Page 59 of Care: Part 1

Her eyes widened in shock.

"I-I don't know what's happening right now," she spoke while snatching her arm away from his hold.

"There's so much more that you don't know and won't understand. You think we're the enemies when you're the one sleeping with the bad guy.”

"Then make it make sense how if you were so against Adrik, why were you working for him, and why did you push me so hard to be his caregiver? You called him your friend when you offered me that job. Be honest; you are just jealous and angry that he fired you. I'm out of here,” Avelina pointed out just before beginning to stand

Johnathan was quick to grab hold of her arm once more.

"I know this is hard to believe, but you have to trust me. I was working for Adrik before I knew about Vincent, Avelina. Just before Adrik fired me, Vincent showed me the truth behind everything. He told me that I messed up by just handing you over to Adrik on a silver platter, and I know now that he was right. I should’ve known something was odd when Adrik specifically requested that I interview yo-"

Adrik was storming over to them. He grabbed Avelina’s hand quite aggressively and pulled her to his side. Avelina noticed the anger in his eyes that he pointed at Johnathan.

"Talk to her again, and I will kill you with my bare hands," Adrik told him.

No other words were exchanged as he began dragging Avelina towards the exit.

"His name is Vincent Santos! You have to remember him!" Johnathan shouted, gaining the attention of everyone in the restaurant.

Avelina spared a glance over at Johnathan. She then followed Adrik out of the restaurant and into the car.

Adrik looked like he wasn’t feeling a single emotion, but Avelina knew better. She knew he was mad at her, which was why he didn't bother to mutter a single word.

Her eyes cast up at the night sky through the glass of the window. She remembered that name from the document she found on Adrik’s desk.Avelina kept thinking about the name in an attempt to rack her brain for any other memories. Vincent Santos, Vincent Santos, Vince-

Then, it hit her.

"You and Avelina look a lot alike, Vincent," Mama chuckled as Vincent’s blue eyes gleamed down at the young girl.

She did look like him. They must've got their looks from past genes because they were the exact opposite of their parents. Pressing a kiss to the top of her head, Avelina let out a giggle.

"She does," he smiled down at her. "My little sister."

"Vince," she gushed.

He laughed lightly just as their mother walked off with a small smile on her face. She was only two, and he knew that she would never be able to understand why he had to leave. The thought made his smile slowly ease into a frown.

"I made a mistake, but I promise that I will be here to protect you, Avelina," he whispered just as she let out another sequel. "Always."

Avelina didn't know what to think. It almost seemed as if everything was hitting her all at once. Her mind had to work twice as hard to piece everything together.

"Vincent is my brother," Avelina stated.

Adrik looked over at her with an indecipherable expression on her face.

"Vincent is my brother, and you knew that, didn't you?" She questioned.

“Avelin-”

"Stop the car. Stop the car right now.”

The car began to feel like it was closing in on her. She was suffocating in lies and secrets, and it was all coming from Adrik. She needed to get out, but the driver acted as if he didn’t hear a word she had said. Avelina didn’t even bother prepping herself as she opened the door. She needed air to fill her lungs, not the poison that was slicing its way into her heart.

The car was going pretty fast, and if it weren’t for Adrik grabbing onto her arm, she probably would've fallen out.

"Stop," Adrik ordered the driver.

Immediately, the car pulled onto the side of the road, leaving Avelina to snatch her arm from Adrik's hold and step out of the vehicle. She slammed the door shut as tears threatened to fall from her eyes. Adrik swiftly got out of the car and followed right behind her.