Memory

Chapter 36

Jennifer P.O.V

Taking a seat in the living room, I feel a sudden shift in the atmosphere.

I've had a lot of bad feelings over the years, but none compare to this.

"Ok, to start it off, let's start with something that isn't so," she pauses, scrunching up her face, "So fucked up."

"Ok?" David and I said in sync.

"Well, my name is Emilia, and we have been best friends since middle school."

Blinking repeatedly, I tried to remember her again, but nothing rang a bell.

"Yeah, I'm sure I would remember if I had a best friend, especially one that long ago." I cross my arms.

"Well, after what Nicolas did to you, I doubt you remember anything past the age of twenty-one," she says with a sad tone.

"You keep saying what Nicolas did to me but aren't getting to that part. Just spit it out because I'm growing anxious," I spat out, feeling the anxiety build up.

I get the feeling that whatever it is she's about to tell me will change my outlook on Nicolas, and I'm ready to find out what that is.

"Are you sure? Cause I can just lay it all out there if that's what you want".

"I'm positive".

"Alright," she says, crossing her legs. "To put it bluntly, Nicolas isn't your real husband. You're not even legally married".

What!

"Woah woah, woah, what do you mean they're not legally married?" David asks, jolting from his seat.

"A year after he kidnapped Jennifer, he forged a marriage certificate to trick Jennifer into thinking they were married."

He did what?!

"Wait, how do you even know this? How do I know you're not lying?" I ask, growing a bit suspicious of her.

"I know this because I had a friend of mine run a scan with your actual signature versus a forged one, and it matches his writing, not yours," she answers by removing a strand of hair from her face. And what reason would I have to lie to you?"

She does have a point, she claims to be my best friend and who just randomly does that? And I find it strange that he and I are married but don't have anything to prove it happened.

No pictures, videos, or even a wedding dress tucked away in my closet.

"Ok, so he's not my legal husband, and he kidnapped me?".

"Yep, a few months after you gave birth," she answers with a sad smile.

Ok, so he faked our marriage and kidnapped me. Why am I surprised?

But wait what does she mean after I gave birth?

"After I gave birth? I don't have any kids".

"No, no, you do. You've been teaching her for some years now."

I have?

I've taught a lot of kids over the years, so that could be any of the kids.

"I'm going to need you to be more specific 'cause I'm entirely confused here."

"Same here," David adds in.

Leaning forward, she reveals who my daughter is, and it's someone I never even expected.

"Isabella brown is your daughter, and David is your Fiancé."

Shooting up from our seats, David and I look at each other, confused, then at Emilia.

"Wait a fucking minute, what do you mean Isabella is her daughter, especially me being her fiancé part!".

"You mean to tell me this entire time me and David were engaged and had a child together?!".

I always felt that me and David had known each other far longer this but I didn't expect it to be actually true.

I just thought that's how love made you feel.

Then, with little Isa, I always felt we had a different bond than the other kids, but I didn't think that meant it was because we were mother and daughter.

"Ok, I need you to explain the entire story to us because I just," I pause, running a hand through my hair, "I just can't believe what I'm hearing right now."

Nodding her head in agreement, she begins with the story.

"A month after we all graduated college, you gave birth to Isabella, and it's the happiest I've ever seen you in your life. You two were so happy to be parents that it was almost sickening from how gushy the two of you became," she chuckles, "Unfortunately, that happiness didn't last long once Nicolas heard the news about you two starting a family together. It sent him in a blind jealous rage, it was bad enough he couldn't have you, but once he heard that you gave birth to David's child, he completely lost it."

"Wait, so, did we all attend the same college?" I ask.

"Yep, I went for a designer major, you went for music, David went for art, and that bitch Nicolas went for business" She rolls her eyes after mentioning his name. "Anyways, though, after he found that out, he figured out a way to separate the two of you so he could have Jennifer all to himself."

"How exactly did he do that?" David asks.

"He lured David outside and beat him senseless so he could have enough time to break into your room and drug you, and it worked pretty well since he's hidden you from me for eight years. Not even my best security team could find you".

So not only did this man fake our marriage, he kidnap me, drugged me, but also had the nerve to take me away from my fiancé and child.

What type of maniac would do something like that?

"Define what you mean by drugged," I ask.

"I don't have an exact name yet, but my cousin and I are still looking into it. To explain precisely what it is, it's this special tea that puts you under deep hypnosis. While in that state of mind, you can do whatever you want with your brain, even block out memories.

"So he put me under hypnosis to make me forget you, David, and Isa, well what about David? Why can't he remember either?".

"He drugged both of you. Isabella was just an infant, so there was no reason to do anything to her, but the two of you he had to take care of, or else his plans would be ruined".

Falling back on the sofa, I feel a sickening feeling expand through my body.

Eight years of my life have been a complete lie.

All because Nicolas wanted to get his way, even if that meant ruining the lives of others.

"Jeni, are you ok?" Emilia asks.

"No," I answer, tearing up, "I've sat here and suffered for years because Nicolas couldn't handle a little rejection. I was taken away from my family and what sounds to be a good life all because of that bastard," I yell, standing up and walking away.

David follows behind me, quickly flipping me around by my shoulder.

Taking my hands in his, I see a troubled look in his eyes.

"Jennifer, let's talk about this moment. What do you mean by suffering? And don't say it's verbal abuse because It sounds like it's way more than that.

That's because it is. But I'm still not ready to tell him that yet.

"David, please," I lower my head. "I'm not ready to talk about it yet. I just wish to be alone right now to clear my head," I say, retracing my hands.

He's about to protest but doesn't because he values my feelings much more than me revealing a secret I'm not ready to tell yet.

"Okay, just let me know when you're ready for some company, and I'll be here." He kisses my forehead.

"I will," I weakly say, leaving to find a room to be alone in.

I can't believe what I just heard

Eight long torturous years of my life.....and it was all a lie.