Grimaldi's Blood and Vows

“That bitch, Lauren! She thinks she is all that but she won't know what hit her when we’re done with her!”

“Don’t stress yourself, honey. She isn't worth your anger. And as for her, I’ll make sure she can't stand up again when we take everything from her.”

Outside the office, a woman stood there trembling like she had been soaked in ice for days. Her eyes were bloodshot and the back of her clothes was soaked in her cold sweat.

She stood outside the office but could hear everything that was said about her. She didn't need to strain her ears to listen as the couple inside wasn't even trying to lower their voices as if they didn't care if she heard.

Yes, the woman outside is the Lauren that was mentioned, and the couple inside the office are the two people she thought were as close as family to her—Her fiance and her best friend from college days.

Lauren felt her head spin as she listened to the mockery that came from inside the office. She felt like she wanted to disappear from that place, she wished it was all a dream, but as she stood there, the couple’s voices still rang out as if telling her how stupid she was.

The female voice which Lauren recognised as Celine, her best friend continued with the conversation.

“But, Julian, when will all this end? When can we take everything from her? Especially the designs? And when will you break up with her?” She whined, then continued, “That dumb bitch stole my man! I have been good to her enough by allowing her to have you for years while I act like a best friend to her, but I'm tired. I want you back…”

Lauren, who had become so weak that she had to rest her back on the wall, felt everything was ridiculous.

Her lips twitched but her eyes stung as tears poured out like they had been waiting for that moment. She parted her lips, but immediately covered her mouth with her palm as she didn't want to attract the attention of the couple who were still oblivious that their plans had been heard.

Lauren couldn't believe the words she heard.

What did Celine mean by Lauren stealing her man? How ridiculous!

Lauren had met Julian when she was 19 years old and in college. That moment was the darkest moment of her life—the period when she lost her mother who is said to have committed suicide.

At that time, Lauren had considered Julian who had burst into her life as a light she could hold onto. Julian had pursued her for months, and he stayed with her when she fell ill due to the news of her father bringing in a new wife just days after her mother’s death.

She had thought he was the best man she would ever meet and when she heard he missed his exams for her which made him repeat another year, she fell totally for his selfless act.

And that was also the time when she met Celine too and they all became close friends.

Though she was dating Julian, Celine would always be seen everywhere with them and sometimes, even on a date with Julian but Lauren had never considered it strange, but now, Lauren could finally understand—All along, she was the fool.

Lauren closed her eyes tightly and memories of when she met Celine having a meal with Julian privately and how Julian would always buy the same gift for her and Celine, and even how the apartment she and Julian lived in now was chosen by Celine, even the name of this company that was started with her ideas, money and designs was chosen by Celine.

All this while, she thought it was because Celine was more fashionable and jovial, she thought it was because Julian felt that she was special in their lives, she thought Celine was the friend that loves her so she had never suspected anything and even showed care and supported her.

“A fool! Such a big idiot!” Lauren muttered to herself as she slapped her cheeks quietly.

Tears ran down her face as she heard the conversation, but she tried not to cry out loud. She didn't know how to face the betrayers, she wished she could barge in and hit them! She wished she could slap their faces and show the world how much of a betrayer they were, but Lauren wasn't someone who would act like a shrew.

She bit her lips to stifle her cries, then continued to listen to the conversation that didn't seem to end soon.

Julian’s voice sounded, “Oh my dear Celine, I understand that you have endured so much and you did all this for me. But give me some time. You know I'm doing this for our future?” he said, his voice gentle and sweet, one he had never used on Lauren before.

Lauren’s lips twitched. “Now I know the difference between real and fake.” Her lips curled up but her eyes were filled with pain.

Julian had never spoken so gently with her, and she had taken his calmness with her as gentleness.

Lauren closed her eyes and didn't want to listen anymore. She felt as if her heart was being pierced but as she struggled to stand up and leave, she heard the next words that shattered her whole being…

“We’ll give her just 3 months to enjoy her days and after we take away all her designs and used it to get a place for you in the upcoming national design competition, I’ll make her transfer the rest of her properties to me and also seize her designs catalogue then put them in your name and then, you can do anything you want with her. Well, she doesn't have anyone to rely on, so,” he paused for a while and what followed was a vicious voice that came like a bullet that went straight to Lauren’s brain;

“…Make her fall sick and die a natural death so no one will suspect us. We can just say she had cancer or anything.”

****

Days later…

In front of a building that had a huge signboard with the words “Marriage Registry” written on it, was a woman dressed in a white corporate gown. She stood there with a phone to her left ear as she called a number, but her face was so calm—The woman is Lauren.

Days had passed and Lauren still couldn't believe that the man she had loved and lived with for years had betrayed her and even planned to kill her after seizing her remaining properties and lifetime designs.

She had cried and hoped everything was a dream but every morning when she woke up to see the empty house, Lauren’s heart became calm and solid and now, she wished to confirm everything one last time.

On that day when she had visited Julian’s office, Lauren had planned to tell him about his promise to get married to her before her 25th birthday.

Turns out that before Lauren’s mother died, she had locked an important parcel for Lauren in the bank and it could only be opened if Lauren brought a marriage certificate before her 25th birthday. Lauren had kept this secret to herself and only her mother’s lawyer knows this. Before then, she had talked to Julian and told him how she wished to get married before her 25th birthday, and he had promised her.

But as it turns out, Lauren coincidentally heard the confession.

“Ring Ring Ring!”

The sound of the call ringing was heard from her phone, and finally, the call never went through again. Lauren smiled calmly and her eyes became sharper but calmer.

She had wanted to give Julian one last chance and hoped everything was a lie, but she had been calling him since morning, and he only picked up her call once which he told her he was on his way but it's been 6 hours and he was still not here.

Lauren looked at the sky and knew it was almost the time when the registry closed and if she didn't get married before tomorrow, which was her 25th birthday, she would lose the relics her mother had kept for her.

“Tsk.” Lauren sneered, “I gave you one last chance and now, I have confirmed that I’m a fool but I, Lauren Sterling will no longer be that fool. I’ll make you all regret ever doing this to me! I’ll return everything you planned to do to me in a thousand folds! I’ll take back everything I have given to you both—The company that was built with my savings and designs, the reputation and even your lives!”

After her ruthless vow, Lauren’s gaze turned calm and her mind became clear.

She looked around, then at the document in her hands. She knew she had to get married today and even if she had to marry a beggar on the street, Lauren wouldn't miss this chance!