Chapter Four (UNEDITED)

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"Being deeply loved by someone gives you STRENGTH, while loving someone deeply gives you COURAGE."   -  wordbypicture.com

Tristan's POV

"Stop crying man, there's nothing that you can do about it." My second cousin, Eros Petrakis consoled me. "We're here for you. We're you're family."

"Don't worry Tristan. We won't leave you alone. We love you." Eros sister, Chloe said, patting her small hand on my arm.

We were at the attic of our mansion in New York. I was crying so hard. I'd never felt so miserable and alone in my whole life.

I was seventeen years old at that time. I just learned that my parents died, together in a car accident – in Paris.

I was shocked, as well as everyone in our family – Marilyn especially, that my dad Richard Latsis and my mom, his ex-wife, Belle Chandler Stewart started seeing each other again, a few months ago before their tragic accident.

Marilyn was hysterical and freaking out. Her spirit was broken, as well as her heart – she felt so deceived. The house was in chaos after she destroyed everything that she saw and had her hands on - her collection of antique vases, paintings, furnitures and china wares. Dad's collection of very expensive wines and vintage cars.

Her immediate family took her to the hospital, for the medical attention she badly needed. They also took my younger brother, Kobe, who was ten years old at that time.

The Petrakis family helped me. My uncle, Markos Petrakis and his wife, Aunt Nina took care of everything. From sending the bodies of my parents – my father to New York and my mother to New Zealand. They also took care of the wake of my father, the funeral arrangements, then coordinating with the lawyer for the reading of the will.

My stepmother, Marilyn didn't attend the funeral, as well as my brother, Kobe. I heard that they left the country. Marilyn couldn't accept the fact that her beloved husband betrayed her. That he went back to his ex-wife and died with her in his arms.

I remembered when Marilyn looked at me, after she heard the news.

I felt her anger – her rage and fury.

I felt her murderous eyes on me, blazing like fire.

But I was immune. She never ever softened her heart on me. Even at that time I saved Kobe from being bitten by a stray dog. She never thanked me. I was just lucky that the dog didn't have any rabies.

Twice I told dad about Marilyn's attitude towards me. But he just nodded and told me to be a good boy and act like a man – and I always remembered that.

Women. I didn't like women like Marilyn, even my mother and other rich women I knew. Vain, attention-seeker, fickle-minded, stubborn and sensitive. All they ever wanted was to be beautiful and spend their husband's money. Even their daughters were taught to act like them – practicing to be a rich man's wife.

But my sister, Mia, was different. Maybe because she was a poor man's daughter.

I met Mia for the first time during my mom's funeral in New Zealand – two days after dad's.

Mia was only twelve years old at that time. She was crying so hard and was clasped around her father's arms. She was wearing unfashionable long black dress, black shoes and stockings. Even her hair ribbon was black. She resembled a nun in the 13th century minus the veil.

I learned that mom left her second husband, Mia's father - Lance Stewart, after five years of marriage.

Despite being disowned by her father (my grandfather) Michael Chandler, Mom left Mia to his care.

Grandpa and his wife, Dorothy, raised Mia while mom went to France to work and Lance Stewart went back to his hometown in California.

Mia had a hard life. Dorothy was so strict to her. She wanted to raise Mia in a primitive way.

Mia was deprived of phones or any gadgets. No TV and internet either. Just read books about histories and literatures as her means of recreational activity. She was living like she was born in a victorian era.

She was imprisoned inside the Chandler's mansion like a monk. Her life centered in school, in the house and in the church. She was not allowed to mingle with friends, go out for a walk, go to a movie or meet the other relatives outside the house. She was not allowed to attend reunions and parties, even in school – and mostly, she was not allowed to meet her father, Lance Stewart.

Dorothy punished Mia by depriving her of food. If she was bad, she was given a piece of bread only and a glass of water.

I didn't know what psychotic nature Dorothy had, but I wanted to rescue my sister away from her. I didn't want Mia to suffer anymore.

I needed money to get her out of grandfather's house. I didn't have enough, right now. I only got one thousand dollars in my savings.

I thought I would be an extremely rich man after the lawyer read dad's will. But it turned out, I didn't get any asset or money– only a letter from dad.

Yes. I was surprised when dad's will was read. Marilyn got the mansion – and all the priceless things inside: the paintings, antique furnitures, Chinese collections, the cars, etc. - unfortunately, she destroyed most of them. She also got our houses in Rio de Janeiro, in Athens, Berlin, Manila, Singapore and Dubai. She would receive one hundred million-dollars and assets worth of a billion was set in trust for Kobe.

I read dad's letter in tears. At first he told me how much he loved me and that I was his ONLY son, in blood. I was confused at first, but as I went on reading, I learned that Marilyn was pregnant with another man's child when dad married her.

Therefore, Kobe was not my brother – by blood. I felt my heart twisted with raw pain. I was so disappointed that I stopped reading and just stared at the wall. Then I realised, in blood or not, it didn't matter at all, Kobe was still my brother.

I continued reading the letter – and there were instructions. My lawyer would provide my expenses – enough money for my tuition fees and miscellaneous school expenses, board and lodging, etc. I would pursue the course I wanted to take in college and finished the degree at the designated time.

The letter ended with some advices and saying– the struggle you're in today is developing the strength you need for tomorrow.

I groaned out aloud and I couldn't stop myself from crying again, this time in anger and frustration.

No money. No inheritance. No family.

I felt so alone and disappointed.

I thought he loved me.

***

I returned to the U.S. and worked hard day and night, so I could save money to get Mia. Her father, Lance couldn't save money because he was also supporting his father's rehabilitation. There was no enough money left from his salary as janitor for his personal expenses.

I couldn't borrow money from my rich relatives. I have pride. They knew that I didn't inherit anything from my father, and they were very eager to provide everything I needed – the car, the accommodation, the travel, the luxury, etc.

Pity. That's what they felt for me now.

I didn't need their pity. I loathed pity. It was only for the weak.

My mother's will stated that I could get the trust fund she allotted for me at the age of twenty five. For heaven's sakes, that's eight years more to go.

I experienced working at McDonalds as a crew, then a hotel bell boy, a gasoline boy, a dishwasher, a waiter, a janitor, etc.

Then finally, a friend offered me to work in their ranch in Arizona, to take care of their horses. I grabbed the opportunity because I loved horses and the salary was really good.

Besides, one of the best Universities for Aviation College Degree was in Arizona. It was my dream to take up International Flight Pilot Training since I was a kid.

It was more than a year when my dream of getting Mia was realized. I had a problem with Dorothy - she wouldn't let Mia go. She brainwashed Mia, then used emotional blackmail on her.

The first time I went to New Zealand to get Mia, I failed. After a year, I finally got her. That was the most happiest day of my life.

I loved my sister. I would do anything to make her happy.

Now that she was reunited with her father and me, we would always protect her.

I swear. I wouldn't let anyone hurt her anymore.

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Love and Kisses,

Neilani Alejandrino

a.k.a. sweetdreamer33