Chapter 15

..

The entire house of the Berlitz was beautifully decorated. Colourful and scented flowers adored the main hall and in places, colourful bulbs were attached. The main door was covered in white flowers with red roses sticking in perfect places.

Dawn's room was populated at the moment. In the middle of the room was Johanna, wearing a floor length yellow dress with full sleeves. Her hair was in a tight bun and she had matching shoes on. Beside her was Serena, wearing a pink dress which ended just below her knees. Her hair was let free and she had a pink pearl hairband on her blonde hair. She was wearing light pink elbow length gloves too.

In front of the dressing table was a chair, on which Dawn was sitting. Her best friend, Lyra was busy applying make up on her face and Leona, her childhood friend was busy perfecting the white dress she was wearing.

"No more makeup please,"Dawn pleaded. Lyra and Leona ignored her and continued. Johanna smiled,"It is just for one day Dawn. You will make it."

"Make up makes me sick, my skin itches." Dawn complained. Lyra told her to keep quiet. Once Lyra was done, Leona applied a little kohl on her eyes and little bluish eye shadow to bring out the natural glow of her eyes.

"Make it fast girls, we will be late," Serena impatiently said. Dawn smiled warmly.

...

"They are late Gary!" Ash said adjusting his bowtie. Drew removed Ash's hand from the collar of his shirt.

"Daniel told me they are on their way," Drew said readjusting the tie.

Soon a car came to halt and Johanna and Daniel came out. They were closely followed by Serena, Leona and Lyra who helped Dawn come out from the car safely without destroying the dress. The moment Ash saw Dawn getting of the car, his heart beat sped up and his eyes widened. He had never witnessed such a beautiful sight before or may be he had, but never paid any attention.

Dawn took a quick glance at Ash, who was wearing a white buttoned up shirt with black coat and black jeans. His red bowtie was a little out of place and his hair was still messy but a little tamed as compared to their previous encounters. She blushed understanding she had been staring for too long.

Gary and Drew were standing beside Ash, smirking at their brother's expression who was a little embarrassed as Dawn was looking at him continuously. For a moment he thought he had dressed up wrongly or wore his coat inside out. Daniel was holding Dawn's left hand where as Johanna her right, and were making their way to the aisle. From the corner of her eyes, Dawn saw Harrison smiling warmly at her. She couldn't help but feel blessed.

She had hardly put a foot on the stage when Serena interrupted them.

"Wait, I have something to tell you all," she said and quickly stood behind Dawn. Dawn turned around, asking,"what is it?"

"I know it is not the perfect time to tell you all but it is now or never," She said in a exaggerating tone. Ash looked at her dryly,"say it."

Daniel and Johanna understood what she was going to say. Daniel stopped her,"You planned all this from the beginning right?"

Serena shook her head,"I don't think it will be nice to deceive them father." Daniel clenched his fists,"I sometimes wonder if you're my own blood." Johanna placed a hand on his shoulder and pleaded Serena to stop. However it was too late.

"Say it," Delia commanded, not wanting to delay the marriage any longer.

Serena pointed at Dawn and said,"She is not my sister."

Daniel let out a long sigh and Johanna looked away from the looks people were giving them. Gary spoke first,"What do you mean?"

May raised her eyebrows and enquired,"What are you speaking about?"

Serena shrugged, avoiding all the looks her parents were giving her and spoke,"My parents have just one kid and that's me, she," she pointed at Dawn," she is an orphan. My Dad found her lying on the roadside and being a kind hearted man, brought her home."

Dawn was at the verge of crying and she took a step back, shaking wildly. Daniel caught her arm to prevent her from collapsing. She said in a broken voice,"She is lying, isn't she? You are my father and she, Johanna Berlitz is my mother. Dad, tell me she is lying!"

Daniel looked away, not being able to face Dawn.

"Why did you keep such a thing hidden from us Mr Berlitz?" Troy asked, a little angry. Johanna pleadingly said,"Trust us, we didn't want to, we were going to tell.." Serena interrupted her,"Dawn doesn't have an identity, she doesn't know who her father is, what is her background or what her caste, religion, or anything is. Seeing the fact that Ash was ready to marry her must have made my father have seconds thoughts. I believe he never wanted to cheat anyone, he just wished a happy life for Dawn."

Dawn, on hearing all these was shaking wildly. Her grip on her father tightened and she broke into sobs. Lyra and Leona looked at each other, trying to comprehend what was going on. Daniel petted her back and softly whispered in Dawn's ears, making sure everyone heard too,"I may not be your biological father, but I have brought you up with the same love and care I would have given my own daughter. Blood relations are not important dear, the relation and connection which we have in our heart matters. And I am sure no one could ever deny the fact that I took care of you as my own daughter." Dawn broke into tears again, this time, tears of hope and love. Johanna hugged her too.

Johanna embraced Dawn and kissed her forehead,"Who says I am not your mother? Who says you're not my daughter? Don't listen to them, society will speak, they will judge you. Dear, for your real parents you may be just a result of lust but for us, you're our life. Nothing is more important than the present. And now the truth is you're my own daughter. We are bound by love, not by blood."

Daniel let go of Dawn's arm and took a step towards Serena. Serena, a little scared, took a step back,"Your mother and I never differentiated between you two. But now, I am sure blood relations don't even matter. I am sure Dawn has performed her duties as a daughter much better than you did."

