Chapter 4: Who are you really?

The camera flashes all settled on my face, yet I kept a calm look on.

“Miss Mia, what happened all those years?”

“Were you kidnapped, taken abroad to become a prostitute?”

“Or did you run away with a man? What happened to the car you drove last?” Every reporter kept placing the mic next to my lips, yet I said nothing. The bodyguards pushed through the crowd, and I managed to get in...

As soon as I pushed the door open...six faces came into view.

“Mia,” Mrs. Evelyn Carters said, walking towards me, her hands spread wide till she wrapped them around my shoulders. She gently traced them upwards till they landed on my face. She gently caressed it, and tears streamed down her eyes.

“Mia, how have you been? Were you touched? Raped or anything?” she asked.

I didn't say a word but just stared. She did have a good mother, then why did Mia turn out to be a mean bitch? I thought, reminiscing on countless events she caused chaos between me and my family.

“I'm okay, Mum,” I said, and she pulled me closer for a hug. “I missed you so much!” she said, and I hugged her back, forcing out tears, not fake though, just remembering my own family.

Before I had arrived, Vincent had preached everything about each family member to me.

Evelyn Carters was soft-hearted. She was about age forty-three. She was the only one who spoiled and cared for Mia, even pampered her....also she was her biological mother.

Caspian Carters was the illegitimate brother Mia had, conceived by her father's affair. He was a bright boy but with the heart of a demon. He was good at opposing Mia and wanted her fortune.

Dorian Carters, husband of Evelyn and father of Mia, was a cheater and a cold man who once told Mia only men could rule because he favored his illegitimate son more, but she proved she could lead and became a young billionaire like me...

Sasha Carters, cousin of Mia, was a party freak. She followed Mia everywhere, and they were birds of the same feather, rude, party animals, queens of fvcking men, and obviously she was clearly using Mia for her money afterall Mia did the spending, the gifting, and she ate without once returning a dime.

My gaze moved to the little girl standing there. Cassidy Carters, Mia's daughter, eleven years old. The girl whom she despised with all her heart. She got pregnant with her at barely eighteen and discarded her because she reminded her of her father, neglecting the little girl.

Then finally at Mia's dear best friend, Sloane. According to every information, she had been loyal to Mia despite her anger issues, sharp mouth, and obviously being an ingrate who knew only how to keep fake friends.

“Welcome home,” Cassidy said, and I snapped out of my thoughts. I stared at the young girl that clutched her phone tightly, relief and worry both flashed in those eyes of hers...seeing I wasn't going to say a word, she stared at the floor, clearly fighting back the tears.

“Welcome back, cousin. It's been so long, how have you bee—”

I brushed Sasha off, and she froze in her steps, trying to sip whatever she just experienced in. I walked towards Cassidy and gently crouched before her.

“Hi darling, how have you been?” I asked, gently pinching her cheeks and caressing her hair. She lifted her head, gazing at me with those big eyes of hers, full of shock and confusion.

“Mum?” she called out again, and I flashed a bright smile.

“You have grown so tall,” I said. She didn't dare say a word, only gaze at me from head to toe. She instinctively wrapped her arms around me.

I felt the whole room tense up. No one dared make a sound, and clearly they were shocked, petrified, since Mia had condemned the little girl's existence before with hatred because she looked just like the man who betrayed her, but it wasn't that...

I had always wanted a child and begged Christian to give me one, but he had declined every word I said...told me, he wasn't ready to be a father, that he didn't want to lose me to childbirth...so I had thought he cared and needed more time. He just didn't want any connection between us before he murdered me.

Thinking of this, my grip tightened, and she winced, but I let go instantly.

“I'm sorry,” I said, retracting my hands and ready to stand up, when she hugged me, bursting into fresh tears.

“Mum, don't worry, you can do whatever you want, as long as you touch me,” she said, and I froze. Never had I heard such broken words from a child before. Even if I hurt her, as long as it was a touch, she would appreciate it...what did that bitch do to her? I thought...

“No need to say those words, I wouldn't ever hurt you anymore,” I said and hugged her back.

Sloane, who stood there frozen, finally walked towards me.

“Hi,” she said, not calmly but coldly, her eyes still carrying that hint of hurt and betrayal in it. She surely wouldn't forgive Mia for what she did.

“Hi,” I replied back, the air lingering, remaining cold, and then Evelyn cut through the silence and awkwardness.

“Let's eat, I made dinner,” she said, and I nodded, gently walking off with Cassidy.

“Mum, I got a B in Math and an A in English. The teacher also praised me for my score. And on my two last birthdays, Grandma brought me an iPad and a new bike,” she ranted.

I listened to her, and her grip on my hands tightened. She didn't seem to suspect a thing, she's just a child who wants a mother's attention, but then I paused when Sasha appeared. Her face was dark, her hands folded underneath her boobs, and she chuckled.

“So where have you been all these years? At least have an explanation on why you disappeared!” she said, and I rolled my eyes internally but kept a considerate smile on my lips.

“Are you perhaps wanting to hear I was kidnapped, raped, or what?” I asked, and her lips parted.

“I didn't say that!” She paused, analyzing my age and facial expressions, trying to catch a glimpse of anything, but nothing, her lips softened and she walked closer.

“Really, those type of shoes....You hate th—” she moved backwards and smiled.

“Or should I even say...you aren't Mia?”