"Star... is... is this true? Star, are you really pregnant?" Her mother's voice cracked as tears welled up in her eyes. "How... how did this happen? When did you start having a boyfriend, and why didn't you tell me, seriously Star?" The disappointment in her mother's tone was unmistakable.
Star's heart sank, but she fought the tears. "Mom, I'm sorry! I didn't mean for this to happen... I'm sorry, I really am," she said softly, standing up, desperate to explain.
Her mother's voice quivered with anger and fear. "...Your college... are you going to leave it for some time? Remember, it's the government that's paying for it. What will happen if they find out you're pregnant? Did you ever think about that before doing this, Star? Oh, my God, when will I ever receive good news or any treatment that doesn't tear me apart?"
Star closed her eyes, trying to steady her breathing. She knew it was coming—her mother's anger, her disappointment. "Mom, I know you're hurt, and I know you're disappointed. I know you want to hate me right now... you might want to throw insults at me... and honestly, I'm prepared for all of it."
Her mother cut her off, the rage rising. "Oh, really? You know all that now? Where was that knowledge when you were getting pregnant, huh?" Her words lashed out like a whip, biting deep.
Star didn't flinch. She gathered her courage and spoke through the growing lump in her throat. "Yes, I know, Mom. I didn't plan to disappoint you or cause us any more trouble. I know our situation, I know the monster we've been living under... and that's exactly why..."
"That's why you went out there and found yourself a sugar daddy, huh? Got pregnant on purpose so you could trap him? So he'd know you were serious?" Her mother's voice was thick with venom. "Well, congratulations, Star, throw yourself a party. Celebrate your 'success.'"
Star's face flushed with humiliation, but she didn't let the tears fall. "Can you please listen to my side of the story before you accuse me, Mom? The truth is... I don't know how this happened!" She stepped closer, her eyes pleading. "I don't remember having sex, I don't remember any of it. Please, can you just be on my side? Can you fight this with me?"
Her father entered the room, his voice cutting through the air like a sharp blade. "Woo, look at this. Star's pregnant? This is what you get for letting these girls out of control. Look at them now—crying, pathetic. If not for their sugar daddies, what is it? How did she get pregnant if not for that?"
Her father grabbed her by the wrist, dragging her toward the door. "Leave! Get out! This is no longer my house! You've disappointed us enough!"
Star cried out, struggling to break free. "Father, please, listen to me first. Just let me explain!"
Her father sneered, the cruelty in his voice unmistakable. "I'm not your father, young lady. Get out. Now!" He shoved her toward the door, his words final.
But her mother, still shocked by the sudden outburst, stepped in, trying to calm the storm. "Tomas, please, it hasn't come to this yet. She's our daughter. We can still handle this. Let her speak."
Tomas ignored her, his eyes cold. "I don't have time for this. She's not my daughter. If she really wanted to be a good daughter, she wouldn't have done this. But this... this bastard..." His words hit Star like a slap across the face, and she froze. It was the thousandth time he had called her that, and this time, it broke her.
"What?! A bastard? Is that what you really think of me? You think I'm just some mistake, something you can discard?" Star's voice trembled with fury. "Is that it, Dad? Are you mad because I'm pregnant, or is there something else you're hiding?"
Her father's face twisted with rage. "Of course, you're not related to me! Not by blood, not by name! You're not my daughter!" he shouted.
Star's mind spun, her breath coming in quick gasps. She was in shock. "What? What do you mean I'm not your daughter? What is going on here? Can someone please tell me what's happening?"
Her mother hesitated, her face pale as she stepped forward, gathering the courage to reveal the truth. "Tomas is right," she said softly. "He's not your real father, Star. But I am. I gave you the name Shining Star, and you don't have a surname because your father died before you were born." She paused, looking down. "When you were a month old, Tomas came into our lives. He promised me he'd take care of you, that he'd be a father to you... and for a while, he was. But when we got married, things changed. He started getting violent, especially whenever I told him about your achievements at college. I know you're thinking, 'Why didn't I leave him then?' But I didn't want to. I still loved him, Star. I thought maybe, one day, he'd change."
Star stood frozen, unable to comprehend the weight of her mother's words. Anger and confusion boiled inside her, but she didn't know who to be angry at. Her mother for hiding this truth for so long, or Tomas for his abuse. She broke down into tears, her body trembling with the force of it all.
Her mother's voice was soft, almost pleading. "Star, I didn't want to hurt you. I wanted you to have a father, someone you could call your own. Someone who would love you like a real father would."
Star wiped her tears, her voice shaking with fury. "You always told me to follow the straight path when things got complicated. But now, Mom, look at the route you've been following. It's a circle, isn't it? A big, destructive circle. Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
"Enough!" Tomas yelled, his voice booming through the house. "Enough of this emotional nonsense! You're still pregnant, and you're going to stay with your husband tonight. Got it?"
Star's rage flared, her hands shaking as she clenched them into fists. "Of course, I'll leave. But since we're revealing secrets, don't you think you're hiding something from Mom?"
Tomas's face turned white. "What? What do you think I'm hiding?" He stepped back, his eyes darting nervously. "What secret?"
"The twins," Star said slowly, moving toward her father.
Her mother's eyes widened. "Twins?"
Star's heart raced as she watched Tomas stiffen, his face draining of color.