"Trip you say?" Helen, my mother asked, while chopping the vegetables, putting her kitchen skills into work. Silently humming to an unfamiliar song, slowly moving her hips along.

One of the most admiring fact about her, was her delicious meal, one thing though is for sure, Helen allows no professional cook into her kitchen, or an order meal into her home. Either you eat her made meal, or nothing more.

Health freak? I call her at time. Certainly not to her face-mentally.

"Maybe Hawaii," I responded back, obviously not telling her my main reason.

"Hmm?"

I halt on pulling the pot lead for a second, to glance at her for a moment before pulling it up, immediately invited by the enticing aroma steaming through the pot.

My stomach immediately growl in hunger, I swear a drool ran down my chin, and the wasn't even ready yet, that's the effect my mother's secret recipe creates.

Sometimes I wish I was a more better like her. I'm not saying I'm bad at making meal, but at least I could make a decent one enough to be granted good.

"Melisa?"

Hearing the hesitancy on my mother's call, I shut the lid down softly, turning to glance at her. Apparently she'd stopped her chopping, leaning her back on the island, placing her weight on one leg, arms folded around her chest. She quirk her brow up, waiting for complete attention, which I immediately granted.

"You know, I called you here for a reason. I've noticed something rather odd about you for a while. Is there something you aren't telling me?" She asked, the concern could be sensed in her voice. "Is this about Valentina?"

A deep part of me panicked at the possibility she knows, but I knew better than to think so. Truly I wanted nothing more than to tell her about my children, but the guilt prevented me from doing so. Or more like I was too much of a chicken on voicing out my feelings.

But with time I'll handle it all, first I need to focus more on Sebastian, before my family. They certainly would be the hardest to cooperate with, and the welcoming invitation was certainly going down the drain. One of us was going to get hurt.

Justin nor Eric would welcome the idea of one of their friends sleeping with one of their sisters. As far as I'm concerned we are totally off limits.

But doesn't that make me more of an hypocrite, having an affair with one of my brothers friend, but yet Valentina did with one of my brothers, or rather both, and I'm taking it the wrong way. Am I?

I mean for f**k sake, she had sex with both of my brothers, I certainly didn't have sex with Caleb or James. So, that what makes us both different. There was a decency and self respect.

Sometimes I wonder if Eric had lost a reasonable part of his senses to want a woman such as her. But deep down I knew there might be a part of her that's attracted him to want her that much of wanting to spend the rest of his life with her, putting an entire stop to his whorish ways.

I sigh out, feeling the entire stress dropping on my shoulder, enough to push me down to the smooth surface of the ground.

I waved my hands in dismissal, "Valentina and I have nothing to make me think about her."

"Mel she's your friend."

"Was," I corrected, turning my back away from her. Purposely trying to dismiss the entire conversation, but as always Helen kept pressing on.

"Come on Mel, give the poor girl a little break and mend whatever relationship you had in the past. For God's sake, Eric had moved on, Justin also, even the main victim Victoria had forgiven both Justin and Valentina. Why can't you do so yourself?" She asked, the sadness and concern clearly written on her face.

I spread my wide in frustration, "That's because I'm not Victoria. I'm not too forgiven." I counter back in return. "Can we just drop this topic and focus on your cooking, please?" I pleaded in desperation. Thankful she complied, heaving a sigh then resume.

Deep down a part of me felt relief she hadn't got a hint of my secret. It's about time Sebastian drops whatever plans he'd with Justin, Caleb and Victoria over at LA and head back to California and make a scheduled trip to meet our kids.

Somehow, I fear he might actually be running from meeting his daughter, for the past two weeks he haven't made a decision yet. But as far as I'm concern, once I grab hold of him I'll drag him by the ear straight to New Jersey. Final!

"So tell me about this trip." My mum finally brought up a conversation, which thankfully distracted whatever disturbing thought I was about running into.

Smile I responded, while anticipating dragging Sebastian by the ear all the way to New Jersey. Fun!

**********

Sorry I didn't update as promised but here I'm love you guys for reading.

I'll have it edited tommorow soon.

Don't forget to vote and comment.

Lots of love ❤️❤️❤️❤️

xxinloves.