My sister stole my husband, caused the death of my son, and took my place as a loving wife. But I won't always be the weak, pathetic, abandoned Eleanor they knew. I will rise from the ashes, build myself up, and come back as their worst nightmare. What I experienced, I will give back threefold. Starting from redeeming my image, taking my husband back, and putting my sister in her place.
Lihat lebih banyak“The number you are calling is busy at the moment. Please try your call later.”
“Really? Your husband is out of reach, out of all goddamn time?” Abby scorned. “What is Damian up to these days? Does he even know that your son is sick?”
A forced smile was the only thing I could give Abby. Truth be told, reaching out to Damian has started to become more difficult these days. He was always busy, as he always say. There was even a time he wasn’t going home for a couple of days straight. He would send a message that he wouldn’t, though.
But I wouldn’t tell Abby. She would definitely blow. She would get mad at Damian, and that was the least thing I’d want in this situation.
My son was sick. He was inside the room beside us, and a fight or an argument wouldn’t help Elon to become better.
I sighed, before I put my phone on my back pocket to head inside the room.
“Mommy…” Elon wearily called me as I walked in. “Is daddy coming?”
My chest tightened. I tried to smile to reassure Elon but I wasn’t sure it worked. I was positive I wasn’t able to erase all the distress and concern look in my eyes.
“He is.” I sat on the edge of the bed and carefully held his hand. “He’s coming, Elon.”
Every word that came out felt like fire. Sure, Damian would go once he find out we’re in the hospital. But I wasn’t sure it’d be any sooner.
I bit my lip, looking at my own sunshine with sorrowful joy. I wanted to comfort him, but I can’t lie no more. He wanted his dad here, and I cannot make him suddenly appear. I couldn’t help but get teary-eyed thinking Elon would wait for him until the night comes… and when Damian fails to appear, his expectations would break and he’d be sad, again.
I licked my lips and looked up for a brief moment to hold back my tears. “Is there anything else you want, baby? Any food? You want ice cream?”
“Hey, Elon baby, why don’t you tell your momma what you want so she could go and get them for you?” Abby moved forward to get Elon’s attention. “I’ll stay here with you when she goes and we can watch or play.”
I breathed hard. When I looked back at him, he was already smiling. “I want burger…. and daddy Damian. Can my mom get those for me?”
I felt like my system broke down hearing rays of hope from his voice. Certainly, I could get him a burger. I would buy a whole burger shop for him, but the latter would still let him down. He wanted Damian here… and what kind of mother am I if I can’t even grant those requests?
“Alright. Mommy will go and get those for you..” I smiled. “You stay with Aunt Abby here, okay?”
“I love you, mommy…” Elon returned the smile, and it was the kind of smile he’d wear whenever he’s happy and excited.
I swallowed hard. With a heavy heart, I turned around to leave the room. I lost my control and burst into tears there. My legs, that I had been forcing to work properly start to turn jelly. My breaths were getting ragged and I wasn’t sure I could make it until the parking lot.
I couldn’t contain it. Even if I tried to cover my mouth so my cries wouldn’t be heard, I sobbed and willingly let my tears stream down my face. It was too much for me.
Damian creating higher and tougher walls. Elon getting sick. It was suffocating for me. When did our perfect life became so… ruined?
I shut my eyes closed. My lips were quivering. Right, when I had miscarriage on our first baby and learned that I cannot get pregnant anymore.
“Mrs. Alistair, I called on Sir Damian’s office. He wasn’t there.”
I drew a deep breathe and wiped my tears. I looked up to my secretary, whose eyes reflected uneasiness. She was probably taken aback to see me in this state so I tried to look as collected as possible, only it was a useless attempt.
“Ready the car. We’re going to Damian,” I managed to say with all the strength I had left.
“Sorry?”
I walk past her. “To Capitol Villa, Alicia.”
I headed out the hospital with my heart on my palm. Though my insides still crawl and I felt like I was going to throw up any moment, I held on to my last bit of courage to get to where my husband was.
I lied.
I told Abby I didn’t know where he was. I told my son a lot of times he was busy when all he wanted was to see his father. I convinced myself he was just busy.
But I knew. Goddamn I knew where he was all this time. Why he was not coming home, why he was out of reach, why our marriage was falling apart. I goddamn knew it all. I was just scared to admit it.
“Ma’am, you’re not think your husband is here, are you?” Alicia asked with curiosity and doubts.
It was Elon’s surrogate mother’s house we were in front of. It was my own sister, Elizabeth’s house I was in front of. To face my fears and accept what had been occurring behind our perfect picture.
To borrow my husband.
“To whom do I owe the pleasure of this visit, Eleanor?” A sweet smile, tone dripped with honey, and a lambent pair of eyes were all that it took for me to confirm it.
He was here after-all.
“I want to see my husband, Elizabeth.”
