Natanie disappeared from the stage and walked through the hallway as she spotted Sharon was closer. 
“Hi.” Natanie said with a serious look.
“Hi.” Sharon responded.
“I just want to apologize for everything I did to you before and I realize that I haven't been a good friend.” Natanie said.
“I forgive you.” Sharon said smiling.
“You have?”
“Yes, I mean no need for grudges.” Sharon shrugged.
Nathanie smiled at Sharon. “Thank you so much.”
“It's fine.”
Sharon was hesitant. “Could you help me out with something?”
Natanie smiled sheepishly at her, how could she turn her down? 
“Whatever it is, I'll be happy to help.” 
Sharon smiled. “Let's go.” 
Sharon dragged her away.
**
Cathera held out a glass of Champagne to Fred who accepted it with amusement. His gaze on her made her fingers quiver. He sipped his champagne and moved away from his spot, heading to relax himself on a couch. 
“So, are the documents ready yet?” Frederick's gaze was restless.
“Yes but we may have a little problem.” are eyebrows furrowed.
“A problem? I don't expect any problems. What? Was the money I gave you not enough? If it isn't, I can give you more. I just need things to be perfect.” Fred said with concern in his eyes.
“No, no, Fred it's not about the money this time.” Cathera sighed.
Cathera paced nervously around the room for a moment before halting on her tracks. 
“Then what is it about?” Fred asked.
“You wouldn't understand, it's something that would affect her if not now, in the future. It got me thinking that we should just cancel the proceedings of the marriage documents.” 
“What? What are you talking about, after everything? You’ve never cared about her future. Why now? Is this some sort of joke?”
“I do care about her future. That's why I demand we draw the lines here. We should just stop Fred.” She looked frustrated. 
“Look Cathera, you are about to complicate things. This is what we've worked hard for from the very beginning. I don't care about your stupid concerns, I'm going to get married to Natanie whether you like it or not!” Fred shouted angrily.
“I already said that won't work, it won't be possible anymore because Natanie is adopted. She's not my daughter!” Cathera screamed and trashed her glass of champagne, and it obviously made a mess.
Cathera’s heart was racing. Frederick looked like he had lost a tooth. 
“What?” He looked dazed for a moment. 
“Yes Frederick, I am not Natanie's real mother!” Her voice faded into the frustration that hung up in the air. She lowered her head and sighed breathlessly.
“What nonsense are you spewing from that mouth of yours? What do you mean that you're not Natanie’s real mother, explain it to me!” 
“Then who is?” Natanie walked in on their conversation as Cathera stared wide-eyed at her. 
Natanie looked at Fred who adjusted himself awkwardly avoiding her eyes and then at Cathera, her supposed mother. What's this situation?
“I asked a question, who the hell is my real mother!” 
She repeated. And then slowly and painfully tears were clouding her eyes and blurring her vision.
Cathera has told her that she was conceived after her father ran away and left them alone and now it just turns out that she isn't her real mother. 
She isn't even sure if Cathera told her the truth about her dad leaving. 
The silence between Frederick and Cathera was killing her slowly and the thought that Cathera had lied to her from the very first day of her existence, from the very first start tortured her.
“And the marriage documents? What does it all mean? Tell me!” Natanie was trying so hard to understand her situation.
Both Fred and Cathera where so quiet that it became difficult for Natanie to breathe.
“Frederick?”
“Mom?”
“Tell me the truth!” She screamed at them.
Hot tears threaded down Natanie’s cheeks. She felt her heart melt and her world misplaced. So many questions clouded her head. 
Cathera made a move to Natanie. “Natanie…”
“Don't come near me!”
“Please Natanie…”
“I said don't come near me! I just want the truth and nothing but the truth!” Natanie shouted.
Fred was silent and he continuously raked his hair with his hands. Even though Natanie was livid about the whole situation, she tried not to go overboard with her emotions.
“Why you lied about being my mother and why you never bothered to tell me who my real mother is. You've never really care about me!”
“I do care about you, I care about your future! That is why I never wanted to tell you the whole story, I never wanted to tell you from the very beginning because I wanted you to have a real family and not tell you about your sad past!” Cathera blinked back something in her eyes.
Natanie blinked severally. “My sad past? What do you mean by that?” She stared wide-eyed at Cathera. 
“Oh Natanie, I'm supposed to have told you before now but I didn't want you to grow up unhappy, with so much sadness. I didn't want that for you.” Cathera sniffled afraid she would lose her darling Natanie after now.
“What are you talking about?” 
“Your real mother died a long time ago after your birth. So I took you in, and raised you as my own flesh and blood and your father never wanted anything to do with you that's why he left.” Cathera sobbed a little while Natanie just stood there transfixed.
“Because I'm not his flesh and blood?” Natanie mumbled. 
“No, Natanie it's not like that.” Cathera sighed.
“You know what, I don't care anymore_” 
“Natanie…”
“But why didn't you tell me before now, why didn't you open up to me? You should have told me all along instead, you lied to me from the very beginning. Why did you do that mother?” 
“Natanie Darling, I was protecting you.” Natanie raised a brow at her.
“Protecting me?” 
Cathera nodded. 
“No mother, you were just protecting yourself!” 
Natanie’s gaze rested on Fred. She left him and so much but they had gone behind her back and hurt her so much. Her mother had planned to marry her off to Fred and Fred had never spoken to her about marriage before. It hurt her that they have been lying to her all along.
“I swear Natanie darling, I was protecting you.” Cathera cried. 
“No you weren't.”
“I'm sorry.” Cathera whispered. 
Natanie backed away slowly and eventually left the house. It all happened so fast. How did she move from hundred to one?