Chapter 52.

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CHAPTER 52: the confusing tale of the Bowers family tree

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"What do you mean he's gone?" Kelly's frantic voice was heard over the phone. She sounded terrified and angry because we all found out Darren had disappeared as well as Jaxon, Owen and their uncle, "I told him. I fucking told him—do you know where he is?"

"Last time Darren texted me was an hour ago. They said they're at Warrington mansion because that's where Brielle is," I told her as I heard a groan in annoyance. Of course, this was hard for all of us, but especially for the people who weren't here and that was Nicole and Kelly. They couldn't do anything nor did they know much about everything going on, "don't worry, Kels. We'll get them back."

The sound of shoes made me turn around, the phone still by my ear. Brielle's mother walked through the door, having showered and was in a fresh set of clothes she must've collected from her own house. She seemed out of it, not believing everything that was going on, but she knew it was real. There wasn't any running away from it. Her eyes wandered up to me and she gave me a small smile before helping herself to some coffee. I knew how difficult this situation was to her. She loved her daughter more than herself and this was one reason why she was fucking terrified at the moment.

"Please, Michael," she spoke, her voice quiet as I glanced at Mrs Thomson before sighing, "don't let any of them get hurt. I grew up with them all so—"

"I promise, Kelly. I won't let any of them get hurt." we ended the call in unison and I turned around to see Brielle's mother make herself from food. I walked over to her and decided it would be a good idea to distract her from her troubles and talk about interior designing. I know Layla to love interior design, often creating new aesthetics. Apparently, before Brielle was born, she used to work as an interior designer, "good morning, Mrs—I mean—"

I paused at the realisation. I probably shouldn't call her Mrs Thomson seeing as she wasn't even with the guy anymore. She simply smiled at me and walked over to the table, sitting down and patting the space in front of her, asking me to join her at the table.

"It's fine, Michael. You know you can just call me Layla," she spoke softly as she took a bite out of the spoonful of cereal, "I see I'm not the only person worried about the others."

"No, Kelly's worried about all of them. Grew up with the all of them, that's why." Layla nodded as she took another bite, chewing her food before swallowing, the ghost of a smile on her face.

"Losing friends especially when you've grown up with them is tough. I was the same in school and a lot of my friends were into different things, the majority of them smarter than others. Right before high school started, my group separated. Nancy and Louise had a fight and didn't make up; Louise moved back to France with her family whilst Nancy moved to England for school. My parents had high hopes for me so they sent me off to attend SVA and that was the last I saw of my group. I don't know what happened to the others because I moved before I knew what could happen to them."

I can see how Brielle's mother was a lot like her. They shared similar experiences of people leaving and pursuing bigger and better things. A lot of the students at SVA could relate. Some of our families were rich like high society rich so they could afford sending us to some fancy school. Some students used to go to public school, but were the ones who had true potential to be great people one day. They were smart and if their parents had the money, they could move them if they wanted to.

Back before the new school was built, a lot of transfer students from troubled backgrounds got back into education. The majority of those students were from gangs and were moved to the strictest schools in the US. Luckily for Owen and his gang, they were well behaved enough and were sent to SVA because it was the nearest school to them. The mayor made sure they were on their best behaviour whilst they went to the school.

"Brielle's lucky she's got friends like you. I was worried when she started becoming more popular that she'd turn into one of those fake girls—like Miranda, is it? She was a bitch," Layla told me as she gave me a pointed look. I chuckled lightly and the door that led into the main room opened. Kiara held a dog leash in her hand and she placed it on the hook hanging on the wall, sitting down next to Layla as she joined our conversation.

"Good morning, Mrs O'Mars," I told her as she smiled in response. She giggled lightly before swatting Layla on the arm, "how are you doing?"

"Oh, what a gentleman," Kiara spoke, "it certainly is a rare sight in this house for someone to say good morning to me. I'm doing very well, thank you for asking, Michael—hey, you know what? We need more men like you in the world. Polite, well mannered men because trust me, the majority who live in this house have personalities of shit. Anyway, what are we talking about?"

"Oh, nothing really. I was just telling Michael that Brielle's got great friends who actually support her. You know how those popular people can be. Power hungry. It's like watching high school version of someone taking the crown or something. I remember when she first met Owen and Jaxon. They were around five or six? Then I met Kelly's father after I bumped into him as I left the school. He certainly was in a rush; he even asked me if they were late."

"Ah, Kyle is a great guy. A bit big headed, but he's got that fierceness in him that Kelly got. Poor guy, he's gone through a lot of shit and didn't deserve his wife leaving him the way she did. I think it was damn wrong, okay? She left with no explanation whatsoever. Just up and was gone," Kiara spoke, tutting and shaking her head. That was the reason Kelly never took the nickname Kari because her mother's nickname was also Cari and she didn't want to be associated with a woman like her.

