Dedicated to

It was hard, but I managed to come up with an excuse. He didn't look convinced, but he didn't drag the topic. He knows something is wrong. But, I am not ready to tell him about my 16 years of an eventful life. It would be like living those years back.

Visiting Dr. Harrington was hard, initially after delivery, but I did…. For Jamie. I was losing my sanity in the absence of Cherish, and Dr. Harrington was helpful. But everything that lady did was a fallacy.

Dr Anastasia Harrington was seeing my husband, and she must have told him about me. They planned everything.

Sometimes, I am thankful that James is not aware of Jamie, but then a wave of nervousness hit me… What if Dr. Harrington tells James about Jamie?

I walked back inside and checked Jamie. His little hands were curled into a half-opened fist, that moved from time to time. I sat beside him and looked at the little guy I made. My own creation.

Watching Jamie breathe gives me peace. That he is alive… Next to me. He hasn't met his sister. I haven't seen her for the past two years.

“I hate you.” Cherish yelled from downstairs. She is never loud. Being polite to everyone without any exception was the first lesson I gave her.

Something is wrong.

I ran. Fast. To see what has possessed my daughter. My lovely daughter.

“You hurt mommy.” She was hitting James. Her tiny, little fist was giving up. Yet, my determined daughter hit the retired basketball player with whatever energy left. While he was moving away from her. I could tell he was controlling his anger.

James Carter has a severe anger issue.

“Princess......” He called her.

“I am not Princess.” She screamed at the top of her voice.

“Cherish….” I didn't have energy, but I have to calm her. Like father, like daughter. She is angry. VERY ANGRY.

“Mommy.” She was alert as soon as she heard me.

Turning back, she run through the stairs and hugged me. She is crying.

“He is bad.” Mumbling, she covered her red face with my stomach.

Hearing her sad words, my heart broke. My baby saw a lot. She would be traumatized. I cooed her and hugged her tight. I need to assure her safety.

I looked at James, who was fuming with anger. Despite the distance and absence of my glasses, I could feel the fury of James Carter.

“He is not bad.” I defended James, opposite of my feeling. I don't want his daughter to consider him to be a monster.

“He is bad. I saw what he did.” She sobbed. “He hurt you. There was blood.” Looking at her father, “I hate you.” She yelled at her father.

That was the end.

James lost his control and stormed towards us. He pulled Cherish away from me and dragged her to the nearest room and, finally, locked her.

“She is angry.” I was scared, but not for me, for Cherish.

“I am raging,” James mumbled and dragged me to his matrimonial bed…

I was relieved to see Cherish and James together on TV. I was proud to see my daughter. She is so grown up.

The way Cherish is carrying herself is different, and she is emitting the vibe of a Carter. She looked powerful.

“..... My source of inspiration is my daughter. Every day, I target to conquer for her......” James words echoed in my empty house.

I have tried my best not to cry. Cherish in baby blue dress, who is looking around. She is searching for someone. Her eyes are anxious, and her hands are dancing on the bouquet of Amaryllis, which symbolizes beauty, in her arms.

“Ms Carter..... Any words for your father?” The reporter asked Cherish.

Forcing a sarcastic smile, “He is a good businessman.” She said. But it sounded taunt.

Those words from the teen girl made everyone uncomfortable. The reporter held her mic and frowned, while James gave our daughter a hurtful look.

“See… She knows the capability of her father.” Dr. Harrington interrupted. Her intervention burned my controlled emotion and I broke into tears.

Dr Anastasia Harrington is the reason that my husband refused to talk to me. She is the one who is occupying my husband, the father of my children and now, her target is my daughter. Because of her, Jamie has never met his father. She fooled me for year's, but not anymore. I have to do something.

“Nobody knows about his capability other mo.....” Cherish stopped when she saw James kissing Dr. Harrington.

It broke me more.

I cried.

The next thing that I saw was, Cherish storming out of the camera view and joined..... Jessica Carter.

For the first time, I was granted the opportunity of seeing the daughters of Carter together. But, from afar. I am still Anastasia Carter. I am part of the Carter family yet, I never met Jessica. Norma said, Jessica is sweet, just like Trina. One thing about Norma Brown is that she becomes the mother hen to whoever manages to impress her. She protects them like her own, just like she did for me.

When the torture of James hiked and my condition worse, Norma stood up for me. I was pregnant, scared, and 17. I had no idea, pregnancy can be difficult. I never had morning sickness in any of the pregnancies except the time when Cherish was about to be born, my first pregnancy. That was the phase of my test.

17, no knowledge, no guidance..... Norma didn't talk to me during those times. It was the beginning of my life as Mrs Carter. She pitied me, but never stood up for me. I had to do it alone. My image was tarnished before they know me due to the incident where Willa and Malcolm died because of my father.

The horrible memories are still realistic. James was drunk. He wanted relief, and I was 2 weeks away from delivering Cherish. It was the first time I refused his demands. He called me so many names and hit me. I don't know what triggered, just I remember water flowing through my thighs and then waves of little pain hit me. I didn't understand until James left and Norma entered the room to help me.

23 hours of labour pain… And I had a little Carter in my arms. I was losing my strength. Doctors advised for epidural, but I was waiting for James, Mother… Amy..... George. But no one came, not even Norma. It took months for Norma to warm up with me.

“What do you think about the wedding?” The reporter asked Cherish.

“Wedding?” Cherish exclaimed and looked at Jessica. “They are engaged.” She shrugged off.

“I am not talking about your aunt, Jessica and Nicolas Sullivan. Their engagement was glamorous. We are not discussing your father and Ms Harrington.” The news reporter annoyingly chirped.

“Why do you think there is something between them?” My teenage daughter was challenged with her burning forest green eyes.

“They are close.” The answer was.

Laughing with anger, “The story is astonishing.” She hissed and Jessica pulled her away from the reporter.

This girl is not my daughter. Yes, she is stubborn like her father, but she never disrespected anyone… Not even her father. She promised me that she will be good to her father before leaving for boarding school.

She doesn't look the same. What they have done to her?