Chapter 5

"Dad," Rio muttered with a curt nod as he greeted his father.

"Son," Jackson replied in kind, just as briskly.

"Good to see you," Rio said.

"Great," Jackson removed his glasses and stuffed them in his pocket.

The exchange was clipped, no warmth, no effort. They both turned to face me again.

"Are you seeing someone?" Rio asked.

I rolled my eyes and looked away. "Do you need me to get your mother?" he offered.

"No."

"Is your partner here tonight? Should I find him for you?"

"No!" I snapped, brushing his hands off and standing up. "I'm fine."

"You're pregnant," Jackson said again, his eyes locking with mine for a brief, startling second.

Something heavy and unspoken passed between us.

"I am," I breathed out. "And this information… don't leave this room." My voice cracked as tears welled in my eyes. "Please?" I looked at both men.

Jackson gave me a gentle nod and stepped back.

"I promise," Rio said quietly, offering a small smile. He moved aside, giving me space to leave.

I touched my stomach gently as I hurriedly stepped out of the bathroom. I needed to put distance between me and both men—fast.

"Gia, sweetie, where have you been?" My mother showed up out of nowhere, and I let my hand fall from my belly.

"Oh, look! You've got the whole cavalry behind you," she teased, kissing Jackson and wrapping an arm around his waist.

Rio and I both looked away at the same time, only to meet each other's eyes awkwardly. But his expression was unreadable; there was something simmering underneath… anger or irritation?

"Hello, Rio," Celeste said brightly, her hand caressing Jackson's chest, her diamond ring flashing. "I don't believe we've had the time to catch up."

His jaw ticked. "I got your invite, Celeste. That's plenty of catching up."

The air went cold. We all stood in awkward silence watching the clipped exchange.

"You didn't have to out me like that," she laughed, fixing her already perfect hair. "What I did was for the best. Look at us now—one big happy family."

I glanced between them. My mother's smile didn't quite reach her eyes, and Rio's lips had formed a hard line.

Was there some bad blood here? Did it have something to do with what happened in the past?

"Alright, dessert is ready. We have guests waiting," Celeste announced.

"I need a drink. Excuse me," Rio said, only looking at me. "I'll see you later, Gigi." Then he walked off I saw his fist clenching as he hurried away.

"You're still on for tomorrow, baby?" My mother still clung to Jackson.

"Uh… I can't. I've got work."

Celeste rolled her eyes. "That's your excuse? I booked those side-by-side water massages in advance, and I don't want to miss them.

Jackson pulled her close with a smile. "We'll reschedule, next week sounds good, right? Maybe we'll do it at home. I just can't step away from work tomorrow."

"Jack…"

"So how did you two meet?" I asked, forcing a cheery voice and a bright smile, if only to stop myself from gagging and throwing up the second time.

"Do you want to tell her?" Celeste grinned at Jackson, who sighed, weary.

"I'd just had a vasectomy," he began, and my eyes widened. "Two months ago," his eyes met mine briefly before he looked away.

The words hit me like a slap. I was stunned. Was this after we met?

Why was it after and not before? Then I wouldn't be in this dilemma.

"Oh… wow… that's great," I stammered.

"And that's how I met your mother, at the hospital," he finished.

"Wonderful," I said, a little too brightly.

"He's not telling you everything," Celeste laughed and launched into the extended version. "You know how scared I am of needles. I went in for a little anti-aging procedure…" She gestured to her flawless face and chuckled. "And there he was, looking charming…"

I laughed politely as she continued embellishing the story Jackson had told in one sentence.

"Excuse me," I said eventually. "I'll see you both later."

I wandered the party with a glass of water in my hand, keeping my distance from Celeste and Jackson, blending with the guests instead. When I checked the time, it was too late to head home.

With a sigh, I resigned myself to a night in this house, the same house that held all my haunting and heartbreaking memories.

It was just for a night, I'd survive.

I got up in search of my mother, but froze when I spotted Jackson and Rio in the hallway, locked in a heated argument.

Jackson jabbed a finger into Rio's chest. "You're young, stupid, and fckng reckless."

"Don't try to be a father now," Rio fired back, pushing his hand away. "The time you had to be one, you wasted it back then. My life isn't yours to live. You're marrying for fun, and I'm not stopping you."

Before Jackson could reply, they both noticed me, and silence fell.

Without a word, I turned and walked away.

Upstairs, I found my mother's bedroom door slightly ajar. I was about to enter when I heard it…

"We've identified a body. They're running the prints."

The call was on the loudspeaker, and she was sipping her drink with a smug grin in front of the mirror.

"It's not him. You don't need to worry," she said calmly.

I knew better than to interfere; this was not my business to meddle. The last time I did, I uncovered secrets too heavy for me to take in.

I was about to walk away when I heard her say,

"They could keep searching for a million years, and they'll never find whatever it is they're looking for.

Then, quieter and colder, she says: "At least not until I want them to."

"For now, he's alive. And serving his purpose.

---

I was in a wedding gown.

My sadness with tears mixed with mascara streamed down my cheeks, and the wind ripped my veil off my head.

I was supposed to get married to the love of my life today.

My gown was bloodied, and I didn't know how.

The wedding venue looked like chaos, overturned and broken chairs, the priest gone without a trace, my bouquet scattered on the floor, and there they were… standing on the edge of a cliff.

Rio.

My Rio was in a suit, his arms around the waist of my mother; they both stared at me with bright smiles on their faces.

