One Sided Love

Prologue

Kate wore her favorite pink frock that was brought by her grandpa. It was the nicest-looking thing she ever wore. In her five-year-old mind, she knew if she wore the nicest looking dress then her father would be happy to see her and let her play with her oldest sister Emily whom she never met but only saw her pictures in her grandpa's huge house which looks like a castle of any Disney movies she saw.

She runs to her grandpa's room and starts calling him ‘grandpa we are getting late. Daddy is waiting’

But she saw her grandpa was coughing very badly like he can’t breathe and she stopped midway and timidly asked ‘grandpa. are you ok’?

Leon Evans still looks physically fit in his three-fit suit and considered to be the most ruthless businessman of all time but his heart skips away and his expression softens with love when he sees his little Kate face with worry. He smiled to assure her that her grandpa is fine but he got another fit of cough that shook him so bad that he almost falls but he finds the little hand support on his waist and looks down it was his beautiful granddaughter that he found to love her every passing of day so much that he started to come early from his office so that he can spend time with this little highlight of his day

He caressed her cheeks’ hey sweetheart I’m fine. Just a tiny cough’

Kate nodded and admonished him in her soft childlike voice ‘you must have the ice cream. Mommy always told me that if you eat ice cream then you get sick’

He smiled at her and picked her up ‘yeah you are right but I haven’t eaten any ice cream because you eat all mine’ he tickled her tummy and she giggled and Leon tightened his hold and hugged her tight. Because he knows he will miss her so much. Who knows that she would wrap him around her little finger?

A year ago, he got a call from a woman named Sussie informing him that he got another granddaughter and she wants him to give her child his family name otherwise she will go to the press. When he got to know about his son's affair that resulted in a child. He was furious and wanted to kill his one and only son first for ruining his family name and reputation second for putting his family legacy in danger. God knows which gold digger he knocked her up and now she is after his money.

His son Ryan put a blind eye to his responsibility but Leon was a man of honor and he knew no matter what he won’t let his blood shackle in some low-class trailer house. But when he went to check that woman and that child, she said to be his son. He got a reality check of all time. Susie was dying and looked to be hanging by the threat. And there was a tiny and frigid-looking child crying non-stop.

As much as he was disgusted by the scene presented in front of him, he was pitying the woman's living condition and the cries of the child showed that it was a cry of hunger.

Sussie told him that she was dying from aids and she got a few days left hardly if that mattered. But she can’t leave her child homeless or in an orphanage knowing how rich and well-known her father is.

The living condition and the stack of drugs and the area were well enough for Leon to understand what Susie did for a living. He immediately did a DNA test and against his better judgment, it was found indeed Kate was his son’s daughter. She died after a few days leaving Kate motherless. He paid for the funeral expense and decided that he will adopt Kate and take her responsibility. His good-for-nothing son can abandon his blood but he can't. And how can he, Kate's big innocent blue eyes break any hardcore man’s heart? In the first few days Late haven’t spoken any word just silently cry for her mother and had a nightmare while sleeping. She misses her mother and from there Leon realized that Sussie despite her profession was a good mother somehow.

Leon was helpless about Kate, as his son was still not accepting Kate nor he was ready to be introduced to her world. He knew he got other ways that will force his son to accept Kate and let her live with his family but he let that thought pass because first he won’t let Kate go through a hard time because of her parent mistake and secondly he liked having Kate around and the emptiness he felt for such a long time was finally filled but this little girl was now bouncing in his arm excitedly that she is going to meet her family for the first time. But she doesn’t know that he is making a decision with a heavy heart that will change her life, but he has no choice.

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‘Dad I told you so many times. I need time. I just can’t bring that girl into my life. I got a wife and a daughter whom I love so much. Mona will leave me dad and it will tarnish our reputation.’ Ryan argues with his dad

Lean stood tall with the help of his stick and pointed at him ‘You should have thought about this before it's too late. Kate is your responsibility and she needs a father and mother in her life. I'm giving you an ultimatum of a month otherwise forget all about the shares and inheritance. I will give it to Kate and charity’

Ryan loses all his face color ‘Da…Dad you can't be serious for that bastard girl and her whore of a mother you are giving away all our wealth. It's my right and my Emily inheritance’

