Finally Grounded (Sequel To The One Who Grounds Me)

Chapter Forty-Five

Tristan

"Martha murdered your mother."

Maxwell's word pierced me like a knife. "That's a lie.... right Martha?" I asked, my voice broke. I refuse to believe anything that comes out of his mouth.

Martha looked at me, sadly. Her eyes were brimming with unshed tears. Her expression alone answered my question. She tried reaching for me, but I sidestepped her.

I felt my legs, gave way and my tears blinded me. All the air left my lungs.

"See, she is this as bad, as I am." Maxwell, said smugly.

I pressed, my hand against the sliding door.

"Tristan I.... it was an accident." Martha cried.

"Accident huh? If it was an accident, you wouldn't have hired someone to clean off your finger prints and made it look like suicide." Maxwell drawled.

"No! No! That's a lie! You were the one who did that! I was going to call the police, when you walked through the front door and saw her lying there! You told me, not to mention this to anyone! You said you would deal with it! I wanted to come clean!" Martha sobbed.

Maxwell snorted a laugh. "Don't try to justify your actions woman! It's took late!"

"Tristan please listen to me...." Martha cried.

Removing the pack of cigarettes from my pocket, I removed one. My hands shook, as I tried to light it up. I was slowly digesting everything. My body felt numb.

I didn't realize I was shaking, until Tiana took the lighter and the cigarette from me. Her eyes, were filled with sympathy. Screwing my eyes shut, I leaned my head against the sliding door.

"Is.... is that why you took me in?"

"Eh?"

"You thought you could maybe make amends, for your wrongs by taking me in."

"No! I never once thought that. I took you in because I loved you as if you were my own."

I opened my eyes.

Martha was kneeling in front of me. "Your mother attacked me. She came to visit me, w... while I was making the coffee she, sneaked up on me and attacked me! I swear I would never lie about something like this."

"Is that so? Because you kept this from me, for twenty years. You made me think my mother killed herself because she was tired of me. For twenty years Martha!"

"I did this to protect you!"

"Protect me from what?"

"Tristan.... please hear me out."

"Get out."

"Tristan please...." She took my hand, into her own but I fanned her off. Tears poured down her cheeks. "..... please Tristan...."

"Get out!" I yelled.

She flinched.

"Baby, calm down...." Tiana said, kneeling at my side.

"I am calm."

Tiana frowned at me. "You're not calm."

"Just leave me alone." I rest my head against my kneecap.

Tiana pulled me into her arms and I leaned into her. My eyes drifted close. Even as I sat there in her warm embrace.... Maxwell's and Martha's word swirled around in my subconsciousness.

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