Before starting this chapter I would like to thank the Tumblr user lydiaphantom for making this AMAZING cover art for the story!

It was Friday night, time for the party. Theo had an uneventful week, because he knew that there would be no changes in regards to Liam and Hayden until the party, where Liam promised to confront Hayden about her alleged lies. In honesty, Theo was not necessarily hopeful about the outcome of the discussion. Theo was well aware of the hold Hayden had over Liam, because Liam craved the security and safety that Hayden provided. Even though subtle actions from Liam had made it clear that he does not love Hayden anymore, the consistency of their relationship was a great comfort for him. Hayden could easily use her charm and leverage to convince Liam that all of this is a lie, after all no one had any proof of Lydia claims, not even Lydia herself. It was all just hearsay, but maybe, just maybe, Hayden would slip up, causing enough doubt for Liam to investigate this, in whatever way possible.

However, the situation with Liam has not been the only thing on Theo's mind this week. His mother's attempts to stop him from going to the gala have grown more dramatic and even more desperate. This desperation made Theo begin to wonder why his mother was so adamant against the gala, because it almost seemed like she was scared for him to go. Theo had asked Cora about Mr. Talbot to see if there was anything his mother was not telling him, but Cora simply reiterated what Theo had already heard. Nonetheless, Theo was still going to attend the gala with Cora, he had already committed and he did not want to cancel on her.

As Theo was attempting, and failing, to tie his tie, his mother walked into the room, "I suppose it is to late to try and change your mind again?" She asked and walked over to her son and began to fix his tie. "Just promise me you will be careful, and stay away from him."

"I will, I promise, but it would help if you could tell me whats so wrong with him," Theo asked again, he had no proof, but he believed that there was something more about the Talbot family that his mother was not mentioning. He could see it in her eyes everytime he asked, a sort of pain that she tried so hard to hide from her son. Whatever it was, it was clear she was trying to protect him, but he did not need this protection anymore, he needed to know what the danger was.

She sighed and looked down, about to speak before the doorbell rang, "That must be Cora, you should get going," she told her son and hugged him tightly. "Be a gentleman tonight ok? Open her door for her, make sure to treat her well, not that I thought you would do any different." She offered him a smile, but Theo could still see the pain in her eyes.


Cora had driven them to the party, seeing as Theo did not have a car. As they arrived Theo instantly knew this was not like anything he had ever been to. Saying he was out of his element would be an understatement, he was out of his world. As they walked in, Theo held his arm out and Cora looped her arm through. Theo was in awe of how beautiful Cora looked tonight, though he was not shocked. However, this only reaffirmed Theo's feeling of being out of place. Cora wore a white floor length gown that probably cost more than Theo would ever make in his life, as well as diamond earrings accompanied by a diamond necklace to match. Meanwhile, Theo's tux was rented, at a discount, from the local bridal store.

Everyone else seemed to be just as, if not more, dressed up as Cora. Theo had never seen so much expensive jewelry in one room before, let alone the cars the people had showed up in. Theo could not help but wonder how much these people spent on their outfits for this gala, as a opposed to the money they were actually donating to the cause. Even Theo had decided to donate this week's paycheck to the organization, which, ironically enough, was dedicated to helping underage mothers. Theo snapped back to reality, if thats what you could call this party, when Cora whispered to him, "Are you alright? You have not said a word since we arrived."

He blinked hard a few times before nodded to her with a smile, "Yes, I am just taking it all in. I never thought I would ever attend one of these parties unless I was the boy serving champagne to the guests," he said with a small chuckle. He enjoyed the fact that Cora did not care about his economic status, and she always seemed understanding of Theo.

She couldn't help but laugh as she pulled him on the dance floor to slow dance with him. "Well Theo, enjoy it, you are a guest here just like anyone else, and you get to dance with the belle of the ball," she teased as they danced together. She was smiling the entire time, and Theo returned her joy. However, something bothered him, it was the way she looked at him, so caring and loving, and he felt like he could not genuinely return that look. He liked her, he really did. How could he not? Beautiful, smart, kind, talented, Cora Hale was the perfect girl, but deep down, Theo feared he couldn't like her in the way she seemed to like him.

