DESPERATE

Chapter 38

"I was married to your father 15 years ago." Lilianna began. They were all seated. "His name is Richard. His family loved me. Their family owns the company Lily's dad works for. They used to call me Anna. Then I gave birth to you... and your twin. I named her Valerie. It was the happiest day of our lives. A month later, someone kidnapped you Ashley and left Valerie. Your father and I were very sad and worried. We used your father's resources to look for you but we couldn't find you. Until two days later, I got a call from from..." It broke Lilianna to remember this.

"From who mom?" Ashley said. She was trying to hold back the tears.

"Olivia." She said and the girls faces turned white.

"She kidnapped you and said that she would only give you back if I left your father and LA at once. She was your father's first love and left him because she had thought he was poor. By the time she came back, I was engaged to your father. She demanded all this or else she will kill you in two days. I couldn't let her kill you so I agreed. She had sent pictures of where she kept you with the nanny who watched after you. I knew you were suffering and I just couldn't let her continue." She paused.

"What happened next?"

"I went to court to get the divorce papers and came home to see her trying to force herself on your dad. I used the opportunity to device a means to leave your dad because Olivia had threatened me not to tell anyone if not they would kill you and I obeyed. I left the house that day after signing the divorce papers and gave it to your dad, then I went to meet Olivia. I took you with me and left LA because she threatened me at gunpoint never to return. I did it to save your life. " Lilianna ended.

"But Valerie isn't living with Richard." Ashley spoke.

"What?" Julie said.

"What are you saying?" Her mom asked.

"Yeah." Riley agreed.

"She's living with Raymond. Who she thinks is her dad." Lily said.

"Oh no." Lilianna cried. "Raymond is your uncle. He has a wife, Leah."

"But how did you know she's not living with Richard?" Julie asked.

"She's the Valerie I was doing the project with." She looked at her mother.

This world was truly small.

"I figured it out. "Lily said.

"I'll go there tomorrow." Ashley announced.

"No you can't." Lilianna said immediately. "Olivia knows we're back. She's dangerous."

"We met her." Riley said quietly. Lilianna gasped.

"When?" Julie asked.

"Yesterday." Lily said nonchalantly.

"You still can't go." Lilianna insisted.

"Ok I won't go." Ashley gave in. It dawned on her that Sarah was her step-sister. "She has a daughter."

"What?" Her mom said clearly surprised. She exchanged glances with Julie.

"Yeah it's true." Riley said.

"Her name is Sarah. Same class with us but a year younger." Lily added.

"But she's not like her mother." Ashley quickly said.

Her mom just sighed. "No matter what don't go there."

Ashley stood at the door in the front of Valerie's house with the picture of when they were babies in her hand. The same picture she had collected from the box. She wondered if she had made the right choice. She took a deep breath and pressed the doorbell. Suzie opened the door and let her in.