NO WONDER

A knock came on her door and Angela had to excuse herself and paused the live video she was doing with her fans. Opening up the door, she gasped and took some steps backwards. "Jane?!" She screamed out loud, seeing her best friend. Although they've been in contact and had once visited her once in California. But she was still startled to see that her best friend came to visit her in New York City. 

Jane smiled and began to sing the birthday song for her presenting her with the gift she had brought along with her. Angela collected with joy and gave Jane a big hug. "I miss you," she mumbled on Jane's shoulder. 

"I miss you too baby," Jane conveyed, grinning as much as she could. 

Angela pulled away from the, "I saw your message and you never said you were visiting." She said opening up the wrapped parcel. 

"I was on my way when I sent the message to you and I didn't tell you so I can make it a surprise for you."

"Seriously, I'm amazed," Angela divulged and finished opening up her parcel to find a gold necklace inside of it. "It's beautiful!" She screamed and pulled her best friend by her arms fully into her room.

"You look pretty in your dress," Jane complimented while they sat comfy on Angela's bed. 

"My boyfriend bought it for me."

"Boyfriend?!" Jane shrieked, "Who is your boyfriend or wait!" She paused and pretended to think, "Don't tell me that handsome guy I just finished crushing is your boyfriend?!" 

"Yes he is and he's the Mathias I've been talking about."

"You got back with him?!"

"Some days ago."

"Hmm…," she grimaced and Angie chuckled. 

"We kinda still have a thing for each other," Angie disclosed with red stealing its way into her cheeks.

"Well… Let's go tease that boy and give you some surprise," Jane said and pulled her up from the bed while Angie groaned.

"What surprise is that? And mind you that boy is too arrogant to be teased," Angie warned and Jane burst out laughing hard at her statement. 

"He is?" 

"I bet you don't wanna know."

Jane shook her head, "I would love to know how timid he is, only then would I agree with you," she said and pulled Angie up from the bed. They made their way down the stairs to the sitting room where voices were coming from. 

"I've brought the birthday girl here!" Jane declared looking at Angie who seemed lost.

"Ben?" She called to her brother and veered around to the other person sitting beside him. She took a step forward into the sitting room and called, "Mother?" 

Mrs Thompson didn't utter anything as she gaze largely at her beautiful daughter. Her daughter has grown up so big and looked smart. Tears welled up in her eyes seeing her daughter after so many years. The same goes for Angela, she stood frozen, glancing at the woman she had once known as her mother. Her mother has left her and her brother alone. The mother she wished she wouldn't get to see but then, she had finally seen her. What was she to do?

"Come here, Angela," Mr Thompson called to his daughter who seemed lost in thought, "Come sit beside you and I will explain things to you."

"Was this the surprise you both are talking about?" She whispered enough for them to hear her. There was silence for some seconds before Jane went up to her and led her to sit beside her father. Her eyes met with Mathias who was sitting on the other side beside her father but she immediately shifted her gaze from him. She wasn't ready to let his presence cool off her temper. 

After Mr Thompson saw she had sat down, he spoke up, "I'm sorry Angel, I didn't inform you about their visit. I wanted to make it a surprise."

"If my brother, Jane and Zee are the only ones here, then you've made a surprise. But it's no more if she has to be here," Angie grumbled. 

The room was quiet again. Angie's words had hit harshly on them but there was nothing they could do. She had every right to speak down since they didn't even inform her beforehand. 

"I hate the fact that she's here!"

"Angela!" Ben snapped.

"What?! Don't tell me you're also happy to see her or you're just pretending."

"I'm not pretending but can you please show some respect, I am trying to," Ben divulged.

"I don't have to show her respect!"

"Angie?" Mathias called this time and she turned to him. 

"Yes, can we go? Because you aren't going to say anything to convince me here," she conveyed surprising everyone present. 

Instantly Mathias stood up and walked past her, "Come with me," he commanded and the family watched them leave. Mr Thompson and Ben tried comforting Mrs Thompson while Dennis, Jane and Zee kept cool throughout the entire conversation. 

Mathias helped Angela open the front seat and she entered after mumbling a thank you to him. He got into the driver's seat, ignite his key and made a reverse before driving out of Angie's compound. 

"I also don't get along with my father," Mathias started, "We quarrel most of the time but look at me trying to find out who had stolen the country's fund," he revealed and chuckled while Angie paid rapt attention to what he was saying. "You asked me why I had gone to the bridge to mourn my mother eight years ago? That was because my mom committed suicide, jumping into the sea right in front of me."

"Ma… Maths," Angie shuttered looking confused about his statement.

Maths continued, giving her no chance to speak. "After she had drowned right in front of me, I began to blame my dad for her death since the two were in a one-sided contract marriage," He paused and gave her a glance with a cute smile when he saw the look on her face. "I'm not done fighting with my dad but I will make sure he gets his bailout, you know why?" He asked but didn't wait for a reply when he responded, "My dad got nothing to do with the funds, he's innocent."

Angie bent her head unable to say anything. Mathias has just disclosed his biggest secret to her which was filled with agony. No wonder Nancy refused to tell her the whole truth. No wonder Maths behaves too rashly toward people. He must've been in pain seeing his mother drowning in front of him.