As they danced Theo could faintly see Liam and Hayden in the corner of the room. They appeared to be arguing, which, oddly enough, seemed to be a good sign. Liam must have gone through with the plan to confront Hayden, which would hopefully expose the truth. Soon, the argument escalated and ended with Hayden striking Liam on the cheek, with a gasp from everyone at the party. As Hayden stormed out, Theo looked at Cora, "Could you excuse me? I need to go talk to Liam." Theo had updated Cora on the situation with Liam, most of which she already knew since she was in his friend group, so he knew she would understand.

Theo walked over to where Liam was, and noticed tears in the male's eyes. Theo knew that these tears were likely not from the slap , but from the course of the argument. "Do not talk to me right now," Liam murmured to Theo, but with no sense of assertiveness.

"What happened?" Theo asked as he ignored Liam's request. Liam needed someone to talk to in this moment, whether he would admit it or not, and Theo knew he was probably the man for the job.

"Are you joking? Did you not just see her slap me and storm out?" Liam asked as he looked up at his friend and sighed. "I asked her about the rumors, and whether or not it was possible if this child was not mine. She insists that it is, and continued to call Lydia and you liars and manipulators. She even said when the child is born she will get a paternity test to prove it, and that if I felt so strongly about this then we could break up until the child is born."

Theo nodded as he listened, Hayden seemed to be doubling down on the claim that this child must be Liam's. Maybe she was not lying after all. "Oh I see," Theo stated, starting to think perhaps Lydia had misunderstood what she had seen. After all, it was no secret that Liam's friend group disliked Hayden, so perhaps a drunk Lydia saw Hayden and Liam together and mistook it as Hayden and Nolan being together, "So perhaps she is not lying then."

Liam shook his head, "No, you don't understand. I know her Theo, she was so quick with her defense, pleading that theres no way Lydia is right, and offended I would even believe such thing. She insisted that she and Nolan were not even that close, he was merely her rebound." Liam seemed to be stating these things in a skeptical way, which confused Theo, "But like I said, I know her. Anyone else would have gone about their day and apologized, but I saw something more. I don't know how, but I saw it in her eyes Theo, she lied straight to my face."

Theo was shocked to hear Liam come to such a conclusion. Liam was always wrapped around Hayden's finger, so why now was her grip on him fading? "So you don't believe her? So does that mean you two are done, or what?"

Liam sighed and shrugged, " I don't know, right now my parents are basically forcing me to stay with her and acknowledge the child, I would not be allowed to break up with her unless I get proof. But how am I supposed to prove that until the baby is born? I can't wait nine months Theo. Unless Hayden confesses, there is no way to prove that she's lying, which means I am stuck with her until we can get the paternity test."

Everything he was hearing shocked Theo. How could Liam's parents make him keep dating Hayden? As Theo glanced around the room at the kids his age, and how they interacted, it once again became clear, he did not understand this world at all. Liam had been right all along, but Theo could not let Liam throw all this time away fake dating Hayden. Liam deserved to be free, and the baby's true father deserves to know. Before Theo could respond he noticed Liam's eyes widen before quickly rushing away. Theo did not get the chance to stop him because he heard a voice behind him say, "Hello Theo Raeken."

Theo turned around and saw a middle aged man, who he assumed to be Mr. Talbot because there was a resemblance to Brett. "Hello sir, you are Mr. Talbot right?" He asked and he looked around for Cora, trying to get some back up. He did not know what protocol was in situation like this. Theo spotted Cora across the room, and she appeared to be in a heated debate with Derek.

"Yes, I am Richard Talbot, pleasure to finally meet you," He replied as he put out his hand so Theo could shake it. "I apologize, you are probably wondering how I recognized you, its just, you are the spitting image of your mother. Did you know she used to work here some time ago?"

Theo raised his eyebrow as he shook the man's hand. Could this be what his mother was hiding? It almost had to be, because she did not mention having ever worked for the Talbot family. "I actually did not know that." Theo's mind raced with ideas as to what may have happened during her time working there that made her so weary of Mr. Talbot.

"You don't belong here," Mr. Talbot said out of nowhere, his former cordial tone now turning in to a dark and commanding one. "You will never belong here, I don't care if the Hale family is sponsoring you, or whatever is going on that brought you here, you do not belong in my house."

Theo took a few steps back as he heard this man he just met speak in such a negative tone to him, "I am sorry sir, I am afraid I don't understand. I simply came as Cora Hale's date that is all, I did not mean to offend you."

"Did you not hear me," the man said and gritted his teeth, "Get the hell out of my house, and go back home to your whore of a mother."

