Were you mine?

Chapter 64 Suck it up

Lea's POV

Unable to sleep, I found myself back on the couch, drawn to the journal I had found earlier. The worn leather cover and faded pages spoke of years gone by, and I felt a strange compulsion to uncover its secrets.

Opening the journal, I was met with my aunt’s neat handwriting. The first few entries were mundane, detailing everyday life and events prior to my adoption into her household. But as I read on, the tone shifted. The entries became more serious, more urgent.

"March 15, 2002 -

It’s been a month since the accident. That’s what I’ve told Lea, and that’s what I’ll tell everyone else. But the truth is far more horrifying. Thomas and Emily didn’t die in an accident. They were murdered."

WHAT!!!!!!

My heart stopped as I read the words. Murdered? I sat up straight, my eyes scanning the pagey, desperate for more information.

"March 20, 2002 -

I’ve hidden the truth from Lea to protect her. The people who killed her parents are dangerousI can’t let Lea know the truth. She’s just a child. She doesn’t need to carry this burden of being a Sully.

I’ve taken every precaution to ensure her safety. I’ll watch over her, guide her, and make sure she never has to face the horrors that claimed her parents."

I felt a cold chill run down my spine as I continued to read. My parents were the Sully? It was a name I recognized, a prominent family with deep ties to our town. But now that I think about it, only me and Aunt ever talked about them.None of the other townsfolk actually knew that name. Those stories she told me about those billionaires...was she trying to give me a hint about my family?But why were they murdered? What was so important that it cost them their lives?

I kept reading.

"April 5, 2002-

The danger hasn’t passed. I’ve been receiving threatening letters. They know I have Lea. They know I’m protecting her. I have to be careful, vigilant. I can’t let them find her.

I’ve made arrangements to move us if things get worse. I pray it won’t come to that, but I’ll do whatever it takes to keep her safe."

Some pages in the middle were missing as I frantically flipped through them.

"June 12, 2003-

Lea is growing up so fast. She’s smart, curious, and so full of life. I see so much of her parents in her. Sometimes, it breaks my heart to look at her, knowing what she’s lost. But I have to stay strong. For her. For their memory.

I’ve started writing down everything I know about our family, about the danger. In case something happens to me, Lea needs to know the truth. She deserves to know where she comes from, and why her parents were taken from her."

The journal slipped from my trembling hands, falling to the floor with a dull thud. I sank back onto the couch, my mind reeling. Everything I thought I knew about my past was a lie. My parents didn’t die in a tragic accident; they were murdered. My aunt had lived in constant fear, protecting me from a threat I never knew existed.The weight of the revelation pressed down on me, making it hard to breathe. I felt a surge of anger, sorrow, and confusion. How could my aunt keep this from me? How could she leave this world without telling me? What if I had never come back? What if Jake never opened the garage? There were too many 'What if' for me to bear. It was too much for my already shattered heart to take in.

How could she bear this burden alone?I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to process the torrent of emotions. My family history was a web of secrets...and danger, and now it was up to me to untangle it. I didn’t know where to start, but I knew one thing for certain,I had to find out the truth.

I scoffed. The word truth seemed like a mockery. It was like everything I had known was coming off piece by piece, like an old plaster from a worn out building. The flesh was coming off, leaving me bleeding as my skeleton was slowly bared in front of everyone. I felt like a ghost.

" Jake, where are you? " I picked up my phone and dialed his number. But his phone was switched off.

My insides were boiling and it was impossible for me to bear it all alone. The next number flashed before my eyes and without thinking I dialed Phill's number, not even bothering to see the time. It was almost dawn and it was very improper for me to call him. But the arrow was shot, there was no retracting.

" Lea? What is it? Are you alright? " I couldn't answer. I broke down in tears and started whimpering. " Lea... Lea talk to me? What happened? Where is Jake? "

I still couldn't answer and I could hear him muttering under his breath. I was sure he was bad mouthing Jake for hurting me for something like that. So I quickly sucked up my tears and tried to clear things.

" Sorry for calling you at this hour, Phill... " I began.

" That's not the point. Tell me what happened, Lea? "

He almost barked with anxiety.

" Phill... I don't know how to say... Phill... My parents... My parents were Sully. I am a Sully. My parents didn't die in an accident. My aunt lied to me all my life. My entire life was nothing but lies. Somebody killed my parents and my aunt has been living in hiding with me. I don't even know how this even makes any sense. My parents were murdered. Damn it! Phill.... "

" Damn that moron! Why did he tell you all this? We agreed not to tell you anything till you were... stable. "

Phill's words made the sky above me fall on my head.

" Jake knew about this? "

I could not believe what I just said.