The boutique had champagne flutes at the entrance and a sales associate who followed us everywhere to see to all our whims. It was the type of store in which Elizabeth might shop.“Try this on,” Alicia promised, taking a sleek black dress off the rack and holding it to me. "You're going to look hot."I sighed, took the thing, and disappeared into the fitting room. It fit perfectly, hugging me in all the right places, the slit way, way up my thigh. I walked outside, and Alicia let out a low whistle.“I can't believe it; Damian's going to have a stroke."I looked at her. "That's not the point."She waved me off. "Yeah, yeah, whatever. But believe me, this is the dress."Once again, I looked at my reflection. The Eleanor in the mirror was not the same one who had been sad over an invitation last night. She looked composed, confident. Unbothered."Admit it," I said. "Let's get it."With the dress secure, Alicia set about securing that appointment with the makeup artist. While they were 'p
Except for the soft city noise outside, my loft was silent when I got back. Sliding off my heels, I tossed my coat over the arm of the sofa before heading to the little shelf in my bedroom.My fingers brushed across the spines of old books, searching for nothing in particular. Not really—I was too restless to read. Still caught up in the events of the day—seeing Damian and Elizabeth in person, hearing about their engagement, accepting that wretched invitation instead of ignoring it.I should have thrown it out the moment I left the graveyard. Tossed it into the nearest trash bin and washed my hands of it. But I didn’t.And that infuriated me, too.I sat on the edge of my bed with a sigh, reaching for the envelope that lay there. The expensive paper felt weighted under my fingers, an unwelcome reminder of a life that was no longer mine.I opened it again, scanning the words as if they might change, as if this entire situation might rewrite itself.Before I could stop myself, I grabbed
Mike set his cup down and stared fixedly. "Elizabeth and Damian will be celebrating an engagement party this coming weekend."I scarcely blinked; my face was inscrutable. "Thus?"Something—humor, possibly—flitted across his eyes. Or aggravation. "Guessed you were unaware."I gave a brief, disinterested hum. "And why would I?"Mike studied me, his fingers drumming softly against the side of his cup. "You do now."I sighed and glanced off. "Mike, is that what you came here for? To tell me? To persuade me not to do something?"Although his smirk turned a little less, he maintained eye contact. "Things can probably change, but... Or possibly I simply knew you would require support."I laughed and shook my head. "Backup for what? Going has no reason.""None should?" Mike tilted his head. "Knowing that look, Eleanor, as I do. You are contemplating it."I leaned back in my restaurant chair and shook my head. "I'm not. I will also not reject it."Mike observed me for a long time before runnin
The apartment was quiet when I stepped inside. I closed the door behind me, took off my shoes, and coat, draping it over the chair by the door instead of hanging it up. I had to go to bed. It was late and I was tired, but my mind would not relax.I went into the kitchen and poured myself a glass of water because I wanted to keep my hands occupied. The lights of the city shone outside the window, distant and static. I drank slowly and leaned against the counter.My phone was vibrating on the table.Mike.You alright?I exhaled rapidly and shook my head. I didn't know why I was surprised. He always listened. Even when I didn't want him to.Yes. You?He responded after a few seconds.You know me. Always okay.I stared at the screen. I could imagine him saying it, that small smile in his voice, the way he always evaded answering without technically lying.I didn't respond. I had no idea what to say.I put my phone on the counter, had another sip of water, and shut off the kitchen light.
After dinner, the gallery quieted down to a comfortable hush. The takeout containers from leftovers were on the desk, and Alicia was scrolling through her phone, most likely reading the emails she'd put off eating. Mike settled back into his chair, his eyes straying in my direction every so often but not speaking much.Abby had already caught on.She always caught on."You're working late again?" she asked, putting on her coat.I shrugged. "Might as well. Got some things to wrap up."She looked at me knowingly but didn't push. "Alright. Don't burn yourself out."Alicia yawned, stretching her arms above her head before standing. "I should get going, too. Text if you need anything.""Will do."One by one, they left, their goodbyes soft in the quiet space. The gallery always felt different at night—still, untouched, like it existed in its own pocket of time.Mike hadn’t left yet.He was still in his chair, watching me. Not in an expectant way, not like he was waiting for me to say someth
I didn't want to continue argue with him. I didn't want to stay standing here, gawking at him, judging for whatever he would say because we both knew I'll never be able to believe him. There was no point.So, I gave him a once-over, before I slowly trudged in. But just as I was supposed to walked away from him, I felt a hand on my wrist."Are you not going to ask what happened to me? Aren't you curious?""Why would I be?" I asked, jiggling my wrist for release. "You're dead to me."Those words will hunt him. He probably didn't expect I'd say those after all these years we hadn't seen each other, but I couldn't care less.I was able to took back my arm from him, and when I did, I continued walking and didn't look back. He didn't pursue me any longer either— which was better for the both of us.We were nothing beside strangers now, and a conversation wouldn't do us any good.I headed back to my gallery after that, where Mike and Alicia were waiting for me. They were at the main office,
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