LOGINFive years ago, Elara Vance poured her heart into letters for a boy she had never met letters that kept him alive during his darkest days. But when her closest friend stole her identity, Elara never corrected the lie. That friend, Selene Ward, died of a terminal illness, leaving behind a legacy Elara could never claim. Now married to Mason Lorne the man who once loved her words but believes they belonged to Selene, Elara lives under the shadow of a ghost. Mason’s heart still belongs to the dead, and every act of kindness Elara shows is twisted into proof of her supposed jealousy. When an unexpected encounter with Selene’s grandmother reignites old wounds, Mason’s accusations grow crueler. Pressured by both families for an heir, trapped in a loveless marriage, and silenced by the weight of her own guilt, Elara makes a choice to disappear. But in her absence, she leaves behind the truth. And when Mason finally sees it, regret will be his only companion
View MoreChapter One
Elara's POV
It was today. Just like every marriage had an anniversary, mine did but it was a constant reminder that I was the second choice, I was the one who stood in the gap of some else. I've always craved to be Mrs. Lorne. But that dream almost did not happen but fate has other stories to tell but here I am suffering immensely the sins of another.
I know you must be thinking I am the bad guy in this story, maybe I stole someone else's husband, but it was quite a steal, and I regret it now. I should have let things go.
My name is Elara Vance. The only daughter to the Vance family. I come from an average family, nothing much but we could afford three square meals without a fault. I was married to the dreamiest man in the city. Mason Lorne. The CEO and billionaire of the Lorne Enterprise, a family business he took charge off when he was just a teenager, after his father had passed.
But I was married to him now, on the outside we were a perfect couple and Mason was polite but behind he close doors, he cared less about me.
I hoped to change things that year as we clocked two years together. It has been a rollercoaster of emotions and our marriage was like a plaster to a leaking gas pipe.
While I stood in the kitchen, I used my hand towel to wipe off the sweat off my forehead as I stared in admiration. I had prepared a master piece, the Mansion was Empty, I had leased all the household staff on a abrupt day off to spend the day with my husband, Mason.
I carried the last plate, heading to the dinning table when I heard approaching steps, he walked down the stairs already dressed up for work, as he usually do but it was a Saturday... What could he have to do on a Saturday, when he has assistants to do all the dirty work.
My eyes ran through him, he was wearing the tuxedo black suit he had gotten from his last trip to Paris, his hell was well gelled back, his blues yes lingered at the table for a moment but a frown appeared on his face in displeasure.
"What's going on here? And where are all the staff?" He asked looking around not caring what was on the table.
I stood there, as I gulped down the saliva that had stuck on my throat, before I hastily took off the apron I had on and undid my hair, I had tied up in a ponytail.
I was dressed in a simple red gown, my dad had bought for me for my graduation for college, it still fitted and it served the purpose well.
"Uhmm... Mason.. I sent them away." I said, trying to mask up a smile.
" And why would you do that? What gave you the right to do that?" He requested, I froze for a second, then proceeded to say.
"It's our anniversary...today...and I was ho...ping that you spe...nd it with me.." I said, I didn't fear him. I just feared his response. Mason was never abusive physically, he just didn't care. I know he blamed me for all that happened. I was the reason his happiness was shattered. His eyes held so much hate for me, I knew he couldn't stand me but there was still a glimmer of hope that he could have breakfast with me for the first time in two years.
It's been two years and I didn't know what Mason's touch felt like, he had left me on the night of our wedding to catch some fun with his buddies and got drunk. We barely saw each other, he leaves home at the break of dawn and returns at the dead of dust. Just to avoid me.
This marriage was built on shambles and I have to make him see reason for this marriage to work.
He looked at me, like I was playing a joke, "anniversary?" He questioned and I nodded immediately.
The silence that reign between us was definite. He then broke the silence saying." I have a meeting today with the president, you can suit yourself or buy whatever you need." He said, and just like that he walked out the door, not waiting for my response, but the loud thunder of the door shrieked me back to reality.
Feeling lost and defeated, I collapsed to the chair in utter disappointment. I stared at the drugs I bought earlier today to make Mason want me so I could have a baby for the Lorne family but all was shattered, I had an appointment with him today and it was the same old story.
The Lorne family had booked an appointment with the family doctor for me, I was tired but I didn't have the liver to tell anyone I was Mason's wife for two years and he never touched me. Everyone assumed our not ability to conceive was my fault but how was it possible if Mason avoided me like a pandemic at home? I didn't know I was in tears until the tear hit my hand, that rested on the table. I wiped them off quickly as I stood up,
"It was all for nothing..." I said to myself , as I grabbed my hand bag, resting on the couch, heading for the hospital for my monthly routine check up.
I got into my car, as I started the engine, and drove off to the hospital,
The ride was long and quiet for me, as soon as I got to the hospital, I got out after parking, as I walked down to the main entrance, the nurses knew my face by now already.
"Good morning, Mrs. Lorne..the Doctor would see you shortly..." She told me, I tried to mask up a smile as I nodded, I headed to the waiting room, my phone binged, thinking it was Mason, it was only a reminder alarm for my visit to the hospital.
I breath out, as I turned only to crash into someone, her bag fell to the floor, I immediately bent over to pick it up,
"So sorry ma'am..." I said as I rose up my eyes met with her gaze, she looked at me as if trying to remember.
