Hidden Secrets

Bruna.

“What would you like to eat?” Caden asked, typing on his phone as we drove home.

“Didn't you say we couldn't eat outside of the house?” I brought my little bottle of water to my mouth and took a sip. 

He had told me we couldn't eat outside of the house when I told him the baby was hungry.

 He cocked a brow at me like I needed to answer him without asking questions.

He waved his phone in the space between us “I want to call home and ask them to cook you something before we arrive.”

Oooh! “Is that care I hear in your voice?” I smirked, pressing the bottle of water against my chest in a shy-like manner.

“Funny..” He scoffed. “I only care about my child.” He dialed on his phone and looked at me. So I gave him what I wanted to eat.

“Toast, mixed spicy vegetables, beef stew, white rice and tomato sauce, vegetable salad, chicken soya… and don't forget to add fruits.”

By the time I finished naming them, his eyes were on me, phone over his ear. 

“Isn't that too much for one person?” He questioned

“Two people.” I corrected, rubbing a hand on my stomach back resting against the car seat.

The sun was getting down. Its orange hues shone brightly behind the hills that were visible through my window.

I did light makeup on my face, paying attention to the mole on my face. It couldn't be visible. I made sure the coffee brown wig on my hair covered every inch of my auburn hair. I was Bruna King here in Wisteria and Bruna Clayton back in Lunaria.

When I was done. I stepped outside and locked my door. 

Dinner should be ready by now.

Outside the hallway, an opened room on the far left caught my attention. I moved towards it. The first thing piqued my eyes was a couple of red jewelry boxes, some of the jewelry out of their boxes.

Wow! They glittered on the table like they were on display for an auction.

Whose room was it? Marigold, Phoebe… My question was answered when I spotted familiar slippers on the floor in front of me.

Slippers  Phoebe wore the first day I came here. I haven't been a thief, but she just had to pay for looking down on me somehow. 

Without much thinking, I checked my surroundings before entering the room.

“I'm unable to find my necklace. The one Brandon got me on my birthday.” Phoebe complained running down the stairs with a deep frown on her face. She was all dressed up in a short knee-length party dress.

I dropped my cutlery on my plate and leaned in my chair.  Shit, I had no idea the necklace was a love gift from her boyfriend. 

I went back to eating. 

“Aren't you going to eat dinner with us before stepping out?”

Marigold asked, looking at her daughter.

“You can always get another necklace, Phoebe,” Marigold said, biting into a piece of chicken.

“Seriously,  mother? That was a gift to me and I just can't replace it and I don't want to eat.”

She threw her hands up like the spoiled brat she was.

“I will get you another one,” Caden said beside me. Phoebe turned back with a scoff “Always looking for a way to show off huh? I don't want it.”

I turned to Caden and noticed his fruits were almost finished on his plate.

I started adding up some to his plate. He stared at me but said nothing. 

Right now, I knew where the headquarter of his numerous companies was located. And he was planning on opening another one in Lunaria, the same Lunaria he destroyed five years ago. God forbid I let that happen this time. 

“Come on, eat up. You need to look healthy.” I urged him. His mother smiled at me.

All this was like the calm before the storm and every one of them will feel it. Phoebe was rather unfortunate to receive hers earlier because she couldn’t mind her business. 

After we ate dinner, I helped the maids to clear off the table. I had to be a good daughter-in-law because everything had to play in my favor.

Since Caden and I didn't share the same room, I made my way to the guest room but stopped when I heard footsteps behind me. 

I spun around to see Caden standing behind me with his hands stuck inside the pocket of his pants. 

“My mother doesn't have to know we don't sleep together. I do not want her forcing me to take you in, not after she made me marry you.” 

He stood in front of me, spread legs, square shoulders and chin straight up

I fiddled with my hands and leaned forward. “Ofcourse,  she wouldn't.” I would have done that just to riled him up, but I didn’t come here for that. I had no business getting close to him in that manner.

He didn't say a word and walked away. I entered my room and after my night routine, I climbed into bed.

Buzz!

Buzz!

A few hours into sleeping,  my phone started making an unbearable noise.

With sleepy eyes, I drifted to the edge of the bed, my hand touching the lamp stand only when something fell on the floor did I fully wake up.

Panic washed through me when I picked up my phone on the floor, luckily it hadn't cracked up.

My weight landed on the bed when I saw the calling ID.

Luna. I didn't go to see her as planned.

I called her back.

“Your rent is due, Bruna.” She said,  I closed my eyes and squeezed the space between them.

“ I need the car. I have somewhere to be with my friends and that is the only car that accommodates us.”

Just great. The luxurious car I was parading in, wasn't mine to begin with.

“Fine, I will come to see you tomorrow,” I whispered the last part into the phone hoping no one would hear me.

“Great.” She said and hung up

I breathed out and just when I thought it was finally over for the night, another call came in.

Thinking it was Luna, I planned to take time before answering until I saw the name of my best friend on the screen. 

July

I quickly sat up and pressed the answer button. 

“July,” I called out.

“I don't know what you're up to, but you need to come over.”

She said with a bit of panic in her voice. 

But I couldn't leave. This was a presidential area with tight security and it was almost midnight.

“It can't.  It's Keenan, Bruna.  His temperature rose this evening,  I bought him some drugs and nothing is adding up.”

Oh, come on! I sat up on the bed and pressed my back against the headboard. 

“What happened to him?” I rubbed the sleep off my eyes as I listened. 

“He is sick, Bruna. How else do you want me to tell you? You need to come and see him.” 

I ignored the panic in her voice.  I lay back in bed.

“I can't leave, July. I will send some money tomorrow for you to get him whatever he needs.”

“Are you being serious right now, Bruna? This is your son we are talking about? For how long will you castigate the poor kid for what he knows nothing about?”

I immediately sat up at her words. Tears welled up in my eyes. But I didn't have anything to say.

“Good night, July.”

I hung up. I didn't want to be reminded of the past.