Tiara POV:
"
"I wished it was Sas then" I slowly yet in an audible way answered Rachel.
"Then who was it?" Max asked curiously
I smiled a little and continued with the narration
"It was Raymond."
I took a pause and looked at all three of them. They gasped and then nodded giving me the permission to continue. I continued .
"I looked at Raymond and my tears vowed not to stop. I didn't know why but I felt Iike crying out in his arms. I wanted to vent out my emotions and I did what I felt. I hugged him. He didn't speak anything and just allowed me to stay like that. After a while he wrapped me in his arms and rubbed my back so that I could ease out. Later, I realised what I was doing and I pushed myself out of his arms and moved back.
Sudden anger overpowered me seeing him, reason: he left me when I spoke about Nicholas and myself and from then on he didn't for once tried to talk to me or contact me. He too in a way broke my heart. Being already in a worsened situation and remembering how Raymond left me, I decided to be rude to him.
"Why are you here Raymond? I suppose you ..... '' before I could say anything he spoke
''Are you fine Ms. Tiara?''
''How does it matter to you Raymond?'' I spoke wiping my tears and anger in my tone
''That's not answer to my question'' he seemed perplexed with the way I was talking, but I least cared
"I don't need to answer any question of yours Raymond''
''Ms. Tiara, I need answers not taunts''
''Please go and leave me alone. You are the last person I want to see right now'' I yelled not caring about the surroundings or people who were present.
''Do you think I would agree to your words.'' He spoke low but with anger underlying
"I don't want to talk to you, did you get it?''
"I am not here to leave you alone, can you get this?'' he countered
''Fine then I am leaving, you stay back here'' I started walking away, and he held my wrist.
''leave me Raymond''
''Ms. Tiara Richardson, you are supposed to follow me, we have to go somewhere and it's urgent'' this time his voice was very calm
''I am not going to come with you whatever it is for'' i replied being adamant.
''I have no time to argue with you. You are either coming with me or I am forcibly taking you with me'' he gave his warning
''You can't dare to do that''
''don't challenge me Ms. Tiara, you know you will lose''
''I have nothing to lose anymore'' pain returned back to me.
''Fine would you not come if I say your parents are in Paris and are in critical condition''
His words made me enraged. How can he say so just to make me go along with him. My patience ended and I screamed at him
''What? What did you say?'' holding his collar
''Now if you are done with this public drama, please walk with me'' he spoke making me leave his collar
''listen you cannot simply joke like this just to win''
''I am not Joking Ms. Tiara Richardson and I wouldn't ever crack such lame jokes. Now get in fast''
He held my hand and almost dragged me into his car closing the door after placing my seatbelt ''Paula Move'' he roared and the car raced through the streets.
"
"Did you really hold Director Daniels collar. Woah! You are feisty, do you know that?'' Max chuckled.
"I can be anything when I am angry, I guess'' I replied
"I can understand that! But tell me did he really joke about your parents being critical and in Paris?'' He asked
Listening to his words, I remembered my parents. I fidgeted with my fingers and Rachel was quick enough to hold my hands and spoke "Sweetie, if you don't want to say anything else. You can stop."
"No, I am fine. I would tell you everything. I don't want to keep any secrets from you all except somethings that I am not supposed to tell anyone. I would just want you all to not to question me on that"
"We promise not to ask anything that you would not want to answer" the three said in union. I smiled as a gesture of thanking them and continued my narration
"As I sat in the car, I looked at Raymond and I could understand he wasn't into any sort of jokes. His face was emotionless, serious and straight. Then I remembered what he spoke
''My parents. They are in critical condition and I had no idea. They are in Paris. How did all this happen? When did they come to Paris? Why did they come to Paris? Did they get to know I am getting married on Saturday? Did they come to stop my marriage or did they come to take me away? '' I mumbled
''Ms. Tiara I am really sorry, but your parents, they came to SGC building and while they were about to enter the building a truck came and hit them.'' Paula spoke as if taking cue from Raymond.
"So the hustle bustle and the talks about the accident that i heard when i was in office today was about my parents. It was about my parents. How unfortunate i am. I was so near yet i couldn't get to them on time. That's why i felt low and anxious and still i left to meet that blo*dy Cheater Nicholas. I am not a good daughter, i am the worst " tears rolled my eyes uncontrollably as i realised.
