As a young kid growing up, I wondered why me and Sam were being treated differently by uncle. It was not just him. His men also joined in mistreating Sam. I had a big room and access to anything I wanted upon request.

It wasn’t the same for my twin. He was treated a little better than dirt. And that is only because I was there to intervene.

Uncle was very happy to tell me about how very different we are when I asked him why he hated Sam. He started by telling me about my parents. It sounded very strange to me at the time because I only ever know my uncle as well as a few of his trusted men. To hear that there were others whom I am supposed to be raised by was difficult to grasp for my young ears. He told me his brother—my father and my mother whom he always spitefully called an ungrateful cheap whore, was killed when I and Sam was only a few months old. According to his narrative, my father was originally in line to be the head of the clan after grandfather. But he relinquished willingly it to Uncle Bryan because he hated the illegality and violence being a part of the underworld brings. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

He had travelled to Denmark where he studied to become an archaeologist. That was where he had met my mother. They got married and had me and Sam. They both travelled to Egypt where they were both killed. Uncle said I and Sam were found in an underground locker. He started to raise the two of us. He noticed the similarities between me and Sam and did a DNA test that revealed we were of different paternity. He said he later found out that my father’s death was more than just the fatalities of a disagreement that later morphed into a war between him and another underworld boss. The reason that man had ordered to kill my father wasn’t only because he wanted to teach uncle a painful lesson, it is because he had eyes on my mother. The two had a relationship. But then she ran away from him and choose my father. He didn’t like that. So he sent people to kill my father. Mother had been a collateral damage. That man is the father of Sam. Uncle had even showed me a picture of him to further prove his words. Truly, the man and Sam have got an uncanny resemblance. Uncle only kept him alive and didn’t kill him as he did his dad because of me and the fact that we were inseparable. So he made him a hostage to make me do whatever he wants. He did that a lot when I was a young adult. The slightest reluctance and disagreement from me would lead to him threatening me with Sam’s life. He even shot him one time to prove that he would not hesitate to hurt him if I don’t comply to his wishes. The last time he did that was five or six years ago. He let Sam go. I always knew he did not fully let him free. Uncle renamed me after my father. But he was very stern in his ways to ensure I never became like him. My father wouldn’t have died like that if he had not been weak.

"I am not threatening you. I am just letting you know so you can get your act together. Otherwise, I would have to put a bullet in him. It is completely up to you."

He doesn’t make empty threats. I will not allow him to use Sam again either even if it means I have to completely cripple him of his remaining power.

GWENETH

"Please honey, believe me when I say that I don’t know what came over me.

You need to understand that I was very lonely because I was neglected by you. You can’t pin it all on me." Neil said over the phone.

"Quit it with the excuses, I am tired of hearing them." I counter. "It was not even up to a month the last time we slept together before you cheated. With Mackie of all people." I emphasize because it had really hurt me. It wouldn’t so much if it had been someone else.

"Did you see yourself when you were in her that day?" I laugh. "No you didn’t. I did. And it seemed too routinely to me to be the second or third time it was happening. It was just 26 days! Yet you cheated. What would you do if I give birth and I have to take three months off bedroom duty? What would you do?" I march around my room. It is all making me angry. Why did I even receive his call in the first place? I shouldn’t have. I was having a great time getting my head lost in a novel and enjoying the last of my emergency leave when he called to ruin my good mood.

But I feel like it is essential to make it clear that I will not fall for his fake pleadings and be foolish enough to accept him back. I am not that desperate for love anymore. Fuck guys! Fuck marriage! I can be very happy on my own and I deserve better.

I feel so proud of myself right now. Being a second Annie is way better than having to deal with a cheating jerk who would not even apologize when he cheats.

"Listen babe, I don’t need you to trust me anymore. I promise that I would build up that trust back to how it was. I just need you to believe me that I won’t let it happen again."

"Say hi to Mackie for me." I say with finality and hang up.

Annie puts her spoon and phone down, and then looks intently at me when I tell her about Neil calling to apologize. "Get yourself out of my life right now if you forgave and accepted him back."

She thinks I would be so foolish? I think it will be fun to play along with that. I put on a sympathetic expression. "I know I’m stupid for forgiving him, but I love him. Please do understand."