pool of conflicting emotions. I waited, my breath catching in my throat, for her response.
• "Alright... If you say so. I'll let him know, don't worry" She finally answered, walking away before I could explain myself any further.
• The weight of the secret sat heavy in my stomach for the rest of the day. I knew I couldn't keep it any longer. Mr. Hunt was old, frail, and could pass away at any moment. The truth needed to be told, not just for him, but for myself. I needed the guilt to be lifted. I needed to know that I had done the right thing.
• "Mom," I began as soon as I got home, my voice trembling slightly. "I need to talk to you about something really important."
• Mom looked up from her knitting, frowning slightly. "Is it about Mr. Hunt?"
• "Ugh, you know me so well"... I said, taking a deep breath. "I know you advised me to leave him alone, but I can't do that anymore. I need to tell him the truth."
• My mom's eyes widened, a flicker of concern crossing her face. "Are you sure this is a good idea, Lisa? It could put you in a very difficult situation."
• "I know," I assured, my voice firming slightly. "But I can't live with this secret forever. He deserves to know the truth. And maybe, just maybe, I can help him redeem himself."
• Mom's lips thinned into a line of contemplation. "What do you mean redeem himself?"
• "He's sick," I said, my tone catching. "He's dying. He needs to know the truth before he's gone. And I need to do something good with the money he owes us. I don't want it. I want to use it to save the charity."
• "The charity?" she echoed, her voice filled with surprise.
• "The one I volunteer at," I said, a sudden surge of hope coursing through me. "They're about to close down because of lack of funding. I think Mr. Hunt would want me to do that."
• Mom looked at me for a long moment, her eyes looked full of shock; yet, there was a glimpse of understanding. "Lisa," she muttered, her voice soft. "I'm proud of you. You're a good person, and I know you'll do the right thing. If this is what you want, I'll support you... Matter of fact, it would be nice to speak to him after all these years"
• Her last statement came as a surprise. "Really? You want to meet him too? Even after all the pain he caused you?"
• "It's been a long time, Lisa. Too long. I know I've always told you to leave the past behind, but perhaps it's time to face it head-on. Besides, it seems he doesn't have much time left, and I... I need to do this for me." Mom set her knitting aside and took a steadying breath. "I need to forgive, for my own peace of mind."
• Her words resonated with me, and I felt a surge of admiration for her strength and willingness to let go. "Okay, Mom. We'll do it together. We'll go see Mr. Hunt, and we'll tell him everything. It's time for him to hear the truth, and it's time for us to move forward."
• The next day, we found ourselves standing at the grand entrance of Mr. Hunt's mansion. As we waited for the door to open, my heart raced with anticipation. This visit would change everything, and I hoped that, like me, my mother would find the closure she needed. The staff stared at us with a certain disdain. They probably assumed we were there to beg for money, like many people did before. Mr. Hunt, however, was clearly touched by our arrival.
• As soon as we stepped into his study, a wave of emotions washed over him. The room, with its dark wooden panels and leather-bound books, was exactly as Mom described, and Mr. Hunt stood alone by the window, his once-sturdy frame now frail and bent with age. A warm smile spread across his face when he saw us, and he stepped forward to greet my mother.
• "Clarissa... I can't believe it. It's really you... What are you doing here?" He asked in awe. My mother displayed a polite, timid smirk.
• "Hello, Tyler. Thank you for having me and my... daughter, Lisa"
• The atmosphere shifted as they shared a moment of silent connection. Mr. Hunt's stare, full of unspeakable memories, met mine, and I felt the weight of the secret I carried. With a steady breath, I prepared myself for the conversation that would change everything.
• "Please, sit down and make yourselves comfortable" Mr. Hunt said, his voice thick with sentiment. "It's been too long, Clarissa. I'm so glad you're here."
• We did as we were told, and my mother began explaining the actual reason of our visit. Her voice was shaking, but she still managed to hold her ground. The tension in the room was palpable; however, Mr. Hunt's reaction was not what I had anticipated. Instead of anger or denial, he looked at my mother with a mixture of emotions—surprise, joy, and a hint of sadness.
• "Clarissa, you should have told me before..." he muttered, "I never thought I'd see you again. I can't begin to tell you how sorry I am. For everything. I was a fool, and I made mistakes. I understand if you can't forgive me, but please know that I've regretted my actions every day since, and I now want to do what's best for our daughter. I want her to be in my life"
• My heart skipped a beat. Our daughter... It just sounded so strange coming from a man like him.
• My mother took a steadying breath, her eyes shining with genuine tears. Mr. Hunt's cheeks filled with tears as well. The truth hung heavy in the air between them, and I felt a surge of emotion as I realized the impact of this moment. This was not just about me or my secret anymore; it was about healing old wounds and finding peace for all of us. As Mr. Hunt and my mother continued to talk, I felt a sense of hope and resolution. This was not an easy journey, but it was necessary.
• "Thank you for listening to us, Mr. Hunt. I can tell this is the beginning of something very special" I finally stated, reaching for his cold hand. However, out of the blue, the study's door swung open, revealing a familiar, menacing figure. Roselyn was now storming into the room, her eyes wild with anger. She must have been spying on our conversation from the very start.
• "What the hell is going on here? What is the meaning of this, father?" she yells.
• I can see the shock and confusion on my mother's face, and I quickly realize that this situation is about to escalate.
• "Shit, Lisa, you almost had me for a minute... I thought you were trying to be nice, but I see now that you're just like the rest. I understand that you and your mother are broke and desperate but... Seriously? Making up this kind of lie? Trying to steal an ill man's money for your own gain? You should be ashamed of yourselves!"
• I felt my own temper rise at her accusation; we hadn't asked for a cent of his money. What was she talking about? Mr. Hunt attempted to intervene, his frail voice shaking as he tried to explain. But Roselyn would hear none of it. Her expression hardened, and she turned on her heel, storming out of the room and leaving us in stunned silence.
• The weight of the moment settled on my shoulders as I realized the gravity of the situation. I exchanged a glance with my mother, and the same, scary thought instantly dawned on us: Samantha had once promised to make her life a living nightmare, and now Roselyn was about to do the same with me.