Chapter 2

Matt just stared at Brooke, totally shocked by the bombshell she had just dropped on him "she's my what?" he asked, "She's your daughter Matt. Can we come in? I'll explain everything" Brooke replied as Matt let them in. Brooke placed the sleeping girl on the sofa as Matt joined them in the living area, in the glow of the light Matt could see the resemblance his daughter bore to him. She had the same dark hair and nose. "Brooke, I don't understand. I mean we never, you know..." he said, the whole situation becoming more confusing for him "Jasmine isn't mine" Brooke replied "She's Willow's, and I think she's in trouble"

"Brooke, I want you to tell me everything. Where is she?" Matt asked, but before Brooke could reply, Jeff and Adam came strolling in. "Brooke, what are you doing here?" Jeff asked, giving her the same confused look that Matt gave her. "You might as well tell them Brooke. They are gonna find out eventually" Matt said "I saw Willow yesterday. She's in trouble guys. She sent me here with Jasmine" she started to say, but Adam interrupted her "Woah, whose Jasmine and where has she been these last few years?" "I don't know where she's been, as I hadn't heard from her in nearly 3 years, but she was at some coffeehouse in Manteo when I saw her" Brooke started saying "but from what she was saying, she's been seeing this guy called Victor, and I'm sure he's been abusing her. She refused to take her sunglasses off, even though it was raining yesterday. She wouldn't admit it to me, but I did manage to take a photo of her so you can see for yourself" as she took out her cell and showed them the pic, they all gasped. Willows flame red hair had been dyed a dark chocolate brown, her face was considerably thinner and more sunken than it was 3 years ago. The last time they had seen her this thin was when Eric had held her captive for 7 months. "Willow sent me here to get you guys to go help her. She gave me Jasmine, a bag full of clothes, this letter for you Matt and this diary she found amongst Victors things. Its over 100 years old, yet she thinks it might help you to find her" Brooke said. "But you still haven't answered my question Brooke, who is Jasmine?" Adam asked again, as Brooke looked to Matt who spoke, and moved to the side to reveal the sleeping child on his sofa "Jasmine is my daughter"

"Woah, you're a father?"Jeff said, totally shocked by this new revelation "If you're a father, then that means Amy is a grandmother! Oh my God, wait until she finds out" Adam said "Wait, if you're a father and Amy is a grandmother, then that means, I'M AN UNCLE" Jeff said excitedly, as Matt read the letter that Willow had sent him. "Matt, you ok?" Adam asked as Matt shook his head and thrust the letter into his hands.

Matt,

I just want to say that I'm so sorry for the way I acted all those years ago. I had just lost Eric, Molly's appeal being successful in her getting a reduced sentence, well it just made me feel overwhelmed. I felt like you guys were smothering me, and I couldn't breathe. I just had to get away. I know now, looking back, it was the wrong thing to do. I should have told you all what was going on instead I pushed you all away.

I had also just discovered that I was pregnant with Jasmine and I became so confused as I didn't know who her father was. I knew it was either you or Dean and I know I should have told you about it, but I felt so ashamed and knew that you would hate that Jasmine may not have been your daughter. That's where I came up with the I Quit match at No Way Out. It was to be my final match, only Vince and I knew the truth behind the match. He wanted to tell you about it but I begged him not to. I didn't count on you coming out after the match to confront me the way you did. What I did to you on the ramp that night, it killed me inside. It was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. I went to stay with Brooke that night, she wanted to call you, tell you were I was, but I told her not to. So please don't blame Brooke for any of this. It was all me.

After I left Brookes, I headed to Miami, where I found a great apartment which overlooked the ocean. I dyed my hair as I didn't want anyone knowing who I was. I worked part time in a clothes store and as a cabaret singer to keep the money coming in. My neighbour Rhoda was always helping me out with the pregnancy. She had 3 kids of her own and is grandmother to 7 grandchildren! So she knew exactly what I was going through and was with me when Jasmine was born. I also had a DNA test done when she was a few days old. You are 100% her father, I've included a copy of the results with this letter. That's how I met Victor Dalimar.

I was struggling with Jasmine and her buggy, the elevator was out of order and I couldn't just leave a new born on their own. Victor lived a couple of floors under me, but he carried the buggy all the way to my door. He visited us daily, and I slowly found myself falling for him, although I always kept a picture of you beside Jasmines bed, just so she could see her dad. I wasn't trying to replace you as her father, but a little after Jasmines first birthday, we started dating. It was just a bit of fun at first, only becoming serious after 11 months. The next 18 months were bliss; he told me that his great, great grandfather Charles had built two fabulous manors, one in Blackpool, which unfortunately has been burnt to the ground, after he came to America at the turn of the century. The other manor is built in North Carolina and goes by the name of Ravenhearst. It was named after Charles's first love, Emma Ravenhearst, an American who moved to Blackpool to become a teacher, but mysteriously vanished in 1895.

6 months ago, Victor visited this manor and returned a changed man. He became very private; he started hitting me, and was always going on about ghosts, locks and saying "the secret must never be revealed." I started fearing that he was going to do something to me, which is when he suggested that we move up to Manteo. I was reluctant at first, as I didn't know how I would feel being back in North Carolina. But we did it. We moved here 4 months ago, and I have never felt more at home than I have in NC, but it made me miss you guys. One night, Victor came home from Ravenhearst in a terrible rage, started beating me to within an inch of my life. I know I should have left him then and there, but I was so scared. That's when I decided that I had to get Jasmine to you, one way or another.

A few days ago I called Brooke and told her to meet me at Joan's Coffee shop, where I plan on telling her everything and I hope that she will take Jasmine away from Victor and bring her to you. I'm scared that he's planning to do something to me, as all he has talked about the last few months are some contraption kept in Ravenhearst, and he keeps mentioning the names "Emma, Rose, Gwendolyn and Charlotte." I found an old Emma's old diary amongst Victors possessions, and from what I've seen, it doesn't end well (although there are some pages missing!)

Matt, I know I should have told you about the pregnancy and Jasmine earlier and I'm truly sorry that you've missed out on nearly 3 years of her life, but if Victor does do anything to me, at least I know that Jas is safe and away from danger. I thought that being away from you would give me some perspective on what I wanted in life, but I came to realise I already had it. I love you, Matt. Always have and always will, I just wish I'd realised it sooner then we wouldn't be in this mess.

If I'm not at your place two days after Brooke and Jasmine have arrived, then Victor has me somewhere in Ravenhearst. I don't want you putting yourself in danger for me, so just stay away. The Dalimars aren't like normal people, they manipulate, mess with your head and Jasmine can't lose both parents.

I love you all

Willow xoxo

"Jesus, sounds like she's been through hell with this guy" Jeff whispered as him and Adam finished reading her letter, as Brooke and Matt came back downstairs after carrying Jasmine up to bed. "You thought about what you're gonna do Matt?" Adam asked, as Matt and Brooke sat on the sofa, his face deep in concentration. "It's been almost 3 years, since I last saw her. You know that I've had girlfriends over the years, some good and some bad. But no one has even come close to what Willow and I had. So I'm gonna wait the two days like she says, then I'm gonna go looking for her" Matt replied "And I believe that this diary holds the key to her being found"