A Fated Mistake

Jaelyn's standpoint

“I have something to inform you, sweetie.” My mom murmured in a hushed voice earlier before choking.

“Do not speak now, mama. Make an effort to store energy. You may additionally inform me later.”

“No! You need to be aware of this.” She denied it, and I became puzzled as to what might be inflicting her to pressure herself that much. “You have an uncle,” she explained.

Huh? What did she say?

"I assumed we did not have anybody from your aspect? “You stated you were an orphan.”

“I remember what I stated. I said a falsehood. You have an extremely distant uncle. I felt the need not to have anything to do with them, so I hid it from you. However, I agree that it is time you know.”

I could not understand what my mother was announcing.

“Here's his telephone number. I had a nurse write it for me.”

She gave me a chunk of paper, and I took it, uncertain where she would turn to go with it.

“If I ever go away from you, be sure you phone him.”

“Mother! How can you assert the sort of comment? You will now not leave from me, at this moment or ever.”

As if fate had been contradicting my words, the monitor beside her began to beep loudly and her body shook violently.

“What is wrong, mom? Mom! Doctor!” I yelled as terror gripped me.

The doctor and nurses rushed in, then forced me outdoors while they attempted to revive her.

“She would be fine,” I repeated like a mantra as I paced to and fro in the front of her door.

Soon, the doctor appeared, and I dashed over to him.

“I am sorry, Miss; we were unable to save her.” He spoke in a calm, constant voice.

When I heard the news, my whole existence fell apart.

I croaked a dry snicker.

“Doctor, is this a small form of funny story?” I asked.

He checked me out with a pitying gaze.

“I apologize.” He uttered and walked away.

With that, I fell to the ground and looked blankly into the area, the words repeating in my mind like a mantra.

“We were unable to save her….”

She is dead. My mother is no longer alive. Her vivid smile and hopeful eyes flashed through my mind. It changed into absolutely long gone.

The tears that welled up in my eyes finally fell. I sunk into despair.

After I had bawled my eyes out and seen her corpse for the last time, I was asked to sign off on some documents that would allow my mom to be buried.

“Miss, I'm sorry, but you are not qualified to sign.” The nurse who was responsible for the procedures said, and my brows furrowed confused.

“What do you mean? I'm her daughter. You stated that the signee must be a relative, which I am.”

“I'm aware of that Miss, but if you read the criteria, you'll realize that a minor cannot sign.”

No! Why is this happening? First I had to hear that my mother and only parent was dead and then now, I can't let her be buried in peace.

“But I'm her only family.”

The nurse wore an indifferent expression. “You still have to get an adult relative to sign. I'm sorry.”

Panic gripped me as I thought of what to do. My eyes soon lit up as I remembered something. I dug my hands into my pocket and rummaged until I came up with the piece of paper my mother had given me earlier.

I dialed it.

“Hello? This is?” The person on the other end spoke.

“Hi. Uhm. Is this Mr. Masen?” That was the name written on the paper.

Masen.

“Yes. How may I be of help to you?”

I began fumbling with the loose thread on my jeans as I thought of what to say. Eventually, I settled for, “My name is Jaelyn and I think I'm your niece.”

I had tucked the paper in my pocket without care, thinking that I wouldn't need it.

“What? I do not have a sibling, so how can I have a niece? If this is a prank, then stop it because it's not funny, and I'm a busy man.” He snapped at me, his voice resonated nonchalantly.

I panicked.

“Wait! Don't hang up. I'm not a prankster. My mother was Linnea.”

I could hear a gasp on the other end of the line once he heard my mother's name.

“Linnea? Oh My God.” He exclaimed softly, followed by a gasp.

~~~~~~~~

A few hours later, I sat across from the man I had learned was my uncle. He is a middle-aged man with a stern, yet handsome face.

He inquired about my mother and after hearing about her death, asked for my location. He came soon after, signed off on the burial procedure, and he led me to a café near the hospital.

“I'm sorry for your loss. What are you planning to do now?” He asked in a rather delicate voice as he took a sip of the coffee in front of him.

A sigh surged through my lips, tiredly.

“I don't know. To be honest, I haven't thought that far.”

I just wanted to curl up into a ball in a corner and sleep for eternity. I would have if my mom hadn't urged me to live on.

“Is that so? Well, do you want to live with me? I can adopt you as it's too dangerous for a lady, especially a minor, to stay on her own.”

I looked up at him in surprise, definitely not expecting that.

I thought he would just help with the procedures and disappear after he gave his condolences. That was what my father's relatives had done when he died.

I still remember vividly because my mother had cried secretly since no one had been there for my father.

“I can't possibly do that, I can't be a burden to you.” I refused, still in shock, waving my hands at him.

“It's not a burden. I have enough money to feed and clothe you, so don't worry.”

I wanted to keep refusing, but he gave me a face that said he wouldn't take no for an answer.

“Okay, sir.” I mumbled as I bit my lower lip, no sure if this was the right decision.

At least, at a time like this.

“That's a wise choice, little one.” He said, smiling for the first time since I met him.

A few days later, I sat in the passenger seat of a car so luxurious, that I was sure it could buy the apartment building I and my mother lived in.

Over the past few days, I had sent my mom off, packed my things, and said goodbye to whomever I could. Those people weren't much.

Now I was heading off to another life. A life I know nothing about but hope to bear and lead for the sake of my mom.

“We're here,” Alpha Masen, my uncle, announced, and I gaped as I stared at the mansion before me.

“Are you coming?” His deep voice snapped me out of my wild thoughts.

I had never seen such a grand mansion in my life.

I alighted from the car and followed him as he walked into the house. The servants greeted him very respectfully with a bow.

“This is Asher, he is the butler of this house. He will lead you to your room. If you need anything, do well to let him know.”

After saying that, he turned and went off without a second glance at me, who was still staring around the house in awe.

“Good day, Mr. Asher.”

He glanced at me over his shoulder, turned to leave as he gestured me to follow.

He showed me to a grand room and left without saying anything.

“Thanks for the hospitality......” My lips mumbled as I watched the cold-hearted figure retreat from the room.

I lay on my bed for a while and my stomach grumbled from pain and pangs of hunger. A reminder I haven't taken anything throughout the day.

I tossed and turned until I eventually couldn't take it, so I decided to go out.

In the hallway, I was looking around at the interior decoration, which I was so engulfed in that I didn't notice that someone was coming my way.

We collided but a quick, yet strong gripped my waist, saving me from falling.

I looked up to thank and apologize to my savior only to be stunned mute.

There, standing in front of me, was the most gorgeous guy I have ever seen.

His piercing green eyes flashed and scared coldly at me and I fell into a trance.