Lottie stumbled through the door, her face etched with exhaustion. Days of relentless visits to the jail had taken a toll on her, physically and emotionally. She had spent countless hours pleading with officials, desperately trying to secure Jeff’s release to no avail.
As she entered the living room, the first thing she saw was Brooke, lounging on the couch, engrossed in a magazine. Her heart sank. Her daughter had been oblivious to the turmoil that had engulfed their family. Even Lyse had maintained a cold front, refusing to intervene or even visit Jeff and show a bit of sympathy.
"Brooke," Lottie said, her voice barely a whisper. "Have you heard from your father?"
Brooke looked up, her expression indifferent then she shrugged. "No, not really," she replied, her tone dismissive. "Why? Is sothing wrong?"
Lottie’s patience snapped. "Sothing is very wrong, Brooke! Your father has been in jail, and he has not been doing well. You could at least show so concern for him and visit him!"
"And let everyone see that I am his daughter?" Brooke shrieked angrily. "No way Lottie, I have already lost so much. I can’t afford to lose any more."
"I am not going to waste my ti on him and I would advise you to do the sa too," Brooke continued. "After all, you have your own life to live."
Brooke’s face hardened. "I am not responsible for his actions, Mom. He is the one who got himself into this ss, it has nothing to do with ."
Lottie was stunned. "You are blaming him? He is your father, Brooke! He needs your support, your love, our love."
"Love?" Brooke scoffed. "He does not deserve my love. He’s a selfish, irresponsible and corrupt man."
Lottie’s anger flared. "Oh yes, Brooke. You are so wrong. Your father has made so many mistakes, but he is still your father. And he only ever did what he did because he wanted to create the best life for you to live."
Lottie’s heart ached. She realized that she had spoiled Brooke, but was it too much for her to hope that she would be kind and compassionate in their current condition. Apparently, hoping for a little empathy was even too much.
"You are just unbelievable," Lottie said, her voice trembling. "Selfish, heartless. You are not my daughter. You are a stranger."
Brooke was taken aback. She had never heard Lottie speak to her that harshly before. She felt a pang of guilt, but she quickly dismissed it.
"Whatever," she said, rolling her eyes. "I do not have to take all this, I am going out."
"You will sit and listen to what I have to say." Lottie demanded loudly.
"You know what, I don’t need to listen to all of this." Brooke said as she stood up, irritated at Lottie yelling at her. "If you want to remain of this sinking shi, that is your choice. I don’t need him, I have my trustfund."
"Your trustfund? What trustfund?" Lottie laughed mockingly, her words forcing Brooke to co to a stop and turn to look at her with her brow creased.
"What do you an by that?" Brooke asked with narrowed eyes.
"You do not have a trustfund." Lottie answered scornfully.
Brooke’s eyes widened as what Lottie said dawned on her, then she spoke in a panic. "What have you done to the money that my mother left to , have you spent it all?"
"Your mother? Mara is not your mother," Lottie chuckled, her voice tinged with scorn. "I am your mother."
Brooke staggered, dazed at the words that just ca out of Lottie’s mouth. She could swear that she had just heard her say that she was her mother. It felt like a joke but the look on Lottie’s face confird it and so many things started to fall in place in her mind, so many things made sense.
"No, no no no no." She kept repeating, refusing to accept it. while she shook her head as if it would take back Lottie’s words.
"Yes." Lottie refuted. "Lyse is Mara’s child and she is the rightful owner of that trustfund, not you."
Brooke’s legs could no longer support her and she sat down heavily on the chair, her face ashen. "You are lying to ." She said softly, despite knowing that it was the truth.
Lottie stared down at her, disinterest in her eyes. "Your father and I did everything that we could to give you a life worth living, so you better start acting right or else everything will be taken from us."
"Why did you both lie to then? Why did you make believe that I was that woman’s child?" Brooke scread hysterically.
Lottie walked to her and shook her harshly, causing her hair to fly around.
"Now listen here, little girl. I do not have ti for hysterics." Lottie said, her tone sharp.
Brooke was startled at this side of Lottie and she kept quiet and listened to her.
"Your father and I were dirt poor and we did not want the sa for you. The only way to ensure your future was to make everyone believe that you are Mara’s child." She said harshly.
"If you want to be ungrateful and ruin everything that I have worked so hard for you to have then, go right ahead, leave right now." She continued, her eyes boring holes into Brooke’s.
When she released Brooke, she sat unsteadily on the couch and stared unseeingly while Lottie stared at her. She had not intended to let Brooke know the truth but sothing had snapped in her, and she had been unable to hold it in.
Just as she was about to sit down and comfort Brooke, her phone rang. It was a call from the jail. Her heart pounded as she picked up the phone, then her face went as white as sheet as she listened to the person on the other side of the phone.
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