At those words, Theo saw red. His mother was the only person in his life that truly cared for him. With his father out of the picture, Theo's mom had been his sole provider and Theo would not let anyone disrespect her like that. He knew it was wrong, but his senses were dulled. Before he even knew what he was doing, Theo punched Mr. Talbot so hard that he fell back to the ground. Moments later, security escorted Theo out.

About half an hour later, after settling down, Cora came out and joined Theo. While waiting for the valet to get her car, Cora had Theo explain exactly what happened. "He really said that?" She asked in shock and horror, "He really called your mother a whore? What does he have against her?" Cora had ice she had gotten inside and gently placed it on Theo's arm because he had gotten a bruise from the security guards.

"Yes he really said that," Theo said, with his anger mostly subsiding, "My mother said he used to hire young girls and fire them when his wife got jealous of them. Perhaps my mother caused marital discord between him and his wife, but I still don't understand what that has to do with me? Why would he be so hellbent on kicking me out of his party?"

Cora thought for a moment, and then, as if a lightbulb went off, she looked up at him with a sympathetic glance, "Did he ever say how long ago she had worked for him? Like, how many years ago?"

Theo shook his head, his conversation with Mr. Talbot was brief and the adrenaline made most of it hazy, "No, he just said it was some years ago. However, I think it must have been before I was born because my mom usually told me where she worked at, just in case I ever had an emergency I knew where she was, but for as long as I can remember, she worked for your family when she had me, up until the fire a few years ago."

Cora nodded as she listened to the story, the look on her face suggested that she seemed to have figured this mystery out. "You mother is young for a mom, I remember my mother mentioning she was just 19 when she started working for us. Meaning if she worked for the Talbot's before working for us, then she was around 18 or 19. She was a young pretty girl working for the Talbots, and less than a year of being fired from their house, she had a son."

Theo nodded as she listened to Cora state facts that he already knew, but then, when he heard what she said last, he froze. He simply stood up, "Cora, I had a great time but I need to go home, now."


When Theo got home, he thanked Cora and walked inside. He noticed the kitchen light was on, so he walked in and saw his mother at the table surrounded by tissues, suggesting she had been crying. Before Theo could yell, or cry, or scream, she simply said, "Sit down, we need to talk." Theo nodded and sat down, knowing that his mother was about to confirm his own thoughts.

Theo was already welling up with tears, and his breathing became heavy, "You told me that he was in the army, you told me that he died in Iraq." It was all he could say. The only thing he thought about the entire way home was exposing his mom's lies, the lies he'd been told since he could remember.

"I was 18 years old, first job I ever had," She began, ignoring his accusations, and getting to her story, "The Talbot's were a respected family from all I knew, like I said, I was new, I did not know his reputation. All I knew was that he was the two had been married for a few years, and were probably a little less than a decade older than me. As soon as I started, I noticed the couple, Mr. and Mrs. Talbot were not happy together, spending much time not even speaking. He was so nice to me, charming, and he began to talk about his issues with his wife to me. It all happened so fast but eventually we started an affair. I am not proud of it, but he told me he was going to leave her, and that we could be together. I was young, and stupid, and no one had ever looked at me the way he did." She was stoic, showing almost no emotion as she told her story. "Mrs. Talbot found out she was pregnant the same day I found out about you. Mr. Talbot found out he was going to have two kids, but he couldn't have two wives. So naturally, I was the one let go."

Theo was in shock of this story. He did not know what to think, his mother was confirming his worst fears. "Why don't you get child support? Why hasn't he seen me? Do I not deserve to know my father? How could you let him get away free, when you and I were left, alone, all this time?"

"He told me I would never work again, he has sway amongst the families. Issues like this were part of an unspoken oath that the help took when they were hired to not reveal slanderous family secrets, even if it was true. If I were to take him to court, I would be betraying that oath, and no one would hire me for fear I would expose their secrets, or at least, thats what he told me," She explained and took her son's hand, "I kept the secret for you, he is a bad man, you were better off with no father, than him I assure you. I soon got hired at the Hale's and Thalia became a close friend and she assisted me with everything, and well, you know what happened there. Theo I am sorry, but I was young and scared, I did not know what to do."

Theo stood up from the chair, "I am mad at both of you, I grew up thinking my father was dead when he was actually living a relaxing life with all the money in the world, and you knew the whole time! You I can forgive in time, but him, i am going to make him pay."