chapter 2

Shirley's POV

“You're just a spare tire,” Amelia said. Her usually cool voice was now bitter as her eyes flashed with hatred. 

“What are you talking about?” I choked, refusing to believe it. 

She turned to my mother and smirked. “Mum, you want to do the honours?” 

“Sorry darling, I already told her but she’s just too slow to understand what I was talking about. 

I became confused all over again, “what are they talking about? What did she try telling me that I didn’t get?

My eyes widened and I coughed when I finally realized what they were talking about. “What are you saying? Oh my goodness, where's the camera, fine y'all got me, please round it up cos I'm losing my mind right now.” I said to them but no one moved, they didn't act like I was talking to them, then I figured out Felix was standing there looking at me with guilt, mom and Amelia looked cold. 

“It’s true?.” 

“It's English Dumbo. You are just the adopted one and I had to pretend to be just your best friend, mom had twins, shocked? Yeah I was too.” She said and laughed like a psycho.

“Vanessa, who's supposed to be my twin sister died few years after she was born and unfortunately I was also born weak and diagnosed of kidney failure so mom and dad had to look for a stand-in, and then they picked you from the orphanage, because I would need a transplant, who would’ve been the perfect donor, if not you? My parents clothed you, fed you and basically made you who you are so you owe them that much.” She summarized and I staggered backwards. I could only see her mouth move. I couldn't hear a word from her, my brain was blacked out completely. 

My ears began ringing badly and tears pricked the back of my eyes but I refused to give in. “So…let me guess, you all put on a good show so I'd willingly donate my kidneys to you when the time comes?” 

Amelia clapped her hands with a smirk. “Bingo! See? Now you're getting it.” 

I turned to look at Felix, my vision blurred by tears. “That means you were also in on the plan seeing as you married her yesterday.” 

He didn't reply and simply looked away. Mum stepped forward and held my shoulder. “You've done well in fulfilling your duty for this family.” She said with a large smile, I blinked several times as I looked her in the eyes. “By donating my kidney?” I asked and she nodded immediately without hesitating. 

“We thought she was never going to make it, never knew you were this strong, your real family must have nine Lives.” Mum trailed off and brushed off the tears welling down my eyes. “I really didn't want things to be like this but there was no other way. My daughter fell in love with the same man.”

I walked to the wall and held on to it as the tears finally started rolling down my cheeks. 

“I'm sorry you had to find out like this dear, I never meant to hurt you.” Mum continued, I was wondering why she suddenly switched tones, and now she's sounding like she cares about me, but I blocked her out, unable to listen to her anymore, I can't bear it anymore. 

I looked at the faces of the people who I had loved and thought loved me back in the same measure and shook my head. 

I couldn't figure out which betrayal hurt the most. Amelia had been my best friend or she had been pretending as was Felix, the man I loved and who I thought loved me back. 

My parents had actually never been mine. 

The day that should have been the happiest day of my life, had turned into a nightmare and it seemed I could never escape it. 

I chuckled and shook my head in disbelief. Was this really happening?

“Mum, I don't feel so good,” Amelia whimpered as she stumbled towards the bed. 

I watched as Sharon quickly rushed to her side, fawning and taking care of her, something I never enjoyed. 

As I watched them, I finally realized that the clues had been right there the whole time but I chose to believe what I wanted. 

I scoffed as I saw Felix pick her up. He carried her to the bed and wrapped his arms around her

I looked away, unable to watch. 

The hole in my chest only grew as I stood there. 

“Shirley dear, you need to leave.” Sharon said as she walked up to me. She had a pained look on her face almost as if she didn't want any of this. 

“You're so impossible, not even a congratulations?”Amelia said to me as I was about to walk out just as I was ordered, though nothing seemed clear, I still wanted to wake up from the nightmare. I blinked, wondering if I was imagining things. 

“You know Amelia just came out of surgery and she needs to rest. The doctor warned that we mustn't let her be stressed right now.” 

I nodded even though none of it made sense. 

She sighed then continued. “Since she and Felix are already married, why don't you just move on?”

She didn't need to tell me twice. I turned on my heels and opened the door. 

I spared them one more glance and walked out of the room, my heart completely shattered. 

***

It was raining heavily outside and by the time I got to the junction to hail a cab, I was dripping wet and shaking like a chicken. 

I sneezed a few times in quick succession and sniffed as the tears continued streaming down my face mixing with the raindrops that had fallen on my face. 

I don't know how long I stood there but by the time I realized I wasn't going to get a cab, I was freezing because my body was drenched. 

“You're going to catch a cold if you stand here any longer, come with me” 

I looked up to see a Range rover parked right in front of me with the front windows rolled down. 

“I don't even know you.” I accused as I crossed my hand over my chest. “Why should I trust you?” 

He held up his hand. “My boss saved you from your accident yesterday and brought you to the hospital.” 

At that piece of information, I frowned and dropped my hands. “Your boss?” The fact that he knew about my accident made him less suspicious but he was still a stranger. 

“Let's do this, I'll hand you my pocket knife and if you feel threatened use it.” he held out a pocket knife he had pulled out from his pocket. 

I stared at it and then looked at him. “Fine,” I didn't have anywhere else to go and I really couldn't stay in this hospital or around those people for another moment. 

I got into the car and held the pocket knife tightly against his neck all the way. As he promised, he didn't make any funny moves and soon we arrived at a luxurious mansion. 

I gasped at the view and my grip on the knife loosened. I snapped out of it and held it as he pulled into the driveway. 

“I need to get out,” he informed me as he held his two hands up. 

I pulled away and he got out of the car. I got out next and let out a whistle.

The house was beautiful. 

“I'll show you to your room. Once you have settled in, I'll ask the maids to fix you something to eat.” 

“Mummy,” 

I gasped as a pair of small arms wrapped around my legs like a vice. 

Mummy?