Chapter five: Deception

LAURA’S POV.

I stood by the dressing mirror thinking about Astrid's pregnancy report, I wondered if Elijah knew about this pregnancy. Who was responsible and why was she trying to hide this from everyone? and suddenly, I saw Elijah's reflection staring right at me.

I snapped out of my thoughts and gazed into his green dazzling eyes.

He was dressed in a neat black suit with his hair pushed back. His cologne filled my nostrils, giving me butterflies in my tummy.

His hot breath fanned against my skin as he drew closer. My heart was beating against my chest. His face held no expression.

He held my hand and turned to face me, by this point I was lost in my feelings for him. Feelings I never wanted.

Then his gaze turned cold. He held my arm tightly.

“If anything goes wrong today, if you do anything to hurt Astrid, I will end you,” he whispered silently.

His deep voice sent shivers down my spine. I was slapped into reality each time he spoke to me. This man hated me with every fiber of his being.

“Yes sir,” I answered. A tear dropped from my eye leaving a hot trail.

“Good, go fetch Astrid. Make sure she is comfortable. She is still weak,” he ordered.

He let go of my arm and walked out of the room.

I let out a breath I did not know I was holding.

I felt like a maid, being pushed to and fro to take care of Astrid.

***

We reached the hall where Ethan's birthday party was being held. Everyone was dressed to kill.

Elijah opened the door for Astrid, I followed behind. I couldn't help but feel uncomfortable but Ivy Reed held my hand like the good person she is.

Astrid walked like she was about to fall, as if she wasn't walking just fine all this while when I went to fetch her.

“Laura, come with me while I meet some business associates. Astrid you'll remain with my Aunt, she will take good care of you.” He said firmly. His voice held authority and power, whatever he said goes.

Miss Ivy rolled her eyes, I could tell she wanted to say a lot but couldn't. Instead, she nodded in agreement as she took Astrid's hand.

They walked to the VIP area for the family members only, while Elijah and I associated with some business folks, I felt more like his secretary than his wife.

****

We walked back to the table where Ethan was busy flirting with some girls, as he held his vodka.

Elijah groaned in disgust.

“Can you stop embarrassing me, Ethan.” He scolded.

Ethan settled in his seat, “but it's my birthday,” he whined.

Everyone seemed to be frightened around the table.

“Wasn't this supposed to be a fun event?” I whispered to Miss Ivy.

She shrugged her shoulders.

Shortly, I excused myself and went to the bathroom, and Astrid followed behind me. I could hear her heels clicking on the floor. She carried a bad aura; it was suffocating.

“So you think you can just steal my Elijah and get away with it?” She scoffed, digging her nails on my wrist.

“Wait what? You don't know anything, leave me alone.” I defended myself. The warm water splashed through my hands, and I made to walk away

She got a knife and slight her wrist. The blood sprayed all over the bathroom and she let out a blood curdling scream.

“Help!!!! Please help me! She wants to kill me!!” Astrid screamed.

I stood there frozen in my stance, the water from the tap still falling on my hands.

“You sneaky bitch, you know I did not do anything!” I yelled.

“Help! She wants to kill me!” Astrid screamed even louder catching everyone's attention. She smeared blood all over my hands and shirt.

The time everyone came in, she was lying in a pool of blood with the knife thrown next to my feet.

I could not utter a word. I stood there crying, not knowing what to do.

“Laura! You heartless woman!” Elijah exclaimed.

Everyone looked at me in shock while I shook my head many times.

No… this is not. I didn’t…

I could not defend myself. It looked like I had slit Astrid’s wrist.

“What have you done! You're so wicked!” He barked.

Elijah glared at me with so much hatred that it made my skin crawl. He leaned down and scooped Astrid into his arms and rushed out of the door without sparing me another glance.

My heart sank… he believed her.

His eyes were filled with tears and anger. Wrath I had never seen.

We all followed behind Elijah, his powerful aura turning the air cold.

“How could you do this! You murderer!” Ethan screamed at me.

My heart clenched. Ethan didn’t believe me either.

I could not see Miss Ivy Reed, but I knew she would believe me. Everyone pointed fingers and cursed at me.

It didn't take long till the siren rang outside the hall.

A swat team swooped in and handcuffed me, I was handled so roughly. I felt like a criminal in their hands.

I stepped back, fear creeping into me. How did the police get here so soon? “No, I didn’t do anything! Elijah!”

They dragged me out the hall. I looked at myself in the hallway mirrors and saw a girl who wished she knew better. A girl who wished I never came to Lanesville from London.

I glanced at Elijah’s back as he carried Astrid to his car. That was when my eyes met Astrid’s, and she gave me a barely there wicked smirk.

That bitch! She set me up and called the police on me.

Elijah drove off with Astrid while the police threw me at the back of the truck in handcuffs.

Tears strolled down my face, feeling betrayed.

“I am not a murderer!” I screamed. “Please believe me!”

Moments later, the police threw me in custody, the cells were cold and my little dress did not do me any justice in keeping the cold away.

I shivered in the corner and cried my eyes out.

“I didn't do it!” I screamed. I know no one is coming to save me… no one cared.

I don’t know how long I had been in that cell when I heard Elijah's voice in my ears.

“Make sure she does not get out! She will pay for what she has done to Astrid,” he yelled.

“Yes sir!” The police officer said.

“Make her pay, suffer till she learns her lesson!”

I saw his figure towering on the bars, and I looked him in the eyes. All I could see was anger and hate.

"You will regret what you did to Astrid,” he said in a dangerously low voice.

“Guards, I'm leaving specific instructions! She is not allowed to have visitors and she is allowed only one meal a day. Understand?” He barked.

I was short of words and sobbed silently, as he turned and left without looking back.

He didn’t even want to hear my side of the story… but why would he? I was the woman he hated…

Anger, pain and hatred seared through me like an active volcano. I felt like a thousand spears had pierced through my heart as I wiped my tears.

Elijah Reed, from now on, you’re dead to me.