Chapter 81

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Today was our last day in New York. We had no business here anymore. Our flight back to Toronto was tonight. It had been thirteen hours since they put Catalina in custody. The internet was still in shambles and somehow found its way into this mess. I couldn't say I didn't expect that. As much as I hated her, she was still my mother. Her reputation unfortunately affected mine. The comments about me weren't that bad. People were just realizing why I had disappeared for the last four years. They finally understood my life.

This morning we were heading to a lab. I was required to submit a DNA test. Yesterday, they suspended all Catalina's assets, and never found a birth certificate or record for the child. She did indeed give birth to him just to use him. It made me wonder if she got pregnant on purpose as part of her plan. She refused to talk or submit a DNA test.

Worse, the two cousins also claimed they were the kid's fathers. She was sexually active with all three men and possibly with my father during the estimated time she got pregnant. So no one truly knew who was the father. If I submit a DNA, it would determine if he was my half or full brother. The DNA on the glassware matched Sahil. There was no doubt he met my father that night. The other dumb fuck cousin drank the water the officer offered him. They also got his DNA.

Once we arrived, I was anxious. I insisted Julian came with me as some kind of comfort, because when I saw him, I almost burst into tears. He was in a room away from people; he was so tiny on the chair. He was wearing a brown shirt that swallowed his skinny body, with khaki shorts and some dirty white sneakers. When the door opened and he raised his big blue eyes to me, my heart shattered. His body was tensed. He was scared. His cheeks were tainted with tears. I knew he didn't enjoy being here. I didn't move. I didn't want him to run away. I didn't want him to think about me as a threat. The bruises... I could see the bruises on his legs and hands.

Oh, Catalina... What did you do?

Julian was the first to step inside. He approached him with slow steps and crunched at his level, but at a safe distance.

"Hey... Buddy." He whispered with a soft voice. The poor baby was just staring at him. He was alerted. His eyes looked around the room as if he was searching for an escape.

"My name is Julian, and this is Xemina, what's yours?"

When Julian moved his hand, he flinched. That made Julian freeze. I could see he was keeping it calm, so he didn't scare him, but his jaw and fists were clenched. He wasn't ready for us. This was all too sudden. I supposed he had never seen so many people, and I couldn't imagine how scared he was when all those officers came for him. I was standing there at the door, with my hands covering my mouth.

"Give me the candies and the stuff animals," Julian murmured to me.

Oh yes. I did not know how to talk to a child, but Julian had siblings, so I followed his lead. He said we needed him to feel safe and trust us. So we stopped at the store for candies, stuffed animals, and cupcakes. I just knew as a child I loved cupcakes, and honestly, I was so easy target. Just bribe me with cupcakes and donuts. I would be right there in the van.

I put down my bag on the floor and took out a box with four cupcakes, a bag of candies, a rainbow elephant, and Mickey Mouse.

"Are you hungry? We have cupcakes. You never had cupcakes before?"

Julian opened the box and showed it to him.

"Look! There are different colored ones, and they are tasty. You want to try?"

He didn't answer, but his eyes were traveling between the cupcakes and us. He was debating whether he should try it. Julian carefully moved closer to him. He moved further away from him on the chair.

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