Leon passes him a murderous glare ‘Mind your fucking mouth. If you ever call Kate by this name I swear on my mother you will be begging in the roads. I will do anything for that child. Have you ever put yourself in her position that she is motherless and fatherless even though her father is very much alive? (He softens his tone) Ryan, my son Kate is very precious. She is so down-to-earth and the empathic girl I ever met. Even at this age, she is a wise and kind soul. I’m telling you will regret it if you don’t appreciate her

Ryan was anxious and wanted to get out of this discussion ‘Then why don’t you keep her like you are doing right now. I know she is not your responsibility but dad I need time. Mona is still angry about the affair and I promised her that I will not bring Kate into this house. That's the reason she hasn’t divorce me. I need time’

Leon shakes his head ‘but son I don’t have time. You have no idea it's killing me that I have to give kate away to you guys where she won't is loved. But I got limited time’

‘what do you mean dad? What’s wrong you are scaring me

‘I had lung cancer last stage. And you need to take care of Kate if you want to have the inheritance ‘He said with a calm yet firm voice.

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Chap 1

Kate

Loss! What a small word but what a large impact it can have on your life. Unfortunately, Loss and I go side by side- A perfect companion in my life that doesn’t want to go away. I lost my mother when I was 4 although she was not your perfect mother who bakes you cookies or visit your school function, no she was a drug addict and a person who sleep with random people in order to run the kitchen but despite being a controversial figure in my life she was everything because I know she tried to leave the lifestyle for me, she loved me when she was not induced in drugs and keep me safe and kiss me goodnight and promised me that one day my father will give me his name and will accept me and I will have everything that she can’t provide me.

Well, mama, your wishes are granted cause look after 20 years my father did give me his name and sort of accepted me but on worldly basis thanks to grandpa's warning.

I looked at myself in the mirror and felt myself crumbling with the thought of grandpa. He also left me alone.

When I started living with him, he made sure that I was loved but bloody cancer killed my grandpa.

Some might say how lucky I’m that I got connected with The Evans family one of the richest and noble families in town but l doesn’t truly belong here because of my mother who was the mistress of Ryan Evans apparently my father. He doesn't love me at all and never accepts me as a daughter because not being only a disgrace to the family and a bastard but I resemble a lot to my mother with having her pale skin to black hair. My resemblance with my mother is a constant reminder for my father of what kind of embarrassment and trouble it brought to his marriage.

You were thinking then how come I became Evans well my grandfather Leo Evans was an honorable man and when it came to his knowledge that father has an illegitimate child for 4 years and my mother died in an accident. He immediately told my father to accept his responsibility and bring me to Evan mansions

We look like a perfect loving family but they don’t know what happens in closed doors. My dad and his wife Mona accepted me with a happy face when they announced the world but behind the door, I can still see my father's hate and absolute disgust whenever he sees me and Mona well if her eyes can kill anyone then I would be dead by now.

She totally hates me and she never looks at my face and always treats me like a slave rather than a household member. My stepmother makes sure to fill my father mind with vile and false stories regarding me that started with something like this

I was throwing tantrums-which I don’t or I hurt Emily – again not true or that I disrespected her and called her bitch -as I can even do that cause I wasn’t allowed to get out of my room.

She even put the blame that I was misbehaving Infront of her important guests and start shouting Infront of them but in reality, I was having a panic attack -which I used to have frequently after my mom and grandpa death but who understand a teenager who was so socially awkward and the guest stress and open disgust glare on her that she was just like her mother ‘A whore’ and saying stuff that a 15-year-old should never listen was all adding more salt to my wounds.

My stepmother succeeded in turning my father against me but no need to do that as he was already ignoring me from the very start and if we happen to be in the same room then insults and degradation were part of my first 20 years.

My father made this clear from time to time. I'm just a burden and shame that he has to bear in order to avoid any scandal. I still remember his words he said to me:

'Listen you girl. You’re just a mistake like your mother. I have no love and respect for you. Look at this picture this beautiful blond girl is my only daughter and this is my wife Mona Evans, not your third-class mother .... you got it

Those words are still freshly registered in my mind and each time it fills me with deep painful sorrow that I will always be an unwanted child.

