Havenbrook

"Wake up." A tap on her cheek. Then another, harder.

Arabella's eyes fluttered open to an unfamiliar ceiling. White. Sterile. The thick smell of disinfectant burned her nose.

She tried to lift her hand to her face. It wouldn't move.

That's when she felt something biting into her wrists.

“W–what is this place? Who are you?” Arabella questioned, attempting to stand up, but again, she couldn’t move her legs.

She looked down at herself, only then did she realize her legs and arms had been strapped on the table before her like some criminal in an interrogation room.

Her dress was gone as she was now wearing a plain white gown. Hospital gown.

Arabella panicked, “What’s going on here? What do you want from me?”

The lady who was standing before her—middle-aged, tired eyes, nurse's uniform—sighed, running her hand through Arabella's hair gently, “You are so beautiful, I wonder what drove you crazy.”

Arabella angrily moved away her head, her heart thumping wildly in her chest as fear crept into the depth of her soul, “What is this place? Who the hell hired you to do this? Adrian?”

“This is the Havenbrook Psychiatric Hospital, Ms…” The nurse paused looking at the name written on the form in her hand, “Ms. Elena, You’ve been admitted here.” The Nurse explained slowly like she was talking to a child, “I am Nala, your personal nurse and I am here to assess your current condition.”

Arabella’s eyes widened in disbelief, “Elena? Who the hell is that? I am Arabella. Arabella Sterl…” She paused, realizing she had no relationship with that name now, but the nurse mistook it for memory shortage.

“I understand Elena. We’ve been told you have a memory issue and keep taking on people’s identity. But don’t worry, we are you to reset your memory.” Nala said with an evil smirk dancing on her lips.

Arabella’s lips trembled as she realized she was doomed, but she tried to compose herself. This was a mental hospital, so every aggression she showed could be confused for a mental problem. The best option she had at the moment was to borrow the Sterling one last time.

“Nala, I promise you I am not crazy. I am Arabella Sterling. Daughter of the Sterling Law Group. You can check it online.”

Even though they had long dissolved her adoption, it was never made public so that detail was still somewhere on the internet. Or so she thought.

Nala raised a brow, her eyes drifting between the file in her hand and Arabella’s face.

Arabella’s heart thudded violently, as she hoped Nala would give her the benefit of doubt and just check the internet.

“First you claim to be the mother of his child, and now his sister?” She sighed, shaking her head. Nala made a note on her chart. "Honestly, does it look like I care? As long as she pays me well, I will tolerate your gibberish forever.”

Arabella’s heart sank as hot tears rushed up her eyes, “She? W—who is she?”

Nala looked at the file again, then replied, “Your sister.”

Arabella let out a humorless chuckle as more tears poured, “I have a sister now?”

“Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten me, sweet little sister?” Serena’s voice echoed from the door as she walked into the room, heels clicking the floor loudly.

“You?” Arabella gasped, eyes widened in disbelief.

Serena glanced at the nurse and commanded, “Excuse us.”

Nala attempted to leave but Arabella yelled loudly, “Please just check the internet. You will see it.”

Serena smirked, pulling out her phone showing off the screen, “You mean this internet?”

On it was an article that had been issued the previous day.

The title clearly read, “The Sterling Family has no daughter.”

Arabella’s fist clenched so hard her knuckles turned white. It's barely 24 hours since the divorce and Adrian couldn't wait to publicly get rid of her?

Nala left while Serena pulled a chair and sat just meters away from Arabella.

“You know ever since I called you crazy, I’ve always wanted to see how this white gown would look on you.” Serena started, admiring her freshly made acrylic nails nonchalantly, “I won't lie though, you make anything look beautiful.”

Arabella screamed at the top of her lungs, the veins of her neck throbbing as she lunged at her. But the strong chains held her back. “I have divorced him now, haven’t I? You’ve taken everything. What more do you want from me?”

The corner of Serena’s lips curled up in a disdainful smirk, shrugging her shoulders, “Everything?”

“Can you ever give back everything you owe me?”

Arabella’s brows creased in confusion. She tried to look back into their past when they were kids. Nothing.

Aside from Adrian, she’s never taken or even attempted to take anything from her.

Hot tears streamed down her eyes as she stared at her, Serena's smile making her skin burn as she cried, “What did I ever do to you?”

Serena chuckled loudly but she didn't look satisfied…didn't even look like someone that just won everything.

“As for your son…”

“Don’t you dare touch my son, you psycho!” Arabella roared, bouncing on her seat, barely able to contain her anger.

Despite the restraint on her movement, Arabella shook so hard, her chair moved closer, startling Serena for a heartbeat, “If you touch a single hair on his head, I will kill you!”

Serena tried to hide the chill that ran down her spine with Arabella’s threat, as she stylishly pulled her chair back, trying to bring back her composure.

“Don’t worry about Axel. I will treat him well, after all, I don’t plan on having a kid of my own.” She reassured her.

Arabella swallowed hard, dropping her gaze as she tried to regain the strength she’d exhausted. Her fingers trembled, blood smearing the place where her skin met the restraints.

“Please…please let me go.” Arabella begged, how voice was weak. Defeated. “I will never show up again.”

That boosted Serena's ego, her confidence returning fast, her smile running wide, “Don't worry. I already made sure of that.”

“That’s why I changed your name? Even if anyone remembers you, they will never be able to find you, just like your mother…” Serena caught herself a little too late.

Arabella’s eyes widened, a chill running down her spine, “M–my mother? How do you know about my mother?”

For all she knew, her birth mother died in prison. At least that was what Victor could uncover before his sudden death.

Serena bit the inside of her lips, avoiding a direct glance at Arabella as she picked her purse ready to leave. “You don't have the luxury to worry about anyone.”

Just then the door creaked open and the head psychiatrist of the hospital, Dr. Sebastian walked in, with Nala behind him.

“Ms. Smith, I rushed over as soon as I heard you came by yourself.” Dr. Sebastian greeted.

Serena took in a deep breath as she rose, giving one last disdainful look at Arabella before turning to face them.

“Torture her until she actually loses her mind. Then I will have my father give a huge donation to your hospital.” She instructed, striding towards the door.

“Thanks, thank you, Ms. Smith.” Dr. Sebastian replied, years of corruption etched in his brows.

Just as Serena reached for the door, Arabella managed to speak, “Serena, can you at least tell me what I ever did to offend you?”

Serena’s hand hovered over the doorknob for a while, then she turned back walking towards Arabella.

When she was close enough, she leaned in, whispering into her ear with a smile, “If I tell you, I will have to kill you.”

“But I don't want you to die just yet.”

She strode away, her laughter echoing around the room long after she left, every sound, piercing Arabella’s broken heart.