If depression was a person, it would have been Kate. The past three days she had sunk deeply into the grips of depression. She never allowed the twins to reach out to her, which did nothing but worried them.
Kate had locked herself inside the room, only allowing the housekeeper the opportunity to do her job which was bringing food over to her. In the end, Kate wouldn’t eat.
How would she find the appetite to eat when her family had severed ties with her?
She had tried calling Tiffany but was unable to reach her. What’s happening in her life? One minute she swims in joy and the next would be riddled with sorrow.
Instead of sharing the news of Aiden being the man she had so long searched for happily, Kate had broke into tears.
If only time will be reversed, then she might rethink working in Brazzers. But working there marked a watershed in her life. She got to know about the twins , she got to foot her family’s bills and most of all, she got to find out who her baby’s daddy was.
The last part was what had held Kate together these past few days, though. All the while she had been in doors, Kate had little idea of what was going on in the twins life, nor the news that had spurted the internet.
Indeed, all their lives was about to take a huge turn. As Kate was moping, the twins was busy pitching Brazzers for sale after Alex acceded to Aiden’s decision.
The both of them desired something new in life, however, they were still not in talking stage . Alex had countlessly tried to apologize but Aiden kept avoiding his brother.
The bruises in his heart was still fresh. Still raw. In the middle of that, the twins had individually wanted to sort things out with Kate’s family. But it was Alex that concerned himself most about that as Aiden was always drunk to allow himself some moments of thoughts.
After getting a call from an interested buyer of Brazzers last night, Alex made a decision that once the deal got sealed and issues regarding Kate’s family solved, he’d leave.
He'd go to an Island somewhere in Oslo, Spain or Morocco and start a new, quiet life. He felt that giving Kate and Aiden some space after all he'd done will help the both of them heal.
At that firm decision, Alex embarked on a journey to New Orleans after he and Aiden met with the intended buyer at Brazzers this morning.
Undoubtedly, the news about Brazzers change of ownership had sputtered amongst the pornstars considering the constant ringing of his phone. People are calling to confirm if really the sex gods are dropping their role in Brazzers.
Brazzers was sold at the rate of two hundred and ninety nine billion and it was carefully divided amongst the twins. That’s an amount that could serve them forever. They might choose not to work for years and would still feed well.
Alex huffed a sigh as the alert dinged on his phone. No matter what though, they will forever be grateful they created Brazzers because it hauled them away from poverty. A deep reflection on what their lives was after they migrated from Scotland to U.S in search of their father made both Aiden and Alex realize they really gone far in life.
Even though their bond as brothers had been severed, Alex would never forget Aiden in life. And neither would Aiden forget his brother. At one time they were, bonded in blood, united by love. Their relationship as siblings was one many people out there didn’t have.
Sadly, what caused all these was but mere jealousy, poor self-esteem. The two very feelings Alex had come to despise in life.
Getting off the plane, Alex was graced with New Orleans air. Too different from that of Sin city. New Orleans, the city were allowed darkness to spell out his actions. The very city he destroyed the person he once loved.
Striding away from the airport, Alex looked at Kate’s report which he had collected from Brazzers and swallowed.
It’s time to make things right, he thought as he boarded a taxi heading to Kate’s place.
In record time they reached there. Alex alighted from the cab and took in the neighborhood. It’s serene but without further words one would know that those that reside here are mainly those in lower class.
The façade of Kate’s house was somehow wearing off, the paint was already peeling off and the rail of the porch had broken on one side.
Sucking in a gentle breath, Alex tapped on the door. Shrieks of laughter assailed his ears from the other side and he knew instantly it was Gabby.
How ironical it was. Some weeks ago, he'd acted as Gabby’s father while Aiden acted as his uncle but today, Aiden is Gabby’s real father whereas he is the uncle. Life’s just filled with twists and turns, no doubt.
While in thought, the door fluttered open and there, stood Tiffany. She gasped as she took him in.
“Hi…Tiffany.” Alex muttered.
“What are you doing here?” She asked breathlessly. Glancing back, she saw Gabby approaching. Then the boy shrieked,
“Daddy!”
His tiny feet hammered against the floor as he crossed it to flush himself into Alex’s arms. Pains, sadness, and joy filled Alex’s heart.
“Hey boy!” He ruffled Gabby’s hair and marred his face with tender kisses, Tiffany’s heart warmed.
