Chapter- [ 3 ]

Anna Harris

Absolutely betrayed, I’ve never felt this kind of pain and definately  never met someone like Benjamin Mackenzie. His existence not only ruined my life but destroyed my whole world. I was the one who spread the flowers for this despicable man. Bile rises in my throat seeing this man whom I once loved with all my heart…fuck I still love him.

He sits there across me on a wooden chair like a ruthless dictator, one leg crossed over the other with sly smirk playing on his thin lips which once were like the sweetest nectar from the heaven’s forbidden fruit.

‘Well you’re no less than Eve herself.’ My sub-conscious mind mocks at me.

“Take my offer and save your father.I don’t think it’s a big deal for you. You’re the most sensational celebrity or I guess all over the country by now.” I can’t miss the pun in his venomous words.

“You son of a bitch.” I spit out through clenched teeth. I am having a very hard time to accept that he was the same person who used to treat me like a delicate flower no more than twenty four hours ago.

“Do you have an alternative option to save your father and more importantly your family who may be thrown out of the house that Liam Harris built with his hard earned money.” His smirk grows into a full grown devilish smile.

He looks confident of the outcomes of my blind love for him.

“Do not dare to take their names from that shithole mouth of yours.” I am totally red in anger like a blazing furnace,"I promise you, I can live under the bridge, eat from garbage or beg on the subway but I won’t be your mistress even if you promise me diamond mines in the exchange of warming your bed.” I spring up from my seat, my head erects high. I came here in a hope that it was a nightmare I was living, my Ben was mislead by the false rumours.

But it turns out to be even a bigger nightmare than the previous night.                                                                                                                              

The one night I wished to lock in the treasure of my good memories but it left a deep scar on my heart.

“Well, I proposed you a fair deal to get out of your never ending miseries but your stupid naïve ego is blinding your logical mind . So, best of luck, Miss Anna Harris. I will see you soon in the court.” He smirks and leans back, looks satisfied with my vulnerable state, “You may leave my house now. I do not want my dear wife to see a whore desecrating her lovely abode.” By the moment he's finished with derogatory remark about my character, I imprint his handsome face with a harsh slap.

It serves him right. At least, I have a little satisfaction now.

“Fuck you, Benjamin Mackenzie. One day you'll rot in your own hell. ” I spit on his face and storms out of his house.

Warm tears of betrayal and anger roll out of my eyes.He is married yet he kept playing with my feelings. He used physically loyal to his wife but a silly me thought that he was waiting for my consent like a true gentleman. His words kept resonating in my ears like a mocking reminder of my own foolishness.

My emotions are always trouble invitor for me but this time brought my family in the mess I created with my naivety.

For the first time in my life I regret not listening to my Mom who used to teach me about the true nature of a man. They always want something from us.

Tired, broken and anguished, I reach home only to find my mom and Aiden moving out of the main door while a few men dressed in expensive suits labeled a lock. I feel it is laughing back at me. Averting my teary gaze from the house which witnessed our birth and blooming years, I run to Mom and Aiden. She's crying over Aiden's shoulder.

He was a grave expression on his face while stroking our Mom's back to consol her. I want to jump off the highest cliff so my existence can't be find. I am the reason of their sufferings.

Aiden's gloomy eyes move in my direction, they indirectly seemed to blame me for everything they endured or more coming in their way, may be it is the illustration of my worn out senses or I want it to inflict same pain on me.

"Mom..." I dare to gain her attention with the last amount of courage I have and then her red puffy eyes shot at me.

"How dare you to show us your disgusting face, you ungrateful bitch!" She slaps me across my right cheek but her words stung more. Her anger is justifying but I wish she could show me some affection. Hot trail of tears flow through my eyes.

"Mom, please calm down. Anna is also suffering as much as much as us." Aiden tries to pull her back but it intensifies her anger more.

"No, Aiden. She's not suffering like us. We're homeless with no penny left for our survival. She can always run to her lovers. I am sure, they'd help her in the best way." I can't miss the bitterness in her tone. She sees me as a slut, what else can be more worse for a daughter that her own mother despises her existence.

"They have only sealed our house and the company but they can't snatch our ancestral property from us, right?" More like I ask myself.

"They seized our house, our company, our bank accounts and every single assets we hold as Harris until the investigation is on." Aiden answers in a low voice.

I close my mouth as a loud gasp leaves my throat. It meant, Benjamin wasn't bluffing, he actually screwed us in the worst way. He played dirty on us but it was my Dad whom he wanted to destory, right?

He went on the extent of ruining our lives as well. How can someone be this blind by revenge that their humanity dies in the process?

Whom am I even blaming?

"I am sorry, Mom. I shouldn't have trusted him but I didn't listen to you and Dad. Please forgive me. I promise, I'd do anything to protect you and Aiden. Please, give me a chance, Mom. That's all I am asking." I beg her although I know what will be her response.

She looks away from me," Aiden, tell this filthy girl to leave us alone until she rectify her mistakes, clean her name and bring your father out of the jail or she can assume us dead for her because she's already dead to me. I don't care if she has to sell her body, the only thing she's good at. I am sure her rich suitors will offer their help to drop the charges against Liam." Her words were more sharper now, they slit my heart into pieces.

Karma is really a first class bitch in my case.

"Mom, the cab is here. You go first while I settle some legal procedures with the police officers." Aiden says to her. She spares a last longing glance at our mansion and leaves with tears. She lost her status as the lady of this house. I try to hold her but she pry my hand off like I was some contagious decease.

"She doesn't mean anything. It was only the hurt and anger, Anna. Just give her some time, she'll be fine and eventually forgive you." Aiden tries to lessen my pain by placing a comforting hand on my shoulder.

I let my shields break loose and throw myself in his arms," I am not hurt by her words, Aiden. I feel angry on myself. Nothing would have happened if I listened to her and Dad. See, you all are paying for my sins." I chuckle dryly.

He wipes my tears and kisses my forehead. Although he's younger than me but he's way more sincere than I'd ever become.

"Don't blame yourself, Anna. Dad is no saint. He has hidden many skeletons in his closet. This time one of them reappeared and it seems it will haunt us forever.

Benjamin is the skeleton.

"Take care of Mom. I'll soon find a way to regain what is robbed from us." I blink my tears away with a faint smile. It is very hard for me to see my family homeless.

"We're staying at Uncle Lucas's spare apartment but he doesn't want you there." He says, helplessness is clearly visible on his face," I promise you, Anna, soon I'll arrange something for you. Please don't loose hopes. God is only testing our waters. Soon this phase will be over and we'd be together. You can stay with Eda, I am sure that she'll let you in." He suggests.

"I'll be fine, Aiden. Just remember one thing, I love you. Take care little brother." I kiss his forehead, my heart constricts inside my rib cage. This whole farewell is too complicated and nostalgic.

He gives me one last hug and I reluctantly let go off him. My vision gets blurry as I watch the cab disappearing from my sight.

Now the big question is, where should I go? My best friend Eda shares her flat with her boyfriend means I can't just drop at her place without their permission. It will be a cruel invasion of their privacy. I know they would happily let me stay with them as long as I want but it is my repentance for investing my trust in people who don't deserve it.

I practically screwed up my life and now I have to fix it's broken pieces.

Time to hunt for a job and a shelter over my head.