A week passed after the startling discovery that Carol was carrying Victor’s child. She was incredulous that one sexual encounter with him would impregnate her. Parents often had to try several times before they succeeded in conception.
However, she conducted detailed tests at the hospital to be 100% sure. All of them yielded positive results.
The implications of Carol’s discovery send her into a tizzy. She spent a week contemplating them. It was without doubt that she wanted to give birth. She would love the baby more than anything else in the world.
Abortion was out of the question. However, several questions cropped up in Carol’s mind. Should she raise the baby as Victor’s offspring under his name? Would society believe it to be true? If they did believe her, would they extend support or condemn her?
Soon after, Carol received an invitation to attend a gathering at the Damone house. Curiously, she read the letter to find out the occasion. It was Victor’s reading of the last will and testament.
Victor had unlimited wealth and owned widespread properties throughout the world. Carol actually had no idea how wealthy he was. She was invited as a beneficiary, which meant Victor had left something behind for her.
Carol had heard he wrote the will the night before going to the Springfield Beach battlefield. Did he already know he was going to die? Even though he hated his ex-wife for her betrayal, what did he leave behind for her? An insulting letter or object?
Regardless, Carol decided to attend Victor’s will reading. She couldn’t miss hearing his last words.
Carol had rented an apartment close to the Damone house, hoping Grandpa Edgar would summon her someday. Therefore, the location was within walking distance.
The morning was sunny, and the reading was scheduled for ten. Therefore, Carol decided to walk to the Damone residence.
She walked briskly along the road and had reached halfway when an old Honda Hybrid screeched to a stop beside the pavement. Three individuals stepped out of the car and approached her.
“Oh, Carol! My darling! My baby girl!” Martha exclaimed, embracing her daughter. “I thought you were dead!”
“Oh, there’s a God in heaven!” Ronald, her father, wailed. “You’re alive!”
“Sis! It’s so good to see you again!” Josh cried, joining his mother and sister in a bear hug. “We’ve been looking for you everywhere!”
Carol was shocked initially, but she recovered and pried herself from their grasp. “Mom! Dad! Josh!” she snapped, with furrowed brows. “How dare you touch me! You left me to die with the terrorists!”
“I admit we ran away in panic,” Ronald said apologetically. “But we returned to the Tuscan Hill gas station within an hour. Even the local police accompanied us. But you were nowhere to be found, dear. We thought the terrorists killed you. Your mother was devastated! Josh couldn’t eat anything for two days! Regardless, we reported you missing.”
“Actually, right now, we were on our way to the police precinct to follow up on the search for you,” Josh said innocently. “The authorities have given up, but we kept reminding them daily!”
“Why would I leave you to die, my baby girl?” Martha said, her eyes streaming with tears. “I may not have been the best mother. But if something happened to you, I’d lose my reason to live! Your father and I love you so much! Josh would fall apart in your absence!”
Carol was utterly tongue-tied. Why was her toxic family suddenly behaving as if they had had a rebirth and reset? Had the trauma of terrorist abduction changed them?
“I… I don’t know what to say…” she murmured.
“You don’t have to say anything, dear…” Martha cooed her. “Just be glad we have been reunited despite so many horrible things happening in the city.”
Carol was at sixes and sevens. Part of her wanted to rage at her family, abuse them, and kick them to the curb. She chose them over Victor, leading to his death.
But then, she argued with herself. It was her choice, not theirs. They were horrible people, but they didn’t force her into letting Victor get killed.
Carol was incredibly weak right now, the heavy burden of future motherhood weighing on her heart. Overcome with emotion, tears welled up in her eyes. She raised her arms and hugged her family back.
“It’s nice to see you guys too…” the beauty whispered.
After catching up on a few topics, Martha posed a question to her daughter. “Where are you living right now?”
“I’ve rented an apartment. It’s small but adequate for me.”
Her mother touched her cheek affectionately. “We moved back to the old house after the Blackwells made us vacate the Prince County mansion. You can come back and live with us, dear. I’ve kept your bedroom exactly the same way you left it.”
Carol nodded, wiping her tears. “I am on my way to attend Victor’s reading of the will. Perhaps I can come over later.”
Martha, Ronald, and Josh exchanged glances.
“I know we behaved terribly with your ex-husband,” Ronald said. “We regret whatever happened in the past. His untimely death put a lot of things into perspective for us. We’re really sorry for your loss, dear. May Victor rest in peace.”
The others nodded in agreement and comforted Carol. The latter wiped her tears and put on a thin smile. “Thanks.”
“Can we join you if you don’t mind?” Martha asked sympathetically. “We weren’t notified about Victor’s funeral and hence couldn’t attend it. The least we can do is listen to his final words.”
Carol nodded. “Don’t worry about that. It was a private affair, and very few were invited. Anyway, you can come along with me to the Damone house. I would be quite lonely in the event otherwise.”
The Ateliers looked elated all of a sudden. They told Carol to carry on. They would catch up with her after parking the car and purchasing flowers.
Josh watched his sister walk away and turned to Martha as soon as she was out of earshot. His apologetic tone shifted to a sharp one.
“Yuck! Showing affection to that little bitch almost made me puke!”
Martha cackled and spat on the ground. “I feel likewise, son. I had hoped the terrorists would defile and kill her. But she miraculously survived. Arrogant cunt!”
“Mom, are you sure that Victor was wealthy? I hope you aren’t running this farce for nothing!”
His mother crossed her arms cheerfully. “The information is 100% true! My hairdresser’s son, Jerry, is an intern with Victor’s attorney, Elsa Madison. She is his will’s executor as well. Jerry didn’t actually read the content, but he is confident the words ‘billion’ and ‘million’ have been mentioned several times.”
“I don’t know how the loser got his hands on all that money,” Ronald said with a devious grin. “But his fortunate death will make us billionaires!”