Suddenly, she blurted. “How’s my sister?” Tears was obviously hanging in her eyes.
“You…severed ties with her.” Alex uttered in bitterness but Tiffany shook her head.
“No. I didn’t. Dad fell sick. And he only requested we shut our phones for a while until he's better.”
Silence, too long descended upon them.
“How did know about that, Tiffany?” Alex mindlessly let out his thought.
“Kate sent it to me.” She said, thoughtful. “But the caption literally didn’t seem it was Kate that wrote it. I think someone sent it using her cellphone. Sadly, dad was with my phone which made him access it.”
Okay, that revelation made Alex’s frown deepen. That’s strange. “Can I see the date of the message…?”
He wasn’t about to finish as Tiffany blurted the date. Then it hit home straight. That was the night they were at the restaurant. And Alex clearly remembered who was knifing Kate with a murderous look.
Lisa, he thought with a balled fist. It must have been her. She seized their moment of chaos to ruin Kate’s life….
“Ti…ffany…” A voice croaked from inside and Tiffany jerked.
The instant she rushed inside, Alex followed. Before them was their father who seemed to have a high fever.
“Omigod, daddy?” Tiffany called out as she began dabbing the damp washcloth over their father’s skin.
“Drop that. Let’s take him to the hospital quick!” Alex rattled as he dropped Gabby and hauled their father into his arms, carrying him outside.
Tiffany held Gabby and rushed out hot on Alex’s tail. They boarded a cab and hurried over to the hospital.
Panic gripped Tiffany. She feared their father’s condition had worsened. No. No.
She had bore this alone before she can’t continue like this. She needed her sister. She needed the comfort Kate’s presence offers.
“Please, call her. I want Kate. I want my sister.” Tiffany muttered in tears.
Hell, seeing her crying also made Gabby to cry. He clung to Tiffany’s dress, crying even though he doesn’t know her reasons for crying. He literally thought his grandpa had passed away.
Heeding Tiffany’s plea, Alex called Kate. Surprisingly, Aiden picked up. Alex gushed through his teeth when he found out it was Aiden.
“Please, get Kate to New Orleans. We're in a hospital , her father’s sick.”
Alex heard Aiden hurl some expletives before hanging up.
*
*
*
Kate had told Aiden she was heading to Angela’s place because Angela told her she had some good news.
“Tada!” Angela gushed, waving her ring finger in the air when she had opened the door for Kate.
Joe proposed to her last night but all shreds of happiness on Angela’s face froze when she saw Kate’s swollen eyes and red face.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” She had asked as she pulled Kate into her home.
In between tears, Kate uttered. “Congrats, girl. I’m…I’m happy for you…”
“What happened, Kate?” Angela had asked interrupting Kate.
She’d broke into a new bout of tears as she ground out. “My dad disowned me. He figured I had been lying about my career in Sin city.”
Angela had been shocked, she had cussed and pulled Kate in her embrace. Could it have gotten any worse? Kate deserved a good life but problems keep flooding her path.
Angela knows Kate always put her family first in whatever she did but now, her father had disowned her.
“God, I’m sorry about that, Kate.” She petted Kate’s hair and back. “Have you tried calling?”
“I can’t reach them. I’m hurt. So hurt.”
They allowed some moments of silence to pass between them until the humming of Angela’s phone disrupted their moment of tranquility.
Angela gasped as she stared at the phone. “What the hell?”
“What happened?” Kate muttered in silent tears.
“Brazzers has been sold, girl.” Angela let out.
Shock gripped Kate. Was it because of their issues that the twins decided to sell their company? Kate thought.
“This is strange.” Angela began but the heavy knock on the door had her shooting to her feet. “Will be right back, Kate.” She said and walked across the room to the door.
She fluttered it open, surprised to see Aiden looming her door frame.
“Is Kate in?” He asked, voice shaky. His stubbled jaw quivered.
“Yes…” Angela said as Aiden walked in and she shut the door.
Aiden reached Kate in fast strides and the moment Kate saw his tensed body. She knew something was wrong.
“What…happened?” She asked, getting to her feet.
Then Aiden announced, voice barely above a whisper. “Your dad’s at the hospital.”
At that Kate’s eyes widened, more waters drifted from it.
“Please, take me to him.” Frantically, she pled.