Chapter Four

Elena’s POV

That was the only option I had left.

I exhaled heavily before pushing the door with my hand on the doorknob.

As Alex saw me, he smiled and came close to me.

“Alex ….” I lowered my face.

“It’s fine if you don’t want to come stay with me”. He responded in a low tone looking displeased.

“No way is that what you think?” I questioned him as I burst into laughter.

“Hmmm, are you trying to mock me this time around? So tell me why are you laughing at me now?” He questioned with concern.

“Because the whole if you don’t want to come, I understand a thing is funny”. I repeated as I burst into laughter again.

“So you are now mocking me, right?” He asked as he curled his lips and came closer to me.

My heart started beating so fast that I could barely breathe.

“Okay, it’s fine, I'm coming with you because I don’t even have a place to stay so I can’t object to your offer besides you have been there for me since the day I lost my parents”. I responded in a low tone as if I was about to cry

“Hey it’s fine, no sad moment now. Please, I don't want you to start crying again. Come and have your breakfast, let's start going before your niece gets here”.Alex mocked me as he burst into laughter.

“And she will be like hey you shameless orphan leave this house immediately”. I mimicked Mrs Caroline and we both laughed so loud.

Alex always tries his best to make sure I’m not crying or being hard on myself. I kept staring at him for a while.

“Hey Alex, Thank you for everything. I needed a companion and you came at the right time. I..I owe you a lot”. I shakily told him as tears rolled down my cheeks.

“Hey Hey let’s not do that here. No time for tears, we already agreed that you won’t cry again, isn’t it?” He questioned me.

“I know but I just can’t help it. I murmured.

“It’s fine, everything will be fine I promise you”. Alex assured me and smiled.

“Oh wow, So you still have the stupid effrontery to smile, you this unlucky orphan”. Mr Caroline spilled bluntly. “Do orphans deserve to be happy?” She questioned me rashly. “Now leave this house immediately”. She commanded.

“Aunty why are you being this harsh on me have I done anything wrong to deserve all this hatred from you?” I asked with curiosity.

“I don’t have time for your stupid questions. Please leave this house. My husband and I want to enjoy this beautiful mansion. She came close to me and whispered. “That was once yours”. She burst into laughter.

“Do you have to go around downgrading my image?” I held my chest trying so hard not to cry so hard. No matter how I tried to clean my eyes they were still red and swollen. I cried my eyes out because I was broken.

“What? Did you just say image?” She faced me giving me a disgusting look

“Yes, you heard me vividly. Why did you suddenly turn cold after the death of my parents?” I asked her. “you and your husband even went as far as claiming my father's house and for that, you are being wicked”. I spilled bluntly.

“You shameless and mannerless orphan.” She yapped at me with anger.“I won’t allow you to insult me in my face!” She warned me.

“Do you have any dignity or humanity left in you?” I rolled my eyes. “This is my father's house and I deserve better than what have been through!” I said in anger.

“Now leave my house immediately!” She commanded me with anger.

“That was what I was about to do before you came in ranting and barking like a bulldog”. I mocked her.

“Elena that’s enough!” Alex yelled at me. “You’re being too harsh and disrespectful and that’s wrong. She’s your aunt and you should talk to her with respect”. Alex scolded me.

“Respect you say?” I questioned him with disbelief.

“Yes you heard me right. Despite whatever that happened you should still respect her and that makes you a better person. Please just calm yourself down”. He lowered his voice this time around

“Whatever” I sighed and left.

I went inside the house to get my stuff ready. For some reason, I felt hurt that Alex scolded me. He was only trying to correct me and I shouldn’t have felt so bad about it. What's going on? I thought

A few minutes later Alex opened the door and came inside the room he looked tired of everything already

“Look Elena, I’m sorry for scolding you earlier. I felt like you were being too harsh and disrespectful and I know you were just angry and I was trying to calm you down”. He apologized with sincerity.

“It’s fine Alex. I understand you and I’m not mad at you. I shouldn't have spoken to her in such a manner”.I responded with a smile

“I’m not blushing am I?” I murmured to myself as I placed my hands on my cheeks.

“Okay hurry up let’s leave this house,” Alex instructed.

“Okay sure,” I responded

I was ready to leave the house with luggage as Mrs Caroline walked up to me.

“And where do you think you are going with this luggage?” She questioned with audacity.

“How? Didn’t you just ask me to leave the house and that is what I am doing”.I responded bluntly.

“Oh my sweetheart, it seems like you are so daft that you don’t understand common English”. She teased me“.

Now listen to me attentively you will leave this house of course but you are to leave with nothing just like the trash you are”. She uttered.

This time around I was speechless. I already cried out my eyes. I stood hopeless thinking of what life had stalled for me.

“Okay, fine here you go.” I handed over the luggage to her as tears rolled down my cheeks.

“It’s fine Elena, I already promised you that I would be here for you”. He smiled. “Don’t worry my boys are here to pick us up”. He bragged.

“Your boys? What boys are you talking about?” I questioned him in surprise.