We settled into a comfortable conversation, talking about the past and the years I wasn't there for as well as the years I arrived with Cassidy. Apparently, Brielle thought we were stuck up at first and hated us and to be honest, I can't disagree with her. I was too uptight and I always thought she was too bubbly. If you didn't hate your best friend when you first met them then are you really best friends?

All of us had stories of a scarring past, me not as much as the others, but we've all been through shit. That's what made us good friends because we could relate to one another. We never mentioned our problems or our pasts, but we all just knew and we were all there for each other.

"What about you, Mrs O'Mars? What was life like when you were at school?" I asked as me and Layla turned to her. She gave us a small smile and leaned back against her chair. Layla quickly got up to put her bowl in the sink before returning to her seat and looking at Kiara in anticipation.

"Well, get comfy because this story will take a while," she started as we settled in our seats in excitement, "there's only one word to describe my childhood. Shit. Utter shit, it was. When you grow up like how I grew up, there's no such thing as a happy childhood. I was the youngest out of five other older brothers so you might understand how much hell I was put through. Damien was my only full brother, the others were my half brothers. The eldest brother is Tristan, followed by Jake, then Benjamin who shared middle position with Damien, after it's Nicholas and then me."

"But if you and Damien were full siblings, how come there are other brothers between you two? Did your dad have an affair?" I asked, confused by this family tree of her's. At least now, it's not as confusing.

"Knowing my father, he probably had a ton of affairs. My mother was his current wife when they died, but he married three times before that. I'm saying this now, marriage does not stop a cheater. I could talk about the family tree all day and it wouldn't make a difference. It'll still confuse people. If you give me some paper and a pen, I'll draw it out for you," she spoke and I stood up, getting some paper on the side as well as a black felt tip pen. She thanked me and thought about it for a second before drawing out the diagram.

"So there's my father, Chris, proper hunk he was. Best boxer in the gang and got just about every woman. His first wife was a woman called Lucia Vanders, mother of Tris and Ben. Hailey Hudson was his second wife and boy did she not last long. Had Jake and then mysteriously disappeared before her body was discovered by the lake nearby. Poor Jake, he was just a baby. Then it was Ruby Watson. No one really talks about her because she was shy and her son, Nico was weak and one of youngest."

"Please tell me you understand what's going on," Layla muttered to me as Kiara drew on the next stems. I shook my head in response as she we looked back at the paper.

"Dad divorced his first wife Lucia and married Hailey after Tristan was born, but after Hailey died, dad had what you kids call a fling and with Lucia which resulted in Ben. Oh, silly, I almost forgot..." her voice raised a higher pitch as she carried on explaining her family, "dad married my mother and ended up with my brother Damien. Ended it, but technically, he was still married to her when he got with Ruby. Ruby had Nicholas and then you know the drill, dad had sex with my mother again which made me."

I stared at her confused and Layla did the same. She lost me at 'dad divorced', I thought. I don't know how Kiara manages to keep up with her family seeing as her father married three times and in between those fucked each wife at different times to get six kids. I'm hella confused right now.

"When I was in high school, by then, Nicholas was dead—to be honest, none of us were really expecting him to live long," she spoke, her voice saddening, "he was alright when he wasn't around his brothers. I think they played a part in his deteriorating health. By the end of high school, Ben was dead. Drug overdose and it was just me, Damien, Jake and Tristan. Tristan was the worst because it seemed like nothing could stop him. He was violent and vulgar and asked for a fight with Damien every chance he got. When we left for college, Damien looked like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. He could physically relax and then he met Jessica and his world crumbled once again, but you know how that went. Two beautiful children and Owen and Jax get on my last nerve every day, but they're good kids."

I smiled as Kiara's smile faltered on her face. A frown soon took over as he brows furrowed together to create a grim expression written all over her face.

"Owen's so smart just like his dad and Jaxon, he lets loose as well as Damien used to. They never deserved what happened, which is why after the birth of my daughter, I wanted to find out who killed their parents. I'm not one to cry in front of people and I didn't cry at their funeral because I didn't want my brother to see me sad. He never liked it so out of the way of everyone else and in their old room, I picked up one of his shirts and it smelt just like home." she whispered the last part, tears welling up in her eyes as she blinked and looked away, "it smelt like a past. One that was shredded into pieces due to the life we lived. I promised myself after that day and I told myself that I needed to fulfil my brother's legacy, which is why I cared for those boys because they cared. They wanted to be like their parents and they had dreams that they wanted to pursue and I didn't care what happened, I was going to make it happen for them. For Jessica. For Damien. It's what he deserves after all the shit he's gone through."

Kiara's story was so heart wrenching. I couldn't imagine losing Cassidy and being able to carry on so strong the way Kiara did. Her telling us this stuff opened my eyes to this life. I can see why Owen was quite reluctant with Brielle at first. He wasn't being rude or arrogant like we always thought he was. He was protecting her because he didn't want to lose her the same way Kiara lost her brother. It's quite sad really. The only way Kiara's found peace is after she's lost everyone dear to her.