"But you can't deny that I am your real daughter, she is just a stranger at our mercy," she scoffed.

"You're my daughter by blood, not by actions. I will still take care of you as it is my duty but I know I can never trust you the way I did before."

Troy and Samantha were looking at each other and then at Delia. Delia nodded and said,"It is Ash's decision. He is going to spend his entire life with her after all."

May slowly came to Ash's side and pulled his arm,"What do you want to do?" Ash freed his arm and slowly said,"Uncle?"

Daniel looked up on being addressed.

"Is this the same thing you wanted to tell me about Dawn yesterday?" He politely asked. Daniel nodded.

"Will you accept her still? A girl with no background or identity?" Serena asked.

"I have loved her, not her background. I am going to spend my life with her, not her identity. I didn't wanted to listen something which has no connection with our future, so I told Daniel to not to tell about that. No one was deceiving me," Ash replied," I was quiet till now because I wanted Dawn to adjust to the news. She is worthy of every man in this world and I will be honoured if she becomes my wife. I will leave the decision on her, whether she wants to get married or take some time to reconsider her opinion. Whatever her answer may be, I will respect it as I have loved her and I know, love will find a way."

Harrison, who was close had heard all this. He slowly smiled and left, muttering he had some research to do.

Dawn faced Ash and wiped away her tears,"You want to marry me, still?"

"I don't see why not."

"Even after knowing my history?"

"It is not something that you have done. What's the use of punishing you for that?"

"What if people say or speak something about this later? Won't you regret?"

"We regret only about the wrong choices we have made in the past. Marrying you is not a wrong choice, it is the best option."

Ash smiled and extended a hand on her direction,"I love you Dawn, and I want you to be by my side, forever, till the day I die. Will you marry me?"

Dawn smiled and let out a small laugh,"Yes I will."

Serena, who was watching all these commotion with dumbfound expression, left, feeling humiliated and defeated once again.

..

"Why does the plan always back fires on me?" Serena cursed her as she banged her fists on the park bench.

"You will either break your bones or peel of the paint," a cold, monotonous voice called from behind her. Startled, she quickly stood up and turned around to see a purple haired man looking in the opposite direction but no doubt talking to her.

"I never asked for your opinion," She said, trying to reciprocate all the coldness he had had in his voice.

The man shrugged and got up,"Ashy-boy and Dawn look good together."

Serena raised her eyebrows and enquired,"Who the hell are you?"

''The name is Paul, Paul Ketchum."

..

"Daniel?" Harrison said, getting the attention of the former. Once he looked in his direction, Harrison beckoned him to follow him.

Once arriving in a private room, Harrison quickly closed the door behind them.

"What's the matter, you seem troubled,"Daniel asked, a little worried.

"It is about Dawn."

"I don't get it."

"Where did you find her?" Harrison asked, as politely and slowly as possible. Daniel looked at him for a while and answered,"She was probably a year old. She was in arms of a mad man and I had to call the cops to save her from the lunatic."

"Did you find her somewhere near LaRousse?" Harrison asked impatiently. Daniel nodded and asked how he knew that.

"I always believed Dawn had something which attracted me towards her the most. I believed it was due to her voice but now it is clear," Harrison took a deep breath.

"I am still clueless Harrison."

"Dawn has the same eyes and hair colour as my daughter whom I had lost many years ago. I guess, she is my kid after all,"

Daniel was unable to say anything. Harrison continued,"don't tell her any of these. I don't want her life to turn more chaotic than it is now."

"I understand."

..

"You mean you're Ash's brother?" Serena asked bewildered. Paul nodded.

"Then why did you leave?" She asked and Paul gave her a glare,"None of your business."

"Fine, am not interested either," she puffed her cheeks and took a seat beside him. Paul got up, ready to walk away.

"How do you know about me and all the stuffs that happened?" She asked rather confused. He shrugged as if her question was useless and meaningless,"I don't stay with them doesn't mean I have no idea of what is going on their life."

"You spy on them," she got up too. Paul glared and scowled a little. She quickly changed the subject,"Why did you leave the family?" Paul scoffed once again and started walking away.

"Wait, you can't leave me on a cliffhanger!" She said and ran to walk beside him.

"Why are you interested? Because I am Ash's brother?",

"Shut up and tell me," she yelled and Paul started walking faster. She almost broke in a run to keep pace with him,"Please?"

"Mom was not happy as I was in a live in relationship," he said not even looking at her. Serena stopped walking and with a confused face asked,"But she accepted Dawn. I don't think she has a problem with love marriages."

Paul stopped to take a look at the girl. He smiled a little, a thing which he rarely does,"She is not against love marriages and neither is she so cold hearted. She can't even kill a fly if she wants." Serena was at a loss of words, wasn't he contradicting himself,"Then what's the matter?"

"My girlfriend has a husband."

...

So, was I able to keep Paul in character? He is such a difficult character to begin with, God knows what's going on in his head. And virtual cake and cookies for the guest reviewer who had figured out Dawn's secret! And since now, the secret is out, the only question is when will Dawn realize that Harrison is her father?

Keep reviewing and supporting me.

~ darkestlightofhope