Chapter 5: Everyone Out except her.

When she got back home, everyone was already asleep. This house had never been this peaceful.

“Better than looking at their disgusting faces” Sally muttered, climbing the stairs, stumbling along her way.

She sneaked up to her room, closed the door behind her, and pulled the letter from her pocket.

“What was in this letter?” She kept wondering, but she was also afraid to open it.

What if this was another secret?

She’d enough heartbreak already. She didn't want to add anything else to the list.

She only wanted to hold on to the good memories of her mother. So, she pushed the letter back into her pocket and tried to sleep.

But she knew she was only lying to herself. No matter how she tried to sleep, her mind kept returning to the letter.

“To hell with it… I'll find out what my mother wanted to tell me,” She said, tearing open the envelope.

Sweetie, I guess I'm no longer with you. I’m so sorry I’ve left you alone in this world. But,I want you to know that I had no idea what happened to you. All these years, I have loved you like my own.

Of course, she’d apologized. So many times, Sally had lost count of the days she just kept telling her how sorry she was that she grew without her real family.

And that if she knew, she would have returned her sooner

I was an innocent mother when I gave birth to you. I never knew someone had switched you at birth. My husband divorced me shortly after I came home from the hospital, and I never knew where he went.

When you moved to the Weston family house, I did some digging and found out that he was the one who exchanged you two. I wish I could tell you why he did it but I don’t know.

“What?” Her hands tightened around the letter.

There couldn't be a more heartless man in this world. To think that while she was growing up, her mother had been hiding the truth about her father.

Every time she asked about him, her mother would tell her that he was travelling and that she didn't know when he would come back.

It turned out that her mother had also been dealing with a heartbreak.

How could she be this selfish?

“Mom, as soon as I'm strong enough, I'll avenge you.”

I'm sure you've met Rita. If I had been given a chance to live longer, I promise I would have loved both of you with all my heart.

“I believe you, mommy”

My ex-husband’s name was Frederick Beltran.I’m sure he’s got all the answers that I couldn’t give you. Live a good life, sweetie. Make me proud by becoming the best fashion designer in town. And don’t be sad for me. I was blessed to have you by my side.

Love

Mom

She closed the letter and lay down on her bed. Where could she start looking for that man?

He was travelling, or so she'd been told. As much as she knew about her family, she still needed answers. Why had he done it? And why had he abandoned her mother?

Those questions clouded her mind, but with no money, no identification, and still nursing a broken heart, there was no way she was going to find that man.

Sleep soon took over, and when she woke up, it was a new dawn.

And she was supposed to begin her work at the Weston Corporation.

She walked down the stairs, and the whole family turned their heads to look at her.

All sorts of food had been spread across the dining table. Just looking at it made her salivate.

Especially when she couldn’t remember the last time she sat down and really had a good meal.

Mathew wiped his lips and then glanced in her direction.

“Where did you run off to yesterday after causing us trouble?” His voice was quiet and cold.

“I only told the truth,” Sally said defiantly.

“Do you think that with your attitude, we'll allow you to work at the company?” her mother asked, anger written all over her face.

“You people gave me the signed contract. If you try anything, I'll sue you. Don't forget that you don't want any scandals in the media.”

“You're bluffing,” Billy sneered.”

Before, she would have hesitated.

But now, she didn't care about them. She only cared about what she could get from them….her future. She wasn’t obligated to bend over backwards and love them.

And her grandmother.

Once she figured out which hospital her grandmother was in, she'd pay her a visit.

She’d been feeling guilty all these years. If she hadn’t come to the family. May be, Rita wouldn’t have attacked her and she would still be eating with the family.

Rita cleared her throat.

“Dad, Mom, bro… We don't need to fight as a family. I accept it. I should have remembered that it was her birthday. Otherwise, she wouldn't be pulling this kind of stunt on us.”

Billy lowered his eyes, as if remembering something.

“In fact, I bought you a cake. It might be late, but I figured out that you wanted something thoughtful instead of the money we gave you.”

“I’ll clean up your mess in the media “Mathew added “Accept this cake and promise that this kind of thing will never happened again.”

Sally said nothing, before stepping closer to the table.

“Let me make something clear. I have disowned this family and I don't need a birthday cake from you,” she said calmly. “I'm simply your employee. Living under the same roof with you.”

The whole room became silent. Sally didn’t hesitate. she made her way out and disappeared.

As Rita and Billy drove off in their sleek sports car, Sally boarded a bus to work.

When she arrived at the office, everyone in the design department was assembled in the conference room.

Immediately, she stepped inside, she recognized the man.

Andrew Thompson, the CEO of one of the biggest luxury fashion companies in town.

That man's eyes rested firmly on her, watching her as she limped to the seat at the table and then shifted his eyes to her face, sending goosebumps on her skin.

He was probably wondering if she was a beggar.

She was just waiting for him to send her out,

But he never did.

No one …not even this man will intimidate her from achieving her dreams.

“Mr. Thompson, I made this design, keeping in mind what your grandmother would have loved,” Rita said, her eyes shifting towards him.

She'd designed her dress every single year. So, she was sure this year's design would be accepted.

However, Andrew took a long time just analysing the design. Then he raised his eyes.

“There's something wrong with this design.” His voice reverberated in the room as he raised an eyebrow. “It's exactly the same design you've delivered every year. I’ll like to see something unique.”

The room went still. No one dared to speak.

Then Andrew pointed a finger at the back, and for a moment, Sally held her breathe.

 “You... can you tell me what we can improve on this design?”

Everyone’s gaze turned towards Sally, Rita's eyes filled with contempt, others smiling mockingly.

But she wouldn’t let fear show on her face.

Effortlessly, she lifted her head and looked at the man.

“I think the design is decent, but the slit on the side is too high for an elderly woman. If I were improving on this dress, I'd adjust the hem a bit and add a dark shade of embroidery on one side of the chest as a unique decoration.”

“She's new. She doesn't know what she's talking about,” Rita said, clenching her fists.

Andrew raised his hands to silence her.

“If she's new, then you should learn something from her,” he said, addressing everyone in the room. “I think I've found the right designer for this project.”

He leaned back in his chair and rested his hand against his chest.

“Everyone out except her...”