Speak To Me

(Tilly)

I stared at Mama and Shaina anxiously, seeing them share a look before a loud sigh escaped Shaina's lips.

"How long do you think this will take? Eddie and I have an early appointment tomorrow with the doctor." Shaina stated firmly, and I couldn't help but feel hurt.

Ever since finding out Shaina is my real mother, it's almost like she has come to despise me..like I'm just some big inconvenience in her life that she doesn't even want to deal with.

I could see Rylan open his mouth to say something while the look of anger flashed through his green eyes. I quickly squeezed his hand, grabbing his attention as I shook my head no softly.

I didn't want to argue or fight..I just wanted the truth..I wanted to know the whole story and find out who my father was.

I tried asking Mama before through a text..but she just wouldn't tell me. She said it was best I didn't know..but after seeing that man..he has to be a part of this somehow, right?

"I just want to know who that man from earlier was...is he..is he my father?" Saying those words out loud made Shaina's face scrunch up in disgust as Mama reached out for my hand.

I hesitantly took it, not fully trusting her as so many secrets were still kept hidden from me.

"No..that is not your father Tilly..but he is your grandfather. He is also the man who wanted you to be aborted." Mama dropped the bomb, making my heart crack as this deep feeling of being unwanted continued to multiply by the second. I tried to push it down..to lock it away and think of all the positives in my life..but to know so many people didn't want me to even be born..it hurt.

Rylan must've sensed my turmoil because he quickly scooted closer to me on the couch before slipping his arm around my waist tightly.

"I'm right here.." He reminded me, making my head nod softly as Mama's eyes filled with tears.

"Shaina, it's time you tell her." She stated, making my sister's face harden as I could see her jaw clenching in frustration..and then she began to tell her story.

"I was fourteen years old when I met Roger. We attended the same school since Mama taught the principal's daughter at the academy. She was able to secure me a scholarship even though we didn't meet the income bracket. But that is where I met your....father...Roger Remington." Suddenly I felt Rylan stiffen beside me, making my gaze lock onto his as he just looked straight ahead. Did he know who my father was?

"Roger was two years older than me..and when we met..it was love at first sight." Shaina laughed softly like she was remembering back to the first time..and then her face turned serious.

"He promised he would marry me..that if I gave him everything, he would take care of me. Of course I believed him like some idiot." She sneered, glancing towards Rylan now..the disdain she held for both my father and Rylan was clear on her face.

"Things were going amazing at first...but then..I realized my period was late. And that's when I found out about you..I was close to being fifteen at the time..and when I told Roger, he was angry." She went on, disgust seeming to fill her voice as she looked straight at me. "That's when everything was ruined..he wasn't ready to be a dad yet..we had so many plans..and then once his father found out..he ripped us apart." Shaina whispered as tears filled her eyes.

"I wasn't good enough to carry the Remington bloodline..so..I thought if I got rid of you, that Roger would want me back.." Shaina stated like it was nothing..like I was nothing.

"Mom and Dad begged me to keep you..saying they would raise you as their own. They promised you would never find out..that no one would find out." She stated coldly. "Then Mr. Remington tried to take things into his own hands.." Shaina added, making my brow furrow as Mama began to sob.

"One day after school, he followed me on the way home. He told me to get into his car and drove me to some building..he said I needed to get rid of it..and if I didn't, our whole family would suffer..so I walked into that office...prepared to do just that.." Shaina stated, her voice cracking with emotion..

"But the longer I stayed..the more guilt I felt..my mother's words echoed through my mind..you were the innocent one in this..could I kill the only part of Roger I had left? So I broke down crying..and this nurse..a woman I never met..she helped me out of there. She said she would tell Mr. Remington that the procedure was successful..because the worst part of all of this..is that I wasn't the first girl to come in there sent by Bruce Remington." She sobbed, slapping her hands over her eyes as tears began to fall.

"I hated you..I hated you so much because you ruined my life..but I couldn't kill you because you were the last part of him that I had left.." Shaina became hysterical, causing Mama to rush to her side and hug her tightly.

