"I.. I.." Susan stammered trying to swallow in what she just heard. Eric joined his mother on patting her back to comfort her. He knew this would shock her but not to this extent.
After calming down, Susan said angrily "My father was alive all these years? But mom said he died before I was born. Was she lying about that too? Wow! She's been lying to me all these years? And to think that I actually was pitying her for raising me alone and giving her my permission to get married again since that will loosen the burden on her." She blabber on and on about her mom lying to her her whole life.
Eric, Megan , and John (Susan's Father) were comforting Her and trying to calm her down but it seemed like she was in a world of her own and she wasn't listening to anyone.
"Susan... Susan..."Eric shouted her name to bring her back while hugging her. At this time, Susan was already sobbing. She was crying for all the injustice done to her while she was at the Anderson's, for her mother lying to her her all life, and... for the loss of her mother. Even though she didn't say or show it, she felt hurt about what happened at the hospital. She was also worried about Ivy because although she doesn't like Ivy, her conscience wouldn't stop bugging her that she was also in the car when the accident happened and when Ivy was kidnapped.
Eric saw through all of her thoughts and shouted her name again, "Susan". This time she answered. She looked just him thought tears glazed eyes as if trying to find some comfort in his eyes... and she found it. Eric said, "Don't feel guilty about anything. You didn't do anything wrong. They were wrong for not believing you, for always choosing Ivy over you and a lot more. Also, the accident and kidnapping had nothing to do with you. You never did anything wrong. You had no choice." Eric said all this while looking into her eyes and Susan could see that he wasn't just saying all this to comfort her and stop her from crying. She could see that he actually meant all that he said.
Susan hugged Eric back and was not crying anymore. She was just leaning on him with her eyes closed - almost like she was sleeping - holding Eric's shirt tightly like she was afraid he would also leave her if she wasn't careful enough. Eric saw through what she was thinking again and said to her, "Don't worry. I won't leave you. Also you didn't do anything wrong that would make me not want you, so don't feel insecure. Okay?" He said in a gentle but firm voice.
"Okay" Susan answered while nodding.
Megan and John (the mysterious man) looked at each other with a smile on their faces while thinking, 'Seems like this ship has sailed. We just have to watch and not interfere'.
It took a while more for Susan to calm down before she looked at John and asked, "How have you being? Where were you all this time? Why didn't you come for..." Susan stopped her third question because she felt that it was invalid.
***Note: The mysterious man will be referred to as John Xander now.