Chapter Twenty Two
Mr. Rogers stared at me with a bit of affection, it felt like he was trying to read my emotions " I also feel the same way when I think about her "
He whispered and I nodded " Please continue " I whispered. Every bit of me was yearning to know more, maybe I will find out who my father is

"Pauline came to look for me that day, she went to my parents house where she had worked before and they told her that I had left, She got my address and came looking for me. It was already in the middle of the night and I was surprised to see her with a child at that hour "
All this information was getting too much for my little heart, my emotions were getting out of control.
" Pauline wanted me to take you under my custody, she wanted me to keep you but I refused. I was planning to get married at that time, what was I to tell my parents and the woman I was to marry... "
"That you had just adopted me?  " I cut him off with an answer that came out more like a question, I didn't know if hearing this. I would have loved staying with him than the orphanage.
I loved mother Pauline and knowing that she's my mother's sister, I loved her more but who is he too me that he should keep me.
"You see that's the problem, I couldn't tell them that I had adopted you because with one look then would know the truth"

I wondered what truth he was talking about, and before I ask what he meant. He continued
" Look at your eyes Rose, they may be big and beautiful like Elena's but they are the same color as mine and your facial features match with mine, haven't you noticed yet " 
What he said made my heart thud hard against my chest, my whole body shook and every thing froze around me. My eyes locked with his and I realised maybe that's reason why when I first saw him, I felt a sense of familiarity.
I felt like the world was spinning around me, I didn't even notice footsteps of a third person coming my way.

My eyes were locked on only him, all this time my father was alive and he knew about me. What am I to think, all those time I got bullied and called an orphan he was alive and knew.
Tears rolled down my face and I brought my face in my palms as I sobbed quietly.
"Dad, Amelia " I had Kenneth's voice but I didn't care, I just cried quietly. I felt so suffocated with everything, I wiped my eyes and grabbed my bag stood up on my feet.
"Rose..." Mr. Roger's also stood up, his eyes also glistening with tears as he stared at me. I felt like he had more to say but I wasn't in the mood to hear more.
"Please..."
"No, Mr. Rogers.. Do you know want I went through and all these years even when I was handling your Son's case, where were you? And Mother kept all this from me now whats your main intention of coming to tell me now. When I first invited you,  I just wanted to prove to your selfish son that he can't force me to do what I don't want, I wanted to show him that I know the truth and now this.. "
I felt so lost of words to say, I just had a lot to say and I was failing so hard to get it out. I looked at the man standing in front of me and I turned to Kenneth, I just couldn't believe he is my brother
This was all getting too much for me, I turned on my heels and bolted out of the room, I just wanted to be faraway from all this.
Why did it have to be like this, all these years that I yearned to know my parents mother didn't tell me anything.
When I blamed them for everything, and those times when I felt rejected. Mr Rogers had many chances to meet me when I arrived in the city, when I was working on his son's case he knew about me now why now. All theses secrets and mother, She knew all along then why didn't she tell me.
Now, I needed to see her. I needed answers for all the questions that were roaming in my mind. I unzipped my bag and hurriedly started to search for my car keys, my vision blur and my blood was boiling.
The bag slipped out of my hands and landed on the parking floor, I squat down to pick it and my things but someone beat me to it.
I raised my teary eyes and they landed on Kenneth.
Of all people, he was the one I didn't want to face right now. I stood back to my feet and looked away, now. I just wasn't my self, and I was in no mood of handling Kenneth's selfishness.
He also stood up and held out my bag for me, I took from his grasp and turned to leave.
" Amelia, am so sorry  I.. " I heard him say and sharply turned to him. I hadn't forgotten that I had some scores to settle with him.
"You want huh.. Go on Kenneth and tell me " I had never replied someone this coldly but today I felt like I am so done with being trashed on and treated like I am nothing.
I felt so tired of people selfishly trying to hurt me for there own good, all I wanted to do now was to talk to mother Pauline.
I turned to walk away when I noticed that Kenneth won't be giving me an answer soon. As I took another step away, two arms wrapped around me from behind holding me still.
"Please just give me a chance to explain " Kenneth whispered, holding me close and placing his chin on my shoulders.
If only I noticed the two people watching me from a distance, I wouldn't have let this happen. Although I didn't see them, neither did I want to be held like this by Kenneth.
"Let me go " I whispered and struggled to get free.
"Amelia.."
"I said let me go " I screamed and finally his arms loosened around me. I didn't turn to look at him, I just ran towards my car.
My heart thumping loudly in my chest, I opened the driver side and got in, locking my self inside.
My throat thickened with sobs and my heart wrenched within, I felt like all energy had drifted out of me and my whole world was crumbling.
My mother was dead and my dad.. I felt so betrayed, he didn't even try to be there for me all these years and mother Pauline kept lying to me.
At least I deserved the truth, and last night when I was with her. She didn't think of telling me and if not then, when was she planning to tell me.
The truth that I always yearned for is right in front of me, now why am I crying. I always yearned for reasons why I had been left behind and now that I have them why didn't it feel this painful.
I felt like going back in there because I wanted to ask more about my mother, I wanted to know everything about her. Was she beautiful, what were her characters.
This day started so well and look how it had gone, I felt so drained to do anything else. If me and Gale were okay I would have cancelled the date tonight but I had to talk him and know what had happened.
I wanted to be with him, especially now when am this weak. I needed him more than anyone else now and he was no where.
My phone dinged with a notification and I wiped my tears grabbing my bag in my grip, I searched through it and took out my phone.
I stared at it and wiped my tears with the back of my hand, it was a message from Maggie. I wondered why Maggie would request to see me.
I wondered if it was that urgent, Maggie would never ask me to see her if it's not but what exactly was the matter.
If I could, I would see her now but I still had a lot to do at the office and lunch time was over.
No matter how drained I felt, I had a job to tend to but I knew one thing for sure, I just couldn't drive.
I cleaned my face and smoothed out my clothes then grabbed my stuff and got out of the car, locking it.
I headed toward the main road and hailed a cab back to work, when I arrived I handed the car keys to Jennifer and headed to my office.
Even though I had a lot to handle, I just couldn't focus. This day started out as a normal one but within a few minutes of it I knew who my father is and my mother.
I truly felt like apart from knowing her name I know nothing at all about her, my gaze drifted to the banquets of Roses in the room.
Thinking of Gale some how made a small smile grace my lips, he always made me feel like there's a new bright day tomorrow but to be sincere I wasn't buying that thought.
I tried to focus on my research and work but I was failing miserably, I couldn't even read one single word without my mind drifting back to Mr Rogers.
I passed my hands over my face and leaned back in my chair with a sigh, I had never been this stressed in life.
What am I to do next, I wanted to go and confront Mother Pauline but is it the right to do. Now that am Rogers, how is Gale going to react to this.
But telling Gale won't happen yet, I should be thinking about the main point in the room but even my thoughts were a mess.
I had been so lost in thought to realise that it was already evening and am late for my dinner with Gale, I packed my staff and files that I needed.
My shoulders hurt and I felt so weak, I got out of the office building and hailed a cab. I knew my car was already here thanks to Jennifer but I was too weak to drive.
I gave the cab driver the address to the restaurant and good enough he knew where it was located because I didn't.
The ride their was quick, I stared out of the cab window to the fancy restaurant.
The sign above displayed it's French name, and they were many cars in the parking. I stepped out and paid for my cab fare.
I turned to the fancy restaurant and with a sigh I walked towards the glass doors, I never liked crowded places but since Gale wanted to meet me here and I wanted to spend sometime with him so I didn't care.