CHAPTER FIVE : ECHOES OF THE PAST

Eliana stood frozen, the faded letter trembling in her fingers. The paper looked aged, far older than it should’ve been. Her eyes scanned the signature again—her father’s name. Dated from years ahead. A heartfelt message filled with regret, apology, and cryptic warnings. She didn’t understand how it had ended up in her study drawer now, in the past. All she knew was that it was real.

Her heart pounded, but she forced herself to breathe, folding the letter carefully and locking it away in a personal file.

The next day at work, Richard added Loretta, a quiet and efficient co-worker, to the Horizon project team. Loretta had always been kind in her past life—someone Ivy once ridiculed and pushed aside. Eliana had overlooked her back then, but not this time. Maybe they make something together.

“Are you sure?” Loretta blinked in surprise. “I thought you’d already finalized the team.” Richard gave her a look then glanced towards Eliana.

“I changed my mind,” Eliana replied warmly. “I think you’ll be perfect.”

That small act became the beginning of an unexpected bond. They worked side by side, slowly building trust through long hours, late lunches, and honest conversations. Eliana hadn’t realized how much she missed having a genuine friend. Not like Ivy. She was good, it radiated from within her.

A week later, the high school reunion arrived. Ivy had invited Eliana under the guise of rekindling old memories, but Eliana knew better. In her past life, Ivy had manipulated her into attending in cheap clothing and minimal makeup, only to ridicule her appearance in front of old classmates. She had done it so subtly, Eliana hadn't even been angry at her. It was her classmates who had done the teasing in her stead while she stood and weakly berated them. It was a plot to make her look kind and loving and Eliana look like the spoilt rich brat who was mean to poor people.

But this time, Eliana came prepared. Ivy wouldn't know what hit her.

Loretta helped her prepare, styling her hair and picking out the dress for her. When they were done she gushed.

"ohhhh. Ellie you look like a princess! "

Eliana Only smiled briefly. She was proud of her new self. The woman she was becoming.

She stepped into the event in an emerald satin dress, elegant heels, and a confidence that turned every head. Her hair cascaded in soft waves, that Loretta had helped her pack it and the air shifted the moment she walked in. Whispers followed her, but they weren't mocking. They were admiring. Ivy was already seated, her old classmates stared at her murmuring. But none spoke to her, their self esteem didn't let them.

Ivy's smirk faltered.

“Eliana,” she said, attempting warmth. “I didn't think you’d come.”

“I wouldn’t miss it,” Eliana replied smoothly." you'd always tried to drag me through this things. I decided to honour your request for once. "

Ivy only smiled.

All night, Ivy tried to bait her, throwing subtle jabs, trying to draw blood with gossip and fake laughter. But Eliana, poised and unbothered, turned every interaction around. She was magnetic. People who once looked through her now begged for a moment of her time. Her classmates had told her they didn't know she was this warm. She had always looked so aloof.

"I asked ivy why you were like that, and she told me you were antisocial you didn't like crowd around you. So we kinda left you after that." Maureen, a classmate said looking at her with admiration.

Ivy faltered. "Ellie wasn't really the social type. Right Ellie? She nudged her. Eliana said nothing.

Ivy had planned an ambush—but instead, she was the one left humiliated. It was a start, something bigger was coming.

The reunion ended better than how it started. Ivy left without her , saying she had something to do.

Later that night, back in her room, Eliana kicked off her heels and collapsed onto the bed. For a while, she stared at the ceiling in silence, then drifted off into uneasy sleep.

In the darkness, memories came rushing back. A flashback of Ivy laughing cruelly, Ethan walking away with cold eyes, her mother turning away when she’d needed her the most. Her brothers fight to the last. The cold, sterile hospital room. Her final breath.

“No!” Eliana jerked awake, drenched in sweat. Her chest heaved, heart pounding against her ribcage.

“Eliana.”

A voice.

She blinked and turned to see Fernando, her eldest brother, standing in the doorway. He stepped inside and sat on the edge of her bed, gently brushing her damp hair back.

“I heard you screaming. Are you okay?”

She hesitated, then nodded slowly. “Just a bad dream. I must have slept on the wrong side of the bed. "

He didn’t push. Fernando had always been the quiet protector, and now, more than ever, she was grateful for him.

“There’s someone here to see you,” he said after a pause. “Ivy.”

Her breath caught in her throat.

“Tell her I’m sleeping. I don't want to receive any visitors. And besides it late already."

“She knows you're awake. She said she won't leave until she sees you.”

Eliana sat up, wiping at her face. Her fingers trembled. “Why now?”

Fernando stood shrugging " You are friends, of course she'll come see you. She's a good girl Ellie. "

Eliana nodded, watching him disappear down the hallway. As footsteps echoed toward her room, she steadied herself. This time, she would not be the scared girl in Ivy’s shadow. She would rise again. Ivy had taken over far too much of her life. It was time to claim it back.

And Ethan. She knew he was only insisting on the marriage because of his family. She knew that at this period in her past life his family had been going through some financial challenge. He had used her family wealth to elevate his family even going as far as bringing Ivy into the house.

As from now henceforth she was the queen of her life.

Ivy's footsteps could be heared through the hallways. There was a pause before she knocked and opened the door with a smile that even the blind with voice would hear. The door burst open.

"Hello, beautiful........ "