I wasted all of these days and nights

Trying to chase all these empty highs

But I had go to my worst so

I know that I just needed you

"The truth": James Blunt

I ended up sleeping next to Zane. He hugged me the whole night which helped me gain strength.

I was still in denial. It was hard to accept the truth. My real parents were dead.

"Why do you think she did that, treat me like a burden?" I asked Zane while we were having breakfast.

One of the few words I said since we got to his apartment.

"I'm not sure but it could be resentment. Maybe, and I'm assuming here, she didn't want to take care of you." Zane said. His eyes looked mine as if he was trying to see if his words hurt me.

"That, I'm sure of. Without knowing the truth I already thought she didn't want me. The difference in attitude towards me and Sarah was too huge to ignore it. But I wonder why she accepted to take care of me"

Did they do it already knowing that I was left with a will that had money? Were they aware of that beforehand?

"Baby, I'm not sure what to tell you. The cases that I deal with usually involve the whole family. It's very strange that a direct family member has no relation to their wrongdoings. As if you've been purposely left out of that world."

"It is strange. I find it weird too. But what bothers me is the information missing. There are a lot of plot holes in this story. Why did my biological father leave them to take care of me? Why did they hide the will? Why did Derek ask for money for years if he didn't need it? Why did Greta hire me? Did Sarah know that I'm not her sister? And that's just a few questions but there are a lot more. I feel like I'm not the main character of my story. I was completely left out."

Zane rubbed his jaw thinking.

"KatKat, I think it would be a good idea to talk to Derek about it. Given that he's the one that's more involved in the case and also the one who benefited the most from the will, it's better to ask him. In two days you'll have to testify. That day the judge will make the final decision. I'll get you some time alone with Derek after the trial."

"Thank you" I went to his side and gave him a peck.

"Are you going to thank me like this every time I do something for you?" He asked suggestively.

"Well, that depends. If you want this to be a thing then yes"

"Fuck yes I do"

After that, we spent some time together.

We went grocery shopping and it felt good to hold hands. We didn't have to hide anymore.

But the day to testify came too soon and before I realized I was already on the seat swearing, to tell the truth.

Seeing Derek's face after so long made my heart beat. He was my rock once. The one I loved the most.

To me, he was a father. Someone I looked up to and I was ready to forgive. But he used me or rather my money.

"Miss Willson. Were you aware of your family's drug addiction?" Asked the lawyer.

"Yes, I was. Both my sister Sarah and my father took them" I replied.

Sarah kept her head down. Probably ashamed of what she did.

"Have you ever taken any of those drugs?"

"No, I haven't."

"Were you aware that your sister was selling those drugs to minors?"

"No, I only knew that she consumed them regularly and suspected from where she bought them."

"What about your adoptive father? Did you know he was involved?"

"No, I lost contact with him when he divorced my adoptive mother. Years later he was the first to contact me. He said he was in a rehabilitation center and asked for forgiveness. Months later he began to ask for money to pay for that center. Then a few months ago I went to that center but it turned out to be a lie and he never went through rehab."

"During that time did you meet with Mr.Willson?"

"No, this is the first time I have seen him in person since I was thirteen. I tried to meet with him several times but something always came up."

"You were hired by Greta Devario. Did you know about her relationship with Mr. Willson? What about the transport of women in trucks?"

"I did not know about her relationship with Derek. I was looking for a job back then and she approached me first with the offer. As for the transportation of women in trucks I was not aware of that either. The delivery of the tea was always done after my working hours and she checked it herself. I only knew about the different warehouses that the shop has in the country and outside. But that is essential information to know as a worker."

"Miss Willson, I am going to be honest with you. In all my years of work, I've never encountered someone so related to a case yet not involved in it. So tell me why do you think you've been left out?" The lawyer asked me. I could see people's curious stares. Of course, I find it difficult to believe it too. But I know why.

"I do not know the reason for certain but two days ago I found out that Derek is not my biological father. There is also a will left by his brother, my real father, that involves money and properties. I assume Derek wanted me close yet unaware of his 'business'. If I were to ask for the contents of the will then he would have to give me money that he already spent. I would have probably hired a lawyer. An investigation would have started and his secret would have been in danger. Keeping me in the dark was the safest route"

"Then it seems there are two cases here that involve Mr. Willson. No more questions, your Honor."

I went back to my seat. Zane intertwined our fingers and gave me a small smile. He then leaned forward and whispered:

"You did good baby! I'm proud of you"

I smiled back at him.

But that smile soon faded when I saw some of the victims testifying. Seeing those women there made all the situation real. One thing is to hear about it and another thing is to really see the victims.

Monsters. That's the only way to describe Derek and Greta.

The pain in those women's eyes while explaining what they went through was heartbreaking.

Yet neither Derek nor Greta showed signs of remorse. Disgusting.

The trial ended. Derek and Greta were found guilty and sentenced to serve in prison for life. Victor and Sarah each received a fourteen-year sentence in prison for possessing and supplying drugs.

As promised, after the trial Zane gave me and Derek some time alone to talk.

Seeing him face to face I felt nothing but resentment for the man whom I once considered my father.

"I want the truth, all of it," I said emotionless. If he was expecting affection then he was wrong.

"I promised your father to take care of you if anything was to happen to him. He died when you were three years old. Both Emilia and I decided to take care of you despite already having Sarah. We then found out that you were left with a will and we were struggling at that time. We decided to use the money to pay our debts and then work and give the money back. But everything became complicated. I lost my job and I also lost money while gambling. It was then when I used the money your father left in his bank account."

His face didn't show any kind of remorse.

"Then it was already too late to make the money back so we decided to not tell you the truth. That way you would never know about the will and you won't sue us."

"So you never planned to tell me the truth"

"That's correct"

"Does Sarah know?"

"She does, I told her when she began taking drugs"

"Why did Greta hire me?"

"As you said at the trial, keep an eye on you. Giving you a job would keep you busy enough."

"What about the money I gave you, what did you do with it?"

"Pay it back to Greta. After all, she was doing me a favor"

I see. So that's what it was.

"I'm sorry pumpkin, I failed you both as your father and as your uncle"

"Save it Derek, I'm not sure I'll ever be able to forgive you for this."

"But I kept you safe from all of this. You are not getting in prison"

"No, you did nothing. My boyfriend made sure I was not serving in prison because knowing that your daughter took drugs made me an accomplice. It was thanks to him that I'm free now. You did nothing for me."

I stood up and headed towards the door.

"Farewell Derek," I said, getting out without looking back at him.

Once outside I went and hugged Zane. I needed his comfort.

"What's wrong baby?" Zane asked while hugging me back.

I told him everything once we were in the car. He held my hand the whole time.

"Do you want to sue them?"

"I don't, ZeZe. I'm tired. To be honest I don't want to know anything else about them."

Zane nodded understanding what I meant.

"Whatever you decide to do I'm here for you" Zane reassured me.

"ZeZe, I only have you now. If you are certain about us and you still want us to give it a try then I'm willing to go to Canada with you. I thought a lot about it. And if it doesn't work well for us then I will come back. But I don't want to live my life thinking about what could have happened." I was certain about it. I wanted to try and move in with Zane.

"Nothing has changed for me, baby. If anything now I want to be with you even more. Let's give it a try. I think that if we work together then we'll be fine. "

...............

I apologize in advance for the inaccuracies of the trial part. I don't know anything about law so all I described comes from a google search.

Still, I hope you enjoyed this chapter!