"Still, imagine that, I was the youngest and I'm the last survivor," she said, chuckling lightly as I joined in, "seriously, my brothers didn't give a shit. That's why they're all dead and they would've ended up being great people if they weren't in the conditions they lived in. Tris and Nicholas were both amazing at biology and to be honest, it was one of the few times they'd get along with each other when they talked about photosynthesis and bacteria."

She carried on telling us about the very few times she got on with her older brothers when she was in high school. Most of their memories were from when she was in high school rather than any other time. Apparently, Tristan helped his siblings into getting into the best parties and sneaking back into the house, but whenever they got caught, he'd threaten them not to let his name slip past their lips.

Well, that's sibling hatred for you, I thought, which made me realise how lucky I was to not have brothers or sisters.

"What about you, Michael? I don't think it's right for you to hear our shit times. I'm sure your family are good people. Last time I saw your parents was around...hmm, a year ago at the school committee. I bumped into your father. Tall guy, isn't he?" I nodded in response with a light chuckle. My dad wasn't just tall but also intimidating and those together as a mix isn't the best. That was his secret when it came to getting work done. People were so scared of him they always worked hard.

"He certainly is, Mrs O'Mars. Just one of the things I inherited from him," I told her as it seemed like she swooned over me. Brielle's mother simply giggled lightly.

"Oh, you are perfect, Michael. I'm glad my daughter hangs around you because you're good for her. She's never trusted a guy as much as she's trusted you," Kiara spoke with an earnest smile, "Alfonso's a bit iffy on you, but I think that's because you're already eighteen, but you're respectful. I like that in men."

"Well, luckily for you, K, you've found that in your husband," Layla spoke in an obvious tone that hinted to something a bit more, disguising the true meaning, "and yours didn't end up as some psychotic person."

All of us paused, unable to actually comprehend whether she was telling us a lighthearted joke or being serious because if she was then damn, she darkened everything a bit. I gulped, rooted to my spot as Layla shrugged, scratching the back of her neck.

"I-I was just joking around," she started as we physically relaxed in our seats. I heard the front door open and Cassidy walks through into the kitchen, shock written in her features when she notices us sat at the table. She tucked a few strands of her hair behind her ear as she sat herself down on a seat, "good morning, Cassidy."

"Good morning, Mrs—" I stopped her quickly, knowing how Layla probably didn't want to be called by her 'psychotic' husband's surname. Layla simply sighed, laughing slightly before shaking her head. Knowing her, she may not mind, but just because she was my best friend's mother didn't mean I can't be respectful, "uh, sorry, I don't exactly know what to call you because I always referred to you as Mrs you-know, but that would be really bad of me and—"

"Alistair," she said simply, leaning back in her seat relaxed, "Miss Alistair or Layla because you're a friend of my daughter's."

"Really? Oh, thank you. Great, I feel awkward now. If we change the subject quickly, what were you guys doing?" she asked, laughing sheepishly as her gaze shifted from each of us. I patter her on the head before giving a smirk.

"We're talking about our parents—"

"Cassidy, Alfonso spoke to your parents once," Kiara started and Cass' gaze fell to the table as she bit her lip, "the year that thing happened. I shouldn't pry, but they mentioned it to him and I thought it was weird considering he only ever spoke to them that time."

I looked down at my cousin and reached around her to rub her back in comfort. She was never going to get over what happened nor was she ever going to forgive her parents for spreading it around as if it were her fault. As if she was some dirty whore. Cass looked up in confidence, brows furrowed.

"There was a rumour and when everyone heard it was true, my parents quickly tried to 'fix' their reputations saying it was 'uncalled for' and my fault for 'being too irresponsible'." I looked over at Kiara who cocked her head to one side and shook her head.

"It's never your fault, love. No man should ever lay a finger on a girl without their permission. When I heard about it from Alfonso, I thought your parents would've never said that. If they did, well, they don't deserve to be parents." Kiara's voice had frosted over and had gone cold as well as the atmosphere in the room. Cassidy looked up at me and I smiled encouragingly at her.

"It's strange how much time I actually spend around them though. I have dinner with them, but that's about it really. Most of the time they're working or I'm doing ballet so we rarely ever see each other. It may sound rude of me, but it's easy to forget what they said or that they even exist. It's easier that way," she told us as we listened to her.

We've all been through it. Yearning for the love of someone who didn't feel the same or losing everything we've ever known or wanted. It was the past though and we can't do anything but move forward from it. Cass deals with it because once she's older, she wouldn't have to deal with her mother or father once she's off at college.

"Oh, love, every child needs the love of a parent at some point," Layla spoke softly as Cassidy's gaze snapped to her suddenly. She simply shook her head in response before smiling.

"Not everyone wants that love, Miss Alistair. Sometimes, it's too late to forgive and forget." Cassidy was one of the only people I ever considered true family, the

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