Chapter 2

Chapter 2 

My sister is back 

Elara's POV 

The words of the doctor hung onto me, playing repeatedly in my mind. “You're pregnant.” One month gone and I was just finding out?

After seeking ways to conceive for years. After everyone already thought I was barren and I was finding out just after my husband left me injured on the road.

Left me injured. That's even if he noticed I was injured.

A tear rolled down my eye and I sniffed as I gazed at the ceiling, memorising every imprint while I reminisced on my life. After being lost by the Vale family at the age of 5, I was taken to another city.

An adoptive centre where every action of mine was punished. There was a physical shelter but that was the best of all that was offered.

Then I was found fifteen years later, reuniting with a family that had completely forgotten me— a family that already had a perfect daughter.

More tears stung my eyes and I bit on my lips to stop the sob. I was treated as the substitute after that and then the marriage to Lucien was proposed and I thought — how silly of me to think I finally found someone to love me.

Having read fiction as a form of escape, I thought our marriage would be like that.

But it wasn't. It wasn't even basic. Lucien treated me with contempt but the earlier was the height of it. He had left me on the floor and drove off.

If not for the stranger. At that, I sat up. He brought me to the hospital. I should thank him. As I headed to the door, it was pushed open and the doctor stepped in. 

“Are you ready to leave?”

“Yes,” I nodded, “I was brought by a man, is he still around?”

“No, he had to leave after an urgent call,” the doctor reached forward and handed me the recommendations of drugs, “you should get that and make sure to come for a checkup.”

I nodded and smiled, “thank you.”

“I'd also be in touch with Mr. Ashford for anything you might need.”

My limbs froze instantly. Mr. Ashford. My husband. No. I couldn't tell him yet. He couldn't know about the pregnancy yet. “No please,” I declined immediately and the doctor raised a brow.

I forced a smile and tried to seem neutral, “I'll be making it a surprise for him, we've waited for this for so long, I'd be breaking it on a rather important day.”

“Understood.”

I finally walked out of the doctor's office and it didn't take long before I got home and surprisingly, Lucien's car was parked. My heart skipped for a moment as I reached the door.

“Oh don't flatter me,” the always smooth voice laughed, “you know I don't look as good as you're painting me to be, Lucien.”

“I'm not kidding, Sera, and you know that,” I heard my husband's voice carrying the same excitement he had earlier, “I wouldn't mind staring at this face for the rest of my life.”

For the rest of his life. Did he admire her that much? My teeth sank into my lower lips before I took my hands to the door and pushed it open.

Two heads turned to me instantly before a tiny squeal erupted, “Elara!” Seraphina reached forward, reaching for me in an embrace, an embrace that seemed friendly to Lucien but silently choking me.

“How have you been?” She smiled widely while I remained still in her arms. Finally, Seraphina pulled away.

“Why aren't you hugging me?” She pouted and turned to Lucien, “did I do something wrong?” My sister reached for my hands quickly and her eyes widened, “what happened to you?”

“I got injured,” I pulled my hands off her grip, “welcome, Seraphina.” With that, I turned around but Lucien's voice stopped me immediately.

“That's bad,” Lucien scoffed, “I went to pick Seraphina up and the first thing she did was ask of you. It's been 3 years, Elara, don't you think you should have gotten over the fact that she stole your life?”

Lucien's words were like a claw to my chest, reminding me of my disappearance, of how abandoned I felt when I was a child.

“That—”

“I'm not done talking,” Lucien cut me short immediately, “for 3 years, she has been desperately trying to build a bond, why are you this hostile. You carry so much hate.”

“Yes,” I admitted before I could stop myself, “I bear this hatred in my heart for her, Lucien and maybe,” I turned to Seraphina, “maybe if her actions were genuine, I wouldn't even be this hateful.”

A tear rolled down and I sniffed, “I'm injured,” I turned my both palms that were plastered to Lucien, “I don't have much energy. I'd leave you two.”

“You're not leaving,” Lucien stepped forward instantly. He reached for me and pulled my both arms, “you always want attention, Elara and that's the problem.”

“Is it because you lacked it as a child?”

“Lucien,” my voice broke and tears streamed down my face. He was using my childhood as a weapon against me.

“Because Seraphina is back, you come up with some silly injury?” Lucien rolled his eyes, “I expected you to be better, Elara. Especially to your sister, to the woman who's the reason I'm alive.”

He thinks Seraphina is his saviour. She wasn't— but that wasn't my point to prove.

“You have to apologise.” Lucien turned to Seraphina, “on behalf of Elara, I apologise. You deserve better,” he then pulled me forward until I was halfway to Seraphina, “apologise.”

“No,” my voice broke, “I will not.”

“Elara—” Lucien's voice turned cold and rigid before Seraphina broke in.

“It's fine, it's fine,” Seraphina stepped forward, the same fake smile on the edges of her lips, “I hold no grudges against Elara. I understand every reason behind her hatred for me,” her arms circled me as she embraced me.

“I only have a request,” Seraphina pulled out of the hug, “I just came back to New York and want to catch up on the city, I'd love to watch it from your room.”

I blinked trying to believe that wasn't where she was driving at but it was.

“Can you allow me to spend the night in your room in place of you, Elara?” Seraphina reached for my hand, “I'd have loved to watch the city with you but since you are injured, I'd just do it with Lucien.”

“So, would you move out for the night?” She grabbed my hands and pouted, “please…”

“You—”

“She will,” Lucien cut in before my words could form, “that's the least she can do.” He turned to me, “get your things from the room so it'll be spacious.”

“Lucien—”

“Do as I say,” Lucien commanded, tone final.