"Mom? Mom, where did she go?"
Tasha searched around the living room, frowning as she picked up a folder from the table.
"What's G-One Enterprise's document doing in this house? Tracy, did you apply for any job?"
"Maybe Mom did," Tracy replied. "But wait—give me that folder. It says, 'Letter to Miss Alex: we need your help, I heard you're the real owner of G-One Enterprise.'"
She blinked twice, staring at the page. "Wait… what?"
Tracy looked at Tasha, equally confused.
"I don't understand. So the person sponsoring our education all this while… was Mom?" Tasha said, her tone rising.
"But why did she lie? I don't get it. Everything's confusing me…"
---
Tasha's POV
I knew something was wrong.
While growing up, Mom was nowhere to be seen—or should I say, she kind of abandoned us. We were already ten before we really knew our mother. She was never around; whenever we needed her, she always had one excuse or another. Only Aunt Brain and Grandma were constants in our lives.
Anyway… back to reality.
---
"Hey, girls!" Alex called out as she stepped into the house. There was no response.
She walked in and found both daughters staring angrily at the table.
"What's wrong? Tracy, Tasha—why are you both looking like that?" she asked.
---
Alex's POV
Please don't tell me it's what I'm thinking… Goodness, who left that document there?
For about twenty minutes, neither of the girls answered. Alex hesitated, then picked up the folder from the table and flipped it open.
"Mom," Tasha finally said, her voice sharp, "who is the real owner of G-One Enterprise? And what's been going on? I mean… Mom, please. I need the truth right now."
"Finally," a voice came from the staircase. "Are you going to tell them, or should I?"
"Grandma, you too?" Tasha turned toward her. "I don't understand why you'd both hide something this big from us."
"Mom!" Tracy shouted.
Miss Alex clutched the papers and ran upstairs.
Grandma sighed. "Aigoo… Tracy, Tasha, come sit. Let me tell you a short story."
The twins exchanged glances before sitting beside her.
Tasha frowned. "How will your story help us? And why isn't Mom saying anything?"
Grandma smiled softly. "It will help, my dear. But first, don't hate or blame your mother for the decision she made. On her behalf—and mine—we're sorry for keeping the truth from you."
"I have a question for you both," she continued. "Have you ever wondered why this young woman is your mother, and not me?"
"I'm running out of patience, Grandma," Tasha said sharply. "If you have something to say, say it."
"I have thought about it," Tracy added quietly, "but never deeply."
Grandma folded her arms and sighed. "Then listen. I want to tell you the story of how you both were brought into this world."
---
Grandma's Story
"On February 15th, 2007, I was in the kitchen when my phone rang. I left what I was doing and picked up the call.
Speaker: 'Please, am I speaking with Mrs. Alexander?'
Mrs. Alexander: 'Yes, you are. Who's this?'
Speaker: 'Your daughter has been rushed to our hospital. She needs you.'
Mrs. Alexander: 'My daughter? You must be mistaken—my daughter is in Country A. There's no way she's here in Country X. Please, check the name and call the right guardian.'
I hung up that night and went to bed. The next morning, I received a message from an unknown number:
'Help me tell Alex to get rid of that bastard in her womb, and tell her never to contact me again.'
I was shocked. I called your mother's number—six times—but there was no answer. So I called her best friend, Ella.
Mrs. Alexander: 'Ella, where is Alex?'
Ella: 'Don't you know? I thought she told you. She said she was going to Country X to introduce her boyfriend to you.'
Mrs. Alexander: 'That's strange. I haven't seen her. Send me his number if you have it.'
Ella: 'Okay, Mama. Let me find it.'
Later that evening, Ella sent me the number—and it turned out to be the same one that had sent that cruel message.
I was about to call the number when I saw your mother in front of my house… looking completely tattered."