"And the worst part is..now I can't even get pregnant now that I want to..I will never be able to have a child I actually want!"

"That's enough!" Rylan suddenly yelled, startling not only me but Mama and Shaina as well.

"Do you not hear how selfish you sound? Do you not realize what you are actually saying?" Rylan snapped while staring down at Shaina with wide shocked eyes.

"You have to be the most selfish person I have ever met in my life. Your choices are what brought Tilly into this world..and yet you are acting like her life is what ruined yours..she had nothing to do with that..and while I'm happy you chose to save her..what you are doing now..it's disgusting."

Rylan's words hung in the air between us, making warm tears fall from my eyes as he suddenly turned and came to my side.

"Come on, let's go home baby.." He whispered, gripping my hand as he pulled me up before wrapping his arms around me protectively.

"Tilly..please..Shaina is just upset. The Remingtons are why we hid you away..they were the reason why I had to be so protective sweetie..if they found out who you really were, who knows what people like that could've done!" Mama rushed, trying to come to my side as Rylan's grip tightened.

"Just give her some time to process this." He stated as I buried my face agaisnt Rylan's chest.

"What she needs is to come home with her family..you know Bruce..she is in even more danger if she stays with you! You will just do the same to my precious Tilly..Mija, he is going to use you however he can until there is nothing left!" Mama yelled, making me wince as her words pierced through me. Rylan wouldn't..he is different..he would never do that to me..right?

"Enough..I was planning on doing this a lot differently..but since you don't seem to understand how much your daughter means to me..I guess I will just have to make it very clear. I plan on marrying Tilly. I plan on making her my wife and taking care of her for the rest of my life. So if you think for a single second I am just going to walk away from this..you are dead wrong..and I will spend every day of the rest of my life proving that to you." Rylan snapped, the intensity behind his words caused me to gasp as I pulled back to look up at him.

I know we talked about it a little before but it was after making love and in the heat of the moment..so hearing him announce it to my family like this and the passion held behind those words, I was left speechless.

"I think it's best you give Tilly some time..she will reach out to you when she is ready." Rylan added before pulling me with him as I was now walking out of my old apartment and heading towards the door.

I couldn't stop myself from staring up at this gorgeous man. The way he stood up for me just now was enough to erase every single doubt that had been forced on me.

"Don't come crawling back here when he breaks your heart, Tilly! We know he will!" Shaina yelled, making Mama start scolding her as Rylan and I walked out of the door.

I let Rylan tug me along as this dazed feeling washed over me while I stared up at Rylan in awe.

No one had ever stuck up for me like that before..ever.

"I can't believe those women." Rylan muttered to himself as we got to the stairs.

But instead of going down, I stopped, pulling on his arm.

"What? Are you okay? Was that too much for you angel?" He rushed, making my eyes flutter softly.

"Did you really mean that? What you just said.." I asked quietly, feeling my cheeks start to warm.

Rylan's gaze instantly softened before his body was soon pressed up against mine.

"Of course I meant it. Every single word.."

He whispered, making my heart leap into my throat.

"Then..let's do it..let's prove them wrong Rylan."

Rylan's eyes widened, his gaze searching mine eagerly as my words hung between us.

"You..you want to?..." He asked, stopping himself before he said the words.

I nodded slowly, watching as the most beautiful smile I had ever seen filled Rylan's happy face as time seemed to stop right at that moment.

"Really?! You aren't just saying this? Right now, you want to?" He rushed, making me laugh happily as he quickly picked me up and brought his face mere inches from mine.

"If you want to.."

"Of course I do! Of course I want to marry you right this fucking second. Shall we? Shall we prove them all wrong and start our happily ever after? We can gonstraight there." He rushed and I tried not to laugh..wow, he was so corny sometimes..but I loved it..I absolutely loved it and I absolutely loved him..I always have. I used to daydream what it would be like to have Rylan notice me..to love me..and truthfully, it's even better than I ever imagined.

"Yes..I think we should."

That's when Rylan kissed me with so much passion and force..my knees actually buckled..