A Twist Of Fate

c h a p t e r ▪︎ 1 5 (continued)

Being shocked got to be an understatement for what my expression was on knowing that. The woman standing tall in front of me is nobody else but my father's second wife, the one for whom he left us. How is the freaking way she ended up here? I thought I would never meet him and I was really fine with that. But now... facing her was so weird and angered me in some way.

"What?" That was the only thing I managed to utter while my friends remained silent.

"Willow, if she wasn't there, I would've been wounded way badly on the head. She saved me," mom said from behind, trying to calm me down.

"But how? I mean, how did... Mrs. Turner saw you there?" I said to mom, still perplexed.

It is so hard to call her by what my mom was formerly addressed as.

"Liam studies in the same school. Your mom didn't know that as of yet," said Cheryll, answering my question. "Today I came to pick up Liam and fortunately, saw Tasha outside. I sent Liam home with the driver and drove Tasha here."

What? All this time mom was unaware that Liam was in the same school? I shouldn't even be surprised anymore. Various unexpected twists have been thrown into my small, peaceful sea, exploding like a giant bubble bath bomb.

And I thought my life might just have a chance of getting stable.

Unable to react to that information, I only slightly bobbed my head. Mom looked concerned for might be my next remark.

"But mom is alright. So... thank you," I said calmly, meaning to end the conversation.

"Willow," Cheryll called, smiling at me. "Would you mind having a word with me?"

"You said there's nothing serious?" Tori said from behind.

"There isn't. I just want to talk to Willow. Of course, if she doesn't mind."

Why does she want to talk to me now?

I looked back at mom, who nodded her head at me, telling me that I should.

"Alright," I agreed nonchalantly.

Cheryll smiled, "Good. Would you please mind coming outside? It's better to bring the conversation there."

I could sense my friends giving her suspicious glances from behind. What does she possibly wanna talk about with me?

I walked out of the room with Cheryll, as she closed mom's bedroom door behind her. I went ahead and stopped by our sofa. Cheryll stood in front of me with the same calm smile of hers.

"So, what do you wanna talk about?" I asked her gently.

"Willow, I know it is not easy for you to see me here out of the blue. Although I could never feel the way you do, I understand that situations like these are not comfortable. But just know that you saved Liam too, and I would like to personally thank you for it."

"No, it's not like that. If it wasn't for you, mom wouldn't be here safe. And no need to thank me for Liam. It's alright," I assured her, speaking in a monotonous tone.

"This is not the only thing I want to talk to you about." Cheryll sighed, "Look, Willow... I know how things have been going on lately; especially for you. Jeffery being the benefactor of the company where you work, finding out about Liam, saving him, and now... encountering me. Trust me, it's much difficult for me to be standing here in your home."

I am in such a dilemma.

I couldn't contemplate whether to believe in her words or not. Is she really like this person who saved my mother? Shouldn't she be hating on her and me? I'm probably overthinking, but I don't think there's my fault in this. It becomes hard to believe that your possibly step-mother saved your own mother. I know I shouldn't judge a book by its cover, be judgemental or stereotypical... but I cannot just trust with a blink of an eye. I have just met my stepmother, someone that I thought I never would and never have, and that sounds so damn weird.