SHATTERED HOPES

"Hu!" As I exit my car in the modest driveway of my house, I let out a deep sigh. Did I say humble? After that, add enormous. Dang! For heaven's sake, I live up to the weight of my title as a Riccaford. Unfortunately, living lavishly and serving as my father's assistant as the head of the marketing department at his extensive hotel chain are the only benefits I get to enjoy. Of course, this was far from my ideal profession, but I had no choice but to accede to my father's requests and demands like I did from childhood since, as they say, who dare challenge Richard Riccaford? No one! Nobody!

I toss my life's sad tale to the side and begin stumbling inside. I'm worn out and drained. Before I go over the prose for my presentation for tomorrow's shareholders meetings, I might need to get some forty winks.

Talk of workaholics!

I leap inside in excitement after realizing the door is not secured. Leo Theodore, is the only one with a spare key to this home. My boyfriend of two years and frankly, it's high time we settle down, well, that depends on tomorrow. He is all I could possibly want in a man, and I am the apple of his eye. I've been wanting to be married to him for almost four months, but he's scared of the same thing that scares me. Tomorrow. But there is nothing greater than love, right? He is one of the reasons I can't let my father trade me the way he wants to do. I know I have little if not none chance of winning at all, but I'm trying contesting this because of him. I'm ready to give up everything for him. I love him too much to leave him for anybody else, much less a fucking stranger who I have never even met and am not even considering meeting.

That aside. A miracle might happen before tomorrow that will change everything for the greater good. That has been my prayer ever since I learnt of that stupid marriage agreement with the Roccafortes.

I enter the house and shut the door behind me. I drop my handbag on the grey settee and was about to head to the kitchen for a glass of cold milk when I notice something on the floor.

Red stilettos three inches high!

Aside from the fact that I dislike the color red, unless it's a rose, of course, this is not my size. Besides, I don't normally wear such high stiletto. I also don't recall either Sherry or Rose owning these shoes, and even if they did, they can't be here without my knowledge because they don't have a spare key.

So, whose pair is this?

I change the direction and shuffle upstairs, albeit with a heavy heart.

Ever heard of a cold chill that threatens to paralyze your spine if you don't get a grip of yourself?

Or paranoia?

I thought I was dragging my legs and my lazy wasted ass, but I got to my bedroom door much faster than someone who ran up the stairs.

I slowly turn the door open, and the first thing that greets me...

"Oooh... aah... Faster Leo... Oh, my..."

"Oh, my goodness! LEO!" I assist the blonde babe beneath him in moaning, but mine echoes with a loud scream of cry.

My phone along with my jaw drops to the floor as their ugly faces snap at me. My mind spins a thousand degrees.

I blink a couple of times, hoping to open my eyes and realize I'm just dreaming, but...

"Ellie." More horrendous than the sight of his standing tail between his legs is the way he flatly mumbles my name as he hovers off the whore.

This is so not happening! Someone shoot me!

I lean against the wall, tears streaming down my cheeks. I'm trembling, unable to believe that this two-legged snake by the name of my stepsister and my man are shamelessly screwing in my own home. And in my bed!

What the fuck is this?

No, way! No, how! How did things come to this? How long have they been making a fool of me, to the point of bringing this heinous act into my bed?

"I'm sorry you had to learn this the hard way." I jerk my eyes open in the direction of this smelly rotten bitch.

I dash to her from the corner of my bed, where she is snoozing and trying to cover her pathetic nakedness with the duvet.

Why bother to cover herself is she can't get the suffocating smell of their fornication out of this room? Everything stinks! They both stink...

"Aaah!" She hadn't expected that. I savour the the pain she is experiencing as a result of that resounding slap before grabbing her by the neck and dragging her from the bed.

"You bitch, let me go!" She says while struggling to breathe.

I throw her to the ground, and she slams into the door. I nearly puke at the sight of her naked body shaking as she falls to the ground, a loud scream escaping her lips. She should be thankful that I don't have a gun because I would have put a bullet through that hole of hers right now.

Leo begins to walk to her aid, but I give him a firey look. I'm glad he was quick enough to pull his jeans on; otherwise, I don't think I could stand both of them naked any longer. His white boxer is still on the floor, along with the clothes of this other bitch.

I'm so broken, and I'm afraid to show this witch how much this act of theirs has broken me. I have a million questions. I need answers. But not in front of her. I'll deal with her later. In another way.

I try to keep my cool and look her in her eyes after she manages to get to her feet..

"Collect your belongings and leave my sight and my house. Make sure you're the one to explain this to dad and your mother so you can sugarcoat it a little, because if you let me do it, I don't think my father will want to keep an illegitimate immoral bitch in his house for another minute."

"Don't be concerned. I will proudly tell my mother about this act of mine. I don't think your father has time for such nonsense, though. But if he finds out, I believe he will thank me, and you should do the same, because you no longer have to break Leo's heart when you finally embrace your fate tomorrow. Or have you forgotten what your twentieth birthday means? "I can invigorate your memory."

"You don't have to. I am fully aware and in command of everything. I had, until you decided to screw my boyfriend and ruin everything. Keep telling yourself whatever you want to clear your conscience for as long as you want, but I swear there will come a time when I will make you pay for this betrayal. You know how possessive I am of my possessions. This was mine! Leo was my man! My karma will not be simple. I'll serve it hot and spicy."

She collects her pieces of clothes from the ground, and she has no remorse about swinging her naked ass in my face. How deplorable! Even though Leo and I have been dating for two years, I can't picture ever swaying my naked body in front of him like this harlot is doing. Her front? Yack!

"Leo, you know where to find me." She remarks as she leans in to kiss his lips, and this dog dare to kiss her in return? She is purposefully rubbing her enormous boobs against her bare chest, which makes me regret all the times I have lied on this chest. Oh my God! She exits the room, but opting to take pleasure in irritating me much further as she does so.. "The fact that this didn't just start today is something else I'd like you to know, dear sister. I've been so kind to your partner, giving him the fulfillment you've been withholding from him all along while you've been busy killing yourself at work."

"Nelly!"

Ooh! The cheating jerk just found its voice! Yahalla!

"Bye, baby. See you around."

She slams the door, leaving me alone with this complete stranger whom I don't even recognize.

I believed in the things he showed me and I was convinced that they were all true. The affection, the adoration, the love - I believed in the great love we shared.

My eyelids are covered in tears, but I can still see him albeit blurry. Somebody tell me why his head is now bowed? Did he suddenly grow a conscience?

"Why Leo? How on fucking hell did we get here?"