MOM

‎CLEOPATRA'S POV

‎

‎I rushed into the guestroom with my partially ripped wedding dress. Taking out my cellphone, I dialed my mom's phone number. My heart still racing with fear and uncertainty.

‎“What do you want?” Mom asked the moment she answered, her tone venomous.

‎

‎She was already in a bad mood and I didn't want to make it worse but if I didn't tell someone about my little incident with Lorenzo I might loose my mind.

‎“Mom there's a problem...” I stated almost breathless, but before I could finish, she interrupted.

‎

‎“What did you do Cleo? Don't tell me you fought with him on the first day. Are you a wrestler?” She asked, her tone venomous. Why am I not surprised, as always she expected the worst of me. Me who is allergic to trouble, though it seems trouble is attracted to me. I think we are in some kind of a unrequited love story.

‎“Cleo I am talking to you. What the hell did you do?” She asked, pulling me back to my senses.

‎

‎ “Nothing mom” I confessed sincerely, shaking the daze away. The last thing I wanted was for us to argue over anything especially since she decided to finally speak to me.

‎“It's... It's just..." I tried speaking but my mouth felt heavy, who could blame it though how was I supposed to comfortably use the “S” word before my mom.

‎“It's just what? Speak up Cleo I don't have all day" She yelled impatiently. Honestly mom is probably one of the most impatient people I know, it's not like she could die anytime soon, she is still in her mid 40s.

‎

‎Letting out a deep breathe I close my eyes, and decided to confess. “ Mom, Lorenzo wants to do the thing,”

‎“What thing?" She asked pretending to be oblivious to what I actually meant.

‎“You know the thing a man and woman do in private that results in kids,” I explained, unwilling to use the “S" word.

‎“Oh you mean sex” She blurted out and my mouth fell open. Wasn't she supposed to be the secretive one, who advised us not to use fowl language around people.

‎“What about it?"

‎

‎“Lorenzo wants us to do it tonight," I confessed in a whisper, and she burst out laughing.

‎“Why are you telling me this? Shouldn't you be having the time of your life? Be overjoyed, a rich man finally looked at you,” She said nonchalantly, and goosebumps rose to my skin surface.

‎“Mom, I think you are misunderstanding me. Your daughter... Caitlin... Her husband wants to sleep with me," I explained, laying empathies on each word, as a dull ache rose in my chest.

‎

‎“No! Your husband asked you to have sex with him," She stated, using the “S" word again. Today she is all shades of immoral.

‎“Need I remind you, your thumb print is the one on the marriage agreement. Meaning he is legally yours and you his. So kindly give him his rights, will you?”

‎My eyes widen with alarm. “Mom, are you asking me to sleep with Lorenzo?” I doubted.

‎

‎“Yes Cleopatra” She clarified nonchalantly, and I immediately felt a sharp pain in my chest.

‎“Mom I think you are mistaken. This is Cleopatra, not Caitlin. Lorenzo is Caitlin's husband, not mine," I declared, I bet she must be a little confused cause her favorite betrayed her.

‎“I'm painfully aware of that Cleopatra. Your lack of education is pretty much alarming," She announced and my mind plunged into panic.

‎

‎“Mom I'm confused. Wasn't the plan to bail him, on till we find Caitlin” I asked, this time a distasteful frown creeped to my face.

‎“Plans change Cleopatra, just forget about Caitlin. Who knows we might never see her again. Just focus on pleasing Lorenzo” She announced and that was when a light bulb lit in my brain.

‎

‎“Mom do you know where Caitlin is?” I asked, refusing to consider any possible that has to link mother's involvement in Caitlin's escape. No she couldn't possibly be involved, after all her life was the one in danger.

‎“That doesn't matter now,” She says thoughtlessly, and my heart sank.

‎

‎“Mom did you trick me?" I doubted, my chest hurting like my heart was about to be ripped out of my chest.

‎I thought of endless possibilities, could she have done this to save Caitlin from a loveless marriage? Or am I just overthinking things.

‎“No Cleopatra," She stated, her voice steady. Her words immediately took a weight off my chest.

‎“Are you sure mom?" I doubted feeling a bit skeptical.

