"Hey, Charles...:

"Dude, I think she is dead..."

"She hit her head pretty hard on the way down..."

"Sweetie, I don't understand why you would..."

"I think we should call 911..."

"Lily's cousin..."

I slowly open my eyes and come face to face with everyone—they're all hovering over me. Austin helps me sit up straight and I touch the side of my head feeling a small knot.

Oh gosh. How bad was my fall?

"Charles, how many fingers am I holding up?"

Everett waves his hand in front of my face and Vincent quickly smacks his hand down telling him to grow up and be serious. Serious—this whole situation is one big serious mess. I'm supposedly related to Jasper's dead girlfriend and Chase knew this for the longest time. Now all his demanding and controlling behavior is starting to make some sense. He thinks I would fall for Jasper if he made a pass at me.

"Guys, give the poor girl some space." Chase and Jasper's mother gestures for the guys to move back. I catch a glimpse of Jasper standing in the far corner of the living room. His eyes and body language is reflecting every emotion I am feeling as well; hurt, anger and confusion. Chase has a lot of explaining to do.

"How are you feeling dear?"

"I am fine, thank you." I clear my throat.

"Here you go." Evan Tucker hands me a glass of water. Sweet niblets, how long was I out for? I hesitate to take the glass from him and he notices.

"Don't be afraid...it's only water." He smiles, but it doesn't reach his eyes. He is just putting on a show for his wife—I bet. Chase takes the glass from him placing it on the coffee table. I cast my eyes down at my hands scared to look Mr. Tucker in the face again.

"Can we just address the elephant in the room so we can eat? I am starving." Tristan speaks up breaking the awkward and very intense silence.

"Yeah, brother please explain to everyone—especially father what you know. I'm pretty sure you've been hiding things from us all for years." Jasper snaps.

"Chase," Mr. Tucker looks at him with a death stare. How is he not running for the hills? If my dad ever gave me that look I would cry. But I think that's what Chase needs. I little deadly intimidation so he can spit it out already.

"Are we forgetting that Charles hit her head pret—"

"Austin, I am fine. Let Chase talk...I need to know what's going on." I whisper the last part underneath my breath, looking at the little girl who has occupied Mrs. Tucker's lap.

"Are you sure? If you're in any pain we can just go to the hosp—"

"Chase just tell us about Lily." I rub the knot on my head. I won't let him delay telling us the truth or lies any longer.

"Alright, like I told the guys in the car. Lily never talked about her family, said they were dead. I found out that Charles and she were cousins because one night Lily was drunk trying to hit on me as usual back when I was in high school and I mentioned she looks a lot like a girl a knew. I said Charlotte Withers and she froze. From there I knew she was hiding something, finally, she opened up and told me and she had me promise not to say anything or she would tell Jasper I made a pass at her. I knew he would believe her because of previous incidents with other females."

"That's impossible, I would know of a cousin that—we looked alike." I stand up.

"Where are you going?" Everett stands up following me.

"I'm calling my mother. I have a cousin who passed away and no one in my family, that I know of went to her funeral. It's wrong and now I have a baby cousin I never existed and she looks absolutely beautiful. My family needs to open their hearts to her."

Mrs. Tucker gets up, excusing herself to put Autumn down for a nap.

"Before, you call your mother...calm down." Mr. Tucker turns himself around. "You won't get answers that way." He exhales deeply turning his attention to Chase. "Son, why are you now telling me and your brother about this?"

Mr. Tucker is right, but this—Lily was family." I ease out the room once everyone's attention went back to Chase. I scroll through my contacts and click my mother's name. The phone rings once and her cheerful greeting fills my ear.

"Hey, mom."

"Is everything alright? You sound a bit upset."

"Who's Lily Nelson?"

"I'm not sure who you are talking about. What is going on? Is someone harassing you?"

"Mom, who is Lily? Is she my cousin? You know something—your voice got really high."

"Where are you?"

"Mom, please just stop answering my questions with questions. Just tell me!" I am losing my patience with everyone keeping secrets. She knows who Lily is. My mother is an open book when I ask her questions. She never kept secrets from me—so I thought.

"Lily was your sister."

"Sister?"

"Can you book a flight and come home. Your father and I should talk to you in person."

"Talk to me now!"

"Charlotte Withers, you watch your tone with me. Let's not forget who the parent is."

"Mom, I had a sister that I knew nothing about and she passed away. Did you go to her funeral, did dad?"

"Yes, he did. I didn't—I couldn't."

"Why not—she was your daughter. You gave her life. How could you not go? Was your Chef life more important? Was she some sort of embarrassment to you and dad?"

I can hear glass shatter on my mother's end.

"She wasn't my child Charlotte! Since you moved into that frat house you've changed. You need to snap out of the heroic Nancy Drew phase. Not once have I lied to you about something you wanted to know. I've always been open to you, this situation is your father's story. He had an affair with a waitress and she got pregnant."

I can hear sniffling.

"Mom, I'm sorry I didn't mean to op—"

"Charlotte, I have to go."

"Mom I am—"

The call ends and I feel so horrible.

"Are you okay?" I turn around, Darren is standing in the doorway. I shake my head as my vision starts to blurry. I open old wounds for my mother and who knows what might happen now. My father had an affair—he had an affair why would he do that?

"Lily was my sister." I wipe away my tears.

"I know...your mother was pretty loud on the phone and very hurt as well." He crossed his arms over his chest. "You should have listened to Mr. Tucker and waited to call, but what's done is done now."

"I just wanted answers."

He exhales loudly and walks to me, pulling me into his chest. "Charles you can't be wrong and strong it just doesn't work that way. Now look your mom is hurting all over again twice pain for her. You gotta think before you speak and react to things, especially one so serious like this."

"What the hell is going on?"

Darren doesn't let me go right away. Jasper looks upset—for what now I don't know.

"Dude, why are you so angry all the time? And stop with the overprotective jealous act with Charles. She isn't your woman and she isn't Lily."

Jasper moves quickly to Darren and I step in between them.

"Don't you ever say her name!" Jasper's nose flares.

"Guys—Jasper. He didn't mean anything by it."

He looks down at me and his face softens. "You've been crying, why?"he lifts his hand and Darren pulls me back.

"Don't touch her."

"Darren—"

"Jasper how about you fuck off, Charles is fine."

"Darren!" I look at him as if he lost his mind. What the hell is his problem?

"What is going on out here?" Miguel walks out the house the rest of the guys trailing behind him. Seriously, do they always have to travel in a pack?

"Jasper was just leaving." Darren raises an eyebrow at him. Jasper mumbles something underneath his breath and walks back in the house.

Chase looks me over and turns his attention to Darren. What the hell was that for? I know he can't be upset with me. He is the one who lied and kept such a massive secret from everyone.

"Can one of you tell us what the hell just happened." Everett says stuffing his mouth with bacon. Leave it to him to find something to eat.

Lily wasn't Charlotte's cousin. According to her mother, Lily was Charles half sister." Darren waste no time spilling the beans.

"This has turned into a real life All My Children's episode." Miguel shakes his head walking back into the house. "I'm going to eat before you fools drop anymore bombs." He says over his shoulder.

"Yeah food first." I agree, rushing quickly behind Miguel. With this massive headache I have I need to eat and then be prepared for whatever else is going to happen today and the days to come.