Chapter 4

“Elora…”

For a heartbreaking moment, Elora just stands there looking at the two people who could as well pass as a couple

Wasn't this the man who told her, Alexandra was nothing more than a sister to him?

She tried not to let it get to her, but the more she looked at them, the more her stomach rumbled with irritation. She could not stand the sight.

“Are you really just going to stand there and pretend your husband didn't just bring his mistress to your daughter's funeral?” Her mother whispered angrily to her ear.

“He says they're not—” She started to say but her mother cut her off immediately.

“You're still lying for him. I can't stand you, Elora. I will not watch you reduce yourself to nothing!” Margarita spat before waking away, leaving Elora to face her husband alone.

“Cedric…you came,” she finally said, folding her hands in front of her.

Cedric watched her with a strange look. Was it softness? Regret or even shame? She couldn't tell.

“You know I wouldn't miss this for anything in the world,” he said quietly before stepping forward, Alexandra following at his side.

It was then Elora really looked at her. Even in her heavy pregnant state, she still looked very beautiful. Blonde hair that fell in waves, and a face that looked so flawless. She was everything she wasn't, and she finally understood why Cedric had chosen her.

“You brought her along,” Elora said and inhaled deeply, forcing herself to keep her emotions in check. “This was supposed to be for just us. You, me and our little Riella.”

“I had to, Elora. Alexandra has been going through a lot, leaving her all alone wouldn't be an option,” he rubbed his head in frustration like he was the one who was watching his wife with another man. Elora wanted to laugh… scream…or even hit him. But she did none of that.

She just sighed. “Today is Riella’s fun—”

“Elora, please don't be mad,” Alexandra jumped out before Elora could complete her sentence. “I know you're upset that Cedric has been paying me more attention, but I swear I don't mean to steal him away from you most times.” Her voice was sweet and pitiful, and Elora had to fight the urge to applaud her performance.

“My—” Alexandra started to say, but her voice broke. Her eyes were wet, and Elora knew that at any moment, she would start shedding tears. “My anemia is getting worse, and Cedric is the only one that knows how to handle me when I get sick. I didn't mean to intrude, and if you feel my presence is a threat, I'll gladly leave.”

Threat? Elora scoffed inwardly. The guts of this woman.

“Then leave. Get out of my house, Alexandra.” Elora said calmly but firmly, her gaze strong.

“What?” Alexandra's eyes widened, not expecting Elora to be so bold. This wasn't the weak and shy woman she knew. Even the look on her face, she looked dangerous. The cold fury slightly scared Alexandra.

Did she miss her husband that much or was it something else?

“Elora you can't do that to her. Don't be mean,” Cedric said in a scolding tone and Elora just pressed her lip tightly in annoyance.

She stepped forward, right in front of Alexandra.

“You might be able to fool Cedric with your damsel in distress character, but you can't fool me Alexandra. From the first day you walked into the city with that pitiful story of your husband dying, I knew you were trouble. You had your eyes on my husband right from day one, didn't you?” Elora said in a snarky tone.

“Elora! What are you saying!” Cedric snapped at her, his voice raised. Elora whipped her head to him. That was the first time he had ever shouted at her.

“Elora, I know you dislike me. I know you never wanted me to be around your husband, but I've always had nothing but good intentions. I can't believe you'll say such things to me,” Alexandra started to sob, tears falling down her eyes.

“You should apologize to her now, Elora,” Cedric said, facing Elora square in the face. “You don't know what Alexandra has been through.”

Elora let out a bitter chuckle, her head thrown back. “Apologize to her?”

“No, Cedric. I should be the one apologizing. I—I’m the one at fault here,” she said and then turned to Elora. “I'm sorry for everything Elora. Truly. And if hitting me is what will make you feel better, then hit me. I don't want you and Cedric to fight over me. I'm not worth—”

Before Alexandra could finish the sentence, Elora struck her hard in the face. Alexandra's face whipped to the side from the force and she cried out loud. “Ahhhh!!!”

“Elora!” Cedric shouted in horror.

But Elora wasn't done yet. She thought about the amount of times Alexandra had trapped Cedric with her carefully constructed lies and stolen Riella's right to an attentive father. She thought about the time when she had to beg and kneel and on the sharp granite floor just so she could bring her husband home.

And with that anger and pain, Elora raised her hand again and hit her hard on the other cheek with her backhand, this time harder and louder.

Alexandra shrieked and wobbled, almost falling but Cedric grabbed her before she could hit the hard floor. Elora just stood tall and stared at them with no expression.

Elora watched with no expression as Cedric held Alexandra to himself, grabbing her shoulders gently to calm her. Then his head shot up to look at Elora, and for the first time, she saw pure anger in his eyes.

“When did you become so vile, Elora! Why can't you learn to accommodate a woman who has never done anything but showed you her concern!” He growled, but Elora didn't even flinch once.

“Concern? Did you even know what that is?” Elora spat back, her eyes glaring at him in slits. “Your daughter…the one you swore you loved more than anything in the world is right behind that door…gone! She was dying in that hospital room, but she couldn't stop asking for you. I called you so many times to come see her, but you never showed up!” Elora felt the tears stream down her face, her finger pointed directly at the door where Riella's ashes lay. “Are you satisfied now? Have you done your worst now, Mr Cedric Monroe?!!” She screamed as she felt all the pains rushing back.

Cedric's hand fell limply from Alexandra's shoulder as he stared horridly at his wife. “What are you talking about, Honey? You said she was fine now. We're here for her bir—birthday.” His voice shook.

Elora let out another laugh before shaking her head. “Yes we're here for her birthday. But that is not the only thing we'll be celebrating today, dear husband. Riella is—” Elora opened her mouth to say the last word but then she heard the loud ring tone of her phone blasting in her pocket.

She pulled out the phone and looked at the caller ID. Dr Mason.

Why was he calling her after two weeks of ghosting her?

This was not the right time, she thought. She declined the call.

“Elora, what were you about to say? Where is Riella?”

“She's on her way to a better place. I'm about to send her off.”

“What do you mean by that?! I'm her father!” Cedric snarled, and just then Elora’s phone blared with call.

But this time she picked, not able to stand looking at her soon to be ex-husband anymore.

“Elora!” The voice greeted on the other end. “I'm sorry I'm just calling now. I heard about your daughter's demise, and I can't express how sorry I am.”

“It's fine, Dr Mason.”

“No. No, it isn't. You were so close to the break point. We all believed you could pull your daughter out of that awful disease. If only Cedric Monroe didn't pull the funds out of the sponsorship to employ the best doctors for his pregnant woman.”

At that instant, everything around Elora froze, and her hand went limp. The phone fell right out of her hand and crashed right on the floor into pieces.