''Are they fine? Nothing happened to them right? There is no danger right?'' when I asked these questions both of them went silent.
''Raymond I asked something, they both are doing fine right?'' tears brimming my eyes, my body was shivering as I was scared
''Ms. Tiara we are here, step in and you will know everything. Your dad wants to talk to you.'' His words were again crisp.
I was shivering and I gathered any leftover courage I had when I stepped into the room where my dad was sleeping with equipment's attached.
I broke down. I couldn't control anymore. This was to be the worst day of my life. First getting cheated and now seeing my dad like this. I looked around for my mother but she was nowhere to be seen. I walked out of the room and was frantically searching every other room to see where my mother was.
That's when Raymond held my hand.
''Raymond, please leave my hand, I want to meet my mom. My dad is not in a position to talk, atleast let me search my mom and speak to her." I pleaded him
''Tiara, listen'' he said as if he was trying to calm me
''no, I just want to meet my mom, please leave my hand, please'' I cried
I was trying hard to get out of his hold, but he held my hand tight to bring me into control.
"Tiara listen, listen to my words'' he spoke staring directly at my eyes
''no, I don't want to, I want to see my mom. Did you get that'' I screamed as everyone stared at us.
He gave one sharp look and everyone else proceeded with their jobs.
He held my shoulders, closing his eyes for a moment, taking deep breath spoke ''Tiara your mom is no more, she died on spot following the accident''
''No, you are lying, no she can't die without speaking to me. You are lying, you are damn lying'' I yelled, I was out of control and ran hysterically. Giving up I collapsed on the ground and cried.
Paula came to my side and held me
''Ms. Tiara, I am sorry about your loss, but please control. Your father is in critical stage and he wanted to talk to you. He knows your mother is no more, yet he didn't break. He is keeping himself alive and is just waiting for you.''
I went blank and understood the seriousness and depth of Paula's words. I got up wiping my tears and rushed towards the room where my father was.
Paula informed me that my father has spoken to Raymond and was sedated as his pulse was falling weak. He was not supposed to stress himself. I on the other hand waited for my father to wake up. After few hours, he woke up.
He saw both Raymond and me in the room. He tried to take off his oxygen mask, when I asked him not to he smiled and called me near him through hand gestures. Rubbing my back, he gestured that he was feeling better. I nodded and then he took off his oxygen mask and spoke
"Raymond, can I talk to my daughter alone?''
Raymond nodded and left the room.
He spoke to me for quite some time. I had many things running in my mind with whatever he spoke. I stared at dad and he was writhing in pain.
''Dad'' I screamed.
''Don't worry, I am fine. Now please call Raymond, I have something else to say to him and then I will speak to both of you''
I nodded not wanting to leave him but I didn't want to deny either. Opening the door I informed Raymond that my dad wants to speak to him alone. He went inside and the doors closed. After sometime, I went in as Raymond asked me to get in and Dad looked at both of us and smiled.
After which he spoke what were his final words to me.
"Tiara! Your mom and I are not your real parents, we have brought you away from your real parents, but we love you more than your real ones. You are and will always be our pride, we are sorry for keeping you caged, I am sorry for keeping you in dark for so many years, but trust me that was the best we could do to protect you. Please don't hate us for this.
Raymond! Keep your promise as I know you are man of words.
I would be looking from wherever I am and I would want you both to be together.....
"
He just kept looking towards us as the sound of the machine went off. In Just one single day, my world turned upside down
"
I couldn't continue anymore. I remembered everything that they did for me, even when they knew I was not her own child. They never differentiated between me and Sas.
"Sweetie, I am sorry for your parent's loss" Rachel rubbed my back.
"I am fine. I am really fine" I mumbled
''Even if you aren't we will make sure you will be fine." Max said and a smile formed on my lips.
"What about your sister Sasha? Did she know about all this while she was in Paris? Did your father get a chance to meet and talk to her?'' Rachel asked after I calmed down.
I looked at Rachel and then at Max and Dave and slowly said
"Sas was also killed. Sas is no more. She is also no more. That day I lost everyone whom I knew as my family." They remained shocked.
"Obsession is dreadful and asks nothing but vengeance"