"Elara darling....?" She called, she was the sole reminder of the cause of all my problems.
"Grandma Mag...." I called...
Chapter 14 Elara's POVI always thought the walls of the house of Grandma were cozier than any other place I had ever lived in, but this night the coziness seemed to be coming down like a suffocating blanket. I was sitting crookedly on the old sofa, with my hands round a mug of chamomile tea which had long been cold. The steam had been gone a long time, and I could not bring myself to drink it.The mantel clock was making fun of me, it was increasing the seconds so slowly and deliberately. Any other tick was another call of how time was flying even when I was not.I moved my palm but lightly against my stomach. Once more it was a flat, which had less in it than I had ever dreamed.“You know, you can quit staring at that cup,” Grandma said. Her hair was white in a scarf, her eyes weary, yet with a sort of love which is obstinate.Not staring, I thought to myself, although even I did not believe me."You were. You sat there a half an hour with nothing to drink. That tea's colder than w
Chapter 13 Mason's POVEven now I could feel the flavor of cheap whiskey on my tongue, although I brushed my teeth twice this morning. I looked at myself in the mirror, with fingers on the rim of the sink. Below my eyes dark circles hung. I had closed my jaw so hard, I was afraid I would snap a tooth.This was no drunken hallucination last night, I knew what I had felt. The pains in my blood, the voice in my ear, the laugh of men who believed that I was too feeble to fight them.The manager was lying this morning.“You were only drunk, I think," said he smiling. But he couldn't see my eyes.I wasn't drunk. Someone had poisoned me.“And the bastard…”.I switched off the tap and took a towel and wiped my face until the sting drove away my thoughts that were swirling in my mind. My cell phone rang on the counter. I glanced at the screen, Jeff.I answered with a sigh. "What?""Are you alive?" His voice was hoarse as though he had just got out of bed."Barely."“That is what you do when y
Chapter 12Elara's POV The smell of disinfectant lingered so badly in the air that it cut like a razor through my nostril. “Hospital smells,” That is what I found so unpleasant, sterile and clean and suffocating all at the same time. I jerked on the bed attempting to draw the thin blanket more tightly around myself. The clicking of the monitor reverberated on. It was already morning, but my heart was entangled in the cry at night. I looked up at the ceiling, the drab white or sneering at me. The same thing with my future with Mason.The door was slowly opened, and I was brought out of trance, Somehow Joyce called out to her, " Elara? She called.I stared at her, she carried a small-paper bag, and she was gazing anxious.Here now, I said, but I did not pronounce it."Well...you are still here so..." she wishes to play about, but the strain of her voice made her voice a lie. Putting the bag down on the side tab. "I brought you some fruit . Grandma told you that you have not eaten r
Chapter 11Mason's POV He cut me off, " At least nothing. You should move on and forget all about Elara. She's not going to accept you back." His words lingered, as it triggered the tightness of my chest."You don't know that for sure." I fired back calmly, this time the waiter had brought my drinks and served it. I poured into my glass, as I took a shot, my face squeezed at the bitter taste. But this was not bitter compared to my current situation."So what do you plan to do?" Jeff asked, his eyes shaking as they struggled to fix themselves at me.Jefferson was the only son to the Coker family. He had been my best buddy and friend for the longest time, even our family acquaintances. But I had to admit, Jeff had a bad habit with ladies, as he kept changing them like clothes. But he was the best."You are drunk." I said clearly to him, he immediately scoffed, " drunk? I'm just getting started." My phone began to ring again, it was my mother, I sighed as turned to Jeff, "Give me a m
Chapter 10 She's Hiding Something Mason's POV I drove for a while, the road was clear and dark but the streetlights did justice to it. I parked adjacent to Grandma's house, as I hoped for a miracle and for any one of them to come out.I sat behind my steering wheel, as I deliberated whether I should head inside or I should just ignore every thought in my head and just walk in, right?? I asked myself but I got no answer,not like I was expecting or something."I'm really sorry, Elara. I know it isn't going to do much but this is all I can do." I muttered to myself as if rehearsing.I got out of the call, it was already past midnight and the day was slowly getting absorbed by the darkness. I walked towards the door with a flower bouquet in my hands, I had bought it from a flower shop in the bid to apologize.I got to the door, hot sweat broke out despite the weather being cold. I inhaled and exhaled as I reached out for the doorbell but then I stopped myself."This is a bad idea..." I
Chapter 9Mason's POV I walked into my room, it was quiet, the sweet scent of Elara was still strong..it was only a matter of time before she disappeared. I tossed my brief case to the well laid bed, as I sat on the chair and took off my shoes. My hands on my forehead as I rubbed them.My phone beeped as it vibrated on my pockets, I took it out to see who had texted. It was Brent.He sent me a photo of Elara in the hospital. I couldn't wrap my head around the possibility of what could have happened."What happened to you and why are you here?" I asked like someone was going to magically give me an answer."This is her location, boss," Brent responded. I turned off the phone as I tossed it on the bed.I stood up as I took off my clothes heading into the shower, I let the cold water wash down all my hurt, technically.After I was done, I tied the towel around my waist, as I ran my hands through my hair, it was wet and had clumped together. I picked up the drier to do justice to it. I h












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