Author's Note posted below.

Part 2

Chapter 8

Hero

"Did you ever know that you're my hero? You're everything I would like to be. I could fly higher than an eagle, for you are the wind beneath my wings."

~Bette Midler, Wind Beneath My Wings

Boyce is a very professional man. His office is everything I've ever wanted. It is very neat and tidy. Different cameras are placed intricately on the shelf and photographs of various counties are hanging on the walls. He really has an eye for artful images. On top of that, he is the kind of person who isn't intimidating but at the same time there is that professional respect.

"I am so glad that you accepted my invitation. I know it is a lot to process because this is going to take a year. Are you sure your family is okay with this?"

"I don't have a family," I tell him while my fingers intertwine. It's true. No one is going to stop me . . . except Christian. That's why I won't tell him. I will just run off and he will never see me again. Yes, I will miss him and yes, he is the man I love most but it just hurts. I just want to get away.

Something about Boyce's expression changes as soon as I said. That's when I look at his fingers and there's a wedding band. For a very good-looking man, he could be one of those guys in The Bachelor but he isn't a bachelor clearly.

I look around his office. My eyes focused too much on the shots he took of the world that I didn't notice that one photograph placed on the upper part of the wall behind his table. I couldn't breathe when I saw it. Is this the reason why he asked me to be his photographer? Is it not because of my talent?

As if Boyce is reading my mind, he says, "She didn't tell me to hire you. Our team discovered you. Now all I ask is for you to grant her wish. Meet her and please talk to her."

"Why would I do that?"

"She salutes you. I have to tell you this, Ana. I love her and I don't want you to keep on hurting her. She loves you even though you never treated her right and you never spoke to her for years no matter how many times she tried to reach out."

"How dare you say that to me? You don't know anything!" I screamed not caring that he is practically my boss.

He remains calm, almost begging but keeps that cool voice, "Please. Just this once."

It just turned worse, didn't it?

Boyce King is my stepsister's husband.

~~~Somewhere in the Middle~~~

As I swing the door open, I see her sitting in the middle of the restaurant. She already ordered. When her eyes spot my face, it lights up as if nothing ever happened before. How could she be this insensitive? After stealing my father, how could she smile this way? I guess there are just people who are purely evil.

I stand in front of her now, only the table separating us. That didn't hinder her from wrapping her arms around me. That embrace lasted for almost five years and no matter how tight or how long she hugged me, I didn't care. I never hugged her back.

"I miss you, Ana."

We sit and I don't say anything.

She says, "You love Italian spaghetti, right? I ordered this for you. You are going to love it!"

"Let's cut this out, Amber. Why are we here?" My voice hits like poison.

Amber tries to pretend that she is not offended. She clears her throat and continues, "That spaghetti is made by Chef Gnothe and—"

"Amber, stop fucking playing a game with me! Just stop it, okay?! If it weren't for your husband, I would be here meeting you. I don't care about you, okay? What do you want to talk about? Do you want to talk about how shitty my life turned out when my father left my mom for your mom? Do you want to talk about how he replaced me with you? Because if you want to talk about that to destroy me then it's too late. I am already destroyed. I have been destroyed for years."

Tears come out from her eyes and she takes a deep breath before replying.

"You never knew, didn't you?"

I huff, "Never knew what?"

She hushes, "I've always loved you."

For some reason, that hits me hard. I look at her hands and it is almost as if she is holding on to the table for support.

"You never let Dad explain. You never asked him the whole story."

"What's the whole story? There is no whole story!"

Amber raises her voice this time, "Listen to me! For once, listen before you destroy everything!"

I almost butt in but she interrupts with the revelation that made me feel like I wasted my life hating everything.

"Your mother cheated on him."

I couldn't breathe. I couldn't even move. I couldn't say anything.

"He was trying so hard not for you to know because he loves you. He tried to work things out with your mother but still continued her affair with this younger man. Then Dad found my Mom who just got out of a bad marriage. You know how bad that was? My biological father was abusive. He treated us like shit! He earned but he only bought it for alcohol and cigarettes. He didn't even care if we were hungry. Then he blames us if we don't have something to eat."

I remain immobilized.

"Yes, Dad hurt my mother. A lot. He even threw a TV on me once."

She looks intensely to my eyes.

"Ana, I found a great life with Dad. Everything turned colorful. I was very when I found out that I have you to be my sister. You hurt me so many times but Mom told me to understand you because it's a lot for you to take in but after years and years of waiting, I still can't get you to love and accept me."

I insist weakly now, "Dad replaced me with you and—"

"He didn't. He never did. He told me to look up to you and everything you've achieved. Did I ever tell you that you are the apple of his eyes? Did I ever tell you that you how much I love you? Even my mother loves you."

"No—"

"Yes, Dad bought a doll and gave it to me. It was my first toy. My biological father never bought me one. Remember that time when I got bullied by the girls and I ran to you for help and you just smiled at those cool girls and ignored me? Remember that time when my heart broke because my first boyfriend only used me for a bet? You said, 'Amber, it was your fault. Amber, you are so stupid. Amber, get out of my house, okay? Fix your own problems.' Remember that time when you graduated and I was so proud. You didn't invite me but I came with a cake I made. When I gave it to you, you dropped it to the ground."

I try to deny all of that but I can't.

Amber replies, "But I don't hate you, Ana. I don't. But if you still won't give me a chance to be your sister then it's fine. I will respect you. I am going now before this even gets worse."

I am not crying like she is.

Amber stands up and gets her back. Before leaving she tells me, "Just to let you know, Dad is dying. He's had two heart attacks already. He is becoming weak. I am here not just because my husband encouraged me to but because Dad asks for you."

She leaves but not before saying, "He asks for you everyday."

That's when I cried.

Author's Note: Sorry for the VERY late update. I have been very tired lately because of work.

Here goes the new chapter and I hope you like it.

Also, we only have 2 chapters to go until the finale of the story.

Thank you so much!

Margo.