Celeste kissed Rio, her eyes glowing with triumph, never leaving mine, while he looked like he was enjoying it,

"Mum?" My voice cracked with a sob, "How could you do this to me?"

Her lips curled, her hand drifted on Rio's chest, and a sinister look came on her face. "He has to go."

With a simple and quick shove, she pushed him.

"No!"

Rio fell off the cliff, the horrified look on his face as he plummeted burned into my mind as I screamed, "Rio!!!"

I jolted awake with a scream as I sat up in bed, sweating profusely, and my heart racing.

It was a dream, it's not real.

The room was still and cold like a tomb.

I should have known it was a bad idea to spend the night here; I hated this cursed house.

My thundering heart managed to calm down, and I checked the time. The clock read 01:07 in the morning.

I sighed and got out of bed, walking downstairs to get a glass of milk. I need to calm my nerves; sleep would not come to me with this raging mind.

Halfway to the kitchen, hushed voices stopped me.

I almost groaned. It must be my mum and Jackson playing lovebirds again; they need to get a fckng grip.

About to go back to my room, a familiar rumble stopped me cold. "Who the f*ck do you think you are?!".

Why would anyone be awake by this time, much less be in a heated argument?

"Exactly who do you think I am?". My mum's voice.

"I'll tell her the truth; it's time she gets a shot at a normal life."

Rio?

And so I walked closer to the kitchen, silently edging to the open door and plastering myself against the wall.

"I'm sure you'll agree it's for the best," he added..

What truth were they hiding?

"Oh, you wouldn't dare, you don't know what I'm capable of," She warned, her voice light but laced with venom.

I inched closer and peeked into the kitchen; my gasp nearly gave my presence away.

Rio looked furious, but Celeste was smiling, leaning casually against the kitchen island, her manicured finger trailing the handle of a knife.

"Now see, this is where you and I don't see eye to eye, Celeste. You have no control over me anymore, and neither do you have any control over her. I need you to stay in your lane."

Celeste laughed, "For my daughter's sake, I'll keep quiet for now."

"Does she know who you truly are?" Rio smiled, "I wonder what she would say when she finds out…"

"Don't you dare play with me, boy." My mum cut him off harshly while he laughed.

Silence.

"It's been ten long years, Celeste, and I'm no longer a stupid 17-year-old kid. What you made me do back then was horrible."

She sighed, "I know. And I hate myself for that."

"Good, now we both have something in common," Rio said and turned to leave.

"As long as you keep your mouth shut, I believe we can be one big lovely family, Rio. Don't ruin this for us," she said, and Rio scoffed.

"Keep telling yourself that, even when you know we won't. Stop threatening me, Celeste. This is also my secret to keep, I can decide to tell everything, and you will do nothing."

She tilted her head. "Everything? You do that, and single-handedly, I will bring you down."

"I have your secret, too, Celeste. I know what you did to him. And I'm just one breath away from telling the cops"

Him? Who?

Celeste chuckled, "You're young, you have a whole life ahead of you, sweetheart, don't make it short." She pulled out a knife and walked closer to him.

My breath caught in my throat. Should I call Jackson?

"I just want you to know, I'll do whatever it takes to protect my daughter"

"What are you trying to say?" Rio raised a cocky brow.

Celeste shrugged lazily. "I'm saying God helps those who help themselves."

But he only smirked, "You won't take her away from me this time. You should know I'm capable of pretty much anything myself."

He pulled out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, not caring about Celeste and her weapon. "I'm keeping her this time around," he lit the stick up.

"Good. It's either you help me, keep the peace around here, and be a happy little stepson, or get out of the way. But you can't stop me," she smiled in his face, and Rio puffed smoke in hers.

She didn't budge, a wicked look plastered on her face. "Put that out for me, will you? Son?"

His laugh was bitter, and he shook his head, "But it's your favorite flavor, isn't it? Betrayal and deceit"

He took one last puff and abandoned the cigarette on the marble countertop, the smoke wafting slowly and the ember burning. "Enjoy

It would leave a mark, and I'm very sure my mother would hate that.

Rio brushed past her towards the back door, and before he left, he threw her one last look over his shoulder. "I hope we get along well. Stepmother," the word rolled off his tongue with hate.

When he left, Celeste stayed silent, her face morphing into something evil. She flung the knife aside and picked up the still-burning cigarette.

She stared at it for a long second before putting it to her lips and taking a long drag. "Now don't we all love a rebellious child," she whispered to herself, exhaling smoke with a wicked grin.

I tightened my robe around me, my hand clutching my chest.

She knew.

My mother had a hand in that terrible breakup from ten years ago.

My heart ached. How could she do this to me? The trauma? The mockery? It scarred me for life. I hadn't fallen in love ever since.

But with what I just heard, I knew it was more than just a breakup.

What dangerous secret could they possibly be hiding from me?

I backed away quietly and returned to my room upstairs, my glass of milk forgotten.

I tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep, staring at the ceiling with a heavy heart and racing mind.

Eventually, exhaustion won, and soon I drifted off into a light sleep.

No sooner did I close my eyes than a heavy knock pounded on my door.

Bang. Bang. Bang.

I woke up with a start, disoriented and looking around for a weapon.

"Gianna?" A voice called.

Relief washed over me. I was still in my mother's house, safe.

My phone started to buzz, but I abandoned it, rushing to open the door.

Jackson stood there, shirtless, urgency and worry etched on his face.

"We have to leave," he said, "Now."