‎“I said No Cleopatra. Stop annoying me," She yelled. I am immediately taken aback by her words, guess I let to many Korean movies get in my head.

‎

‎“Sorry mom. It's just... I watched this Korean movie where the Female lead was tricked into getting married in place of her sister, and I thought it might be happening to me," I said with a nervous laugh, as I scratched the back of my neck.

‎Mom let out a sigh. “Cleopatra give it a rest will you? Even if that was the case, you wouldn't be the one tricked, considering you are the bad twin,” She said nonchalantly, and I had to agree.

‎In those movies, the female lead is smart, she could cook, she is so adorable. I couldn't possibly pass for one, considering how incompetent I am at everything.

‎“You're probably right mom. I pretty much the useless one,” I said with a small laugh, those were the only few words she told me over the years and honestly now I am admitting it, even though it hurts.

‎

‎“I am glad you finally see the truth. Now this is the part where you go down on your knees, and thank me," She stated with certainty and my mind began racing once more. I hate how she makes me think so much.

‎“Thank you for what mother?" I doubted, with a raised brow.

‎“For giving you a husband of course. Need I remind you, you are an ex-convict. No man would have married you, I mean who wants to marry a murderer...” She voiced and I froze. I thought we had cleared the air on that matter but I was wrong.

‎

‎“Mom, I told you. I didn't kill anyone” I explained in tears, my stomach erupting in a world of pain. I have told them that for the past five years but not once did they bother to listen, guess they thought I was better off in prison.

‎“Oh right, it was an attempted murder” She said, her tone hinting at mockery, “What about the drugs in your system was that attempted drug consumption too?”

‎

‎Goosebumps surfaced all over my skin, it was true, everything she said was true but never before did I imagine that she would bring up my shameful past like this. We had agreed to keep it buried the day I gave Caitlin one of my kidneys.

‎“I said I was sorry about that, and I am willing to make amends” I informed, a wave of shame consuming me.

‎

‎“Good, so make amends. Cleopatra I am not asking you to do something you have never done before. We all know you like sex. I mean all the men in our community have had you. Some without protection, explaining all the unwanted pregnancies” She said her tone etched with disappointment and I was forced to cut in.

‎

‎“That's not true. I am a virgin mom,” I corrected with a heavy heart. I know I was terrible in my youth, I was used to partying, keeping late nights, get drunk. Well most of the times I just pretended to be drunk so I could avoid explaining where I had been all day.

‎But they can't blame me for everything, I was idle, and neglected. Mom and dad had made me drop out of school saying they only have money for one child, and obviously, they chose their favorite, the smart one, Caitlin. I got into the wrong gang thinking they would care but they never did.

‎

‎But if there was one thing that I was proud of, it was the fact that I never offered myself to any man, so I confused to how all those positive pregnancy tests with my name on them were found among my belongings.

‎

‎“Bottom line Cleopatra is, Lorenzo is handsome, everyone knows he is good in bed, he is rich so you don't have to worry about how incompetent you are as a person, and a wife. So enjoy it" She informed, this time her words were like hot sauce to my wounds. I opened my mouth ready to speak but my words never fell.

‎“Oh yes! try getting pregnant will you. A grandchild for Alpha Don Lorenzo will greatly increase my lifestyle” She added and without warning hung up the call.

‎

‎I burst into a loud cry as the beeping sound erupted in my eardrums. I fell to my knees, sending my phone flying to the bed.

‎When was I ever going to find someone who truly cares for me. I can't continue living like this. Lorenzo would find out I'm not Caitlin in no time.

‎I am not perfect like she is, I can't cook, sing, speak English elegantly, I'm not intelligent, I hate bright colors, I can't stand blood, even my now blonde hair irritates me.

‎Once he sees my tiny white wolf, instead of my sister's black beast. He would know I'm a fake.

‎

‎What am I going to do, he will definitely kill me once he finds out.

‎“or should I run to a far away country, and become a nun?” I asked myself but immediately decided against it.

‎No, I can't do that, he is going to kill my parents and I wouldn't just be a husbandless nun but an orphan as well. I don't want that, my parents might not love me, but I do them. And as such I am willing to sacrifice my happiness.

‎####################

‎