I was so lost in my thoughts that I haven’t heard Emily's excited voice ‘Katie come back from your dreamland. And look at you! Why haven’t you got dressed you know mom she will later give you trouble come on hurry up the photographer is here for the family picture’

Did I say that I love my sister, she is the best thing in my life. Being three years older than me she accepted me as her little sister and always stood by me when mom and dad gave me a hard time.

She by looks and personality is completely different from me as she has beautiful blonde hair and stunning tan skin. We both share our father's green eyes but that’s the only similar trait we have. In personality, Emily is confident, outspoken, keeps her views, and at the same time a very lovely and kind person. Me on the other end you might have guessed introvert freak, shy, always keep an opinion to myself, never spoke freely so that I don’t hurt or disappoint my father and my stepmother whom I called mom too because of appearance sake but I deep down I want her to treat me as her daughter too but that’s wishful thinking from my part.

Emily and I really get along because she thinks it’s not my mistake that our father cheated on her mom but she tells me she is very happy to have a sister. She is the only reason that makes me happy and makes my survival in this family easy.

Coming back to the family picture thing let me inform you it’s my dad's 60th Birthday and as always, we are celebrating with the whole town but it's sort of tradition in the Evan family to take a family photo that day before that is revealed to the whole town in dad’s birthday celebration event.

And that’s why Emily is dragging me out but how should I tell her that mom told me not to bother. As much as this kills me that I’m not part of their family tradition and has outcast more than one occasion but knowing the whole world tomorrow will also notice my absence in that portrait.

I hold over-excited Emily shoulder and said ‘you know why I’m not dressed and mom said it was better I stay out of family affairs’

Emily made a sour face ‘but mom doesn’t know me, I have talked with mom and dad told them you are coming no matter what, so no more excuse come on wear this’

I reluctantly took the dress knowing I will pay for it as mom might not create any scenes but she will later find a way to make me miserable about it with her taunting and degrading behavior.

‘what she is doing here.’ Mona Evan said slowly but with so much disgust that made me flinched but Emily back I

cause mom like us she is getting her picture to be taken in our FAMILY portrait’ Emily tressed the word family

Mona glared at me like it's my fault and looked down at me like I’m a piece of dirt. I moved back so that I can stay away from mom killing glare but my luck got another plan as I collide with a dad who apparently was putting his cufflink

He huffs in irritation and yelled ‘damn you girl can’t you do anything right I lost my cufflink. And what the hell are you doing here

I somehow digested my mom's disgusted look but the hate and disgust coming from my father were ending for me. I don’t know why every time I get hurt and feel painful pings in my heart when my dad behaves like this with me like I’m just an inconvenience for him like I meant nothing to him.

Emily being my saving grace joined us ‘Dad your cufflink is not lost its dropped look (she waved Infront of him) I will put it you are lost without me ’ Emily joked

Dad's eyes shine with affections and emotions that I desperately want to see in his eyes for one time, just one time.

‘of course, sweetheart you are my most precious thing and I love you more than anyone in this world. And you look so beautiful just like a princess’

Dad started praising Emily and I looked down in guilt at what he said was true Emily so perfect and kind soul but I’m feeling guilty because I was jealous of their bond.

‘Come on now my back is killing me right now come just take a damn picture’ mom loses her cool, still angry with my presence

The photographer said mom and dad sat on the golden L shape sofa and suggested Emily and Me stand at their back.

We stood in our posting then mom said ‘How about you take only three of us pictures first. Kate can join us later’

Emily said in anger ‘mom we have talked about this,

But mom cut her ‘sweetie Kate will have a picture with us but you do know Kate doesn’t work in our company she is still doing her masters and god knows when she will complete it. And you on the other hand are representing the Evan family heir. You joined our family business at the age of 24 and after four years you are CEO of our New York office. We want the world to know that how Evan family heir work hard and make a place for themselves with their hard work unlike some people who just leached at their father money without any hard work’

I knew the jabbed was made for me. I wanted to shout in frustration that I wanted to work in their company but you guys said to me there’s no space for me in the office and don’t want to set the wrong example to the world that we hire on reference.

‘But mom it just a picture’ Emily argued

But dad put end to this and said ‘leave it everyone just take the damn picture and Emily your mom is right you are the rightful heir of this family I need no drama over a picture to please’

And that’s how I was cut from the family picture and I’m sure a time will come I will cut from their life too.

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