Episode # 1:- "A Heart Torn Apart"

"O God, I'm late, he'll kill me," she murmured while picking her books from the library table. She was busy making notes and didn't realize the time. It was past one hour of her off time. She packed her things and dashed out towards the parking lot of the university.

"Where is the key, where is the key?" she murmured while searching for the key in her bag. "Here," she exclaimed happily and opened her car. "Let me call Sister Marry," she murmured and picked up her cellphone.

"Hello, Sister Marry? How is he? Has he taken his medicine? What did the doctor say?" she asked in one go, but didn't get any reply. "Hello? Sister Marry, are you there?" She asked and looked at the cellphone screen to confirm if the call was still on or not. Suddenly, a bright light blurred her vision, and before she could understand or control her car, she felt a strong push, and her car turned upside down.

Two months later:

She was sitting near the window of her room with a blank face. A man around 60 entered and took a deep breath. "Hailey, princess," he exclaimed in a soft tone and caressed her hair. She kept silent and continued gazing out of the window. "You promised him that you'd get the first position in your exams. And in three days, it's your first exam," the man said.

"Dad, what will I do by getting the first position when he left me?" Hailey replied and eyed her father with tear-filled eyes. The man, who was none other than her father Albert Andreev, sighed audibly and kept his hand over her head.

"Life is unpredictable, dear. Today we are all here, but who knows about tomorrow? You have to move on one day, so why not today?" Albert asked and left the room, leaving her in deep thoughts.

She looked above and eyed her study table. With slow steps, she came towards it and touched her books. Tears welled in her eyes, but she wiped them and picked up her books with a determined look. Albert, who was standing outside, got a bright smile on his face. "It's time, princess, for you to stand strong," Albert murmured, and eyeing his daughter for the last time, left from there.

Hailey settled down on her chair and picked up the pen, but her hand started shaking. She tightened her grip around the pen, but hissed because she felt pain whenever she tried to grab something. Two months back, when she met with that horrible accident, it was a miracle that she survived, but her hand got fractured, and only a week back her plaster was removed.

She took a deep breath and held the pen with her other hand because she is ambidextrous, capable of using both hands efficiently.

Days started passing, and Hailey indulged herself in her studies and exams. Finally, the day came when Hailey wrote her last exam, and today, for some reason, she felt peaceful. She came out of the examination hall with a smile on her face and looked up at the sky, which seemed ready to pour rain at any moment.

"I promised you that I'd get the first position, but what an irony that you're not here to see it," she murmured and left for home. She parked her car and went inside her mansion, where her father Albert was sitting. "Dad, what are you doing here at this time?" she asked because at this hour of the day, her father would always be in the hospital. Yes, Albert is a doctor by profession and owns one of the prestigious hospitals in Auckland.

"When I know that today is my princess's last exam and also her 19th birthday, how can I be at the hospital?" Albert said and took her in a side hug. However, Hailey couldn't reply because she didn't want to remember that day when she met him and lost him two months back on the same day when she had the accident.

"Princess, I know it's difficult for you, but remember, this is life," her father said and kissed her head tightly. "I know, Dad. And thank you," she murmured and kissed her father's cheek. "Now go and have a rest. Tonight, you'll get a surprise," Albert said in an enthusiastic tone. Hailey smiled at this and went upstairs to her room.

Night time:

"Come, princess," Albert said when he saw her descending the stairs. "Look, today I've got the biggest surprise for you," Albert said and, while taking her in a side embrace, turned her around. However, Hailey, who had a smile on her face, became numb after seeing the person standing in front of her. Within seconds, her expression turned furious, and she came out of her father's embrace.

"Surprise?" she spat in anger and looked towards her father with a hurt look on her face. "Princess, let me explain," Albert said, but Hailey shook her head.

"I never expected this from you, Dad. You...," she was saying more, but the person interrupted.

"Hailey, dear," the person said, and Hailey turned towards her with a jerk.

"I'm talking to my father. Don't you dare say a word," Hailey roared in anger.

"Hailey," Albert exclaimed in a loud tone. Hailey gave her father a look of disbelief because it was the first time he had called her name in anger. She turned towards the person.

"It's all because of you. I just hate you," she screamed in anger.

"Hailey, behave. She is your mother. Today is your birthday. I thought that you should mend your relationship with your mother, but again you are acting like a spoilt brat," Albert exclaimed in anger.

"Mother? Mend my relationship with her? A murderer and characterless woman will never be my mother," Hailey spat in disgust.

"Hailey, apologize to her NOW," Albert said in a warning tone. But Hailey turned a deaf ear and stormed towards the woman.

"Get the hell out of my house, you murderer," Hailey exclaimed and pushed the woman harshly. Albert, seeing this, lost his control. Grabbing Hailey's arm, he turned her around and gave her a tight slap.

"Enough. Get the hell out of here before I lose my control. It's because of my love that you have become such a spoilt brat who doesn't even know how to talk to her mother. How dare you put these allegations on her? How many times have I told you that it was an accident, but no. I'm ashamed that you are my daughter. This is my last warning, Hailey. Apologize to your mother now, or else forget that you have a father." Albert said loudly.

Hailey kept staring at her father with teary eyes, one hand over her cheek where he had slapped her just moments before. "Today, I've become an orphan," Hailey finally exclaimed in a painful tone. She turned towards the woman. "Congratulations, today you've snatched my only family as well."

"Today, I feel pity for you, Dad, that you can't see this woman's real face. You've lost everything, and today you've lost your daughter too because of her. She cheated on you and has an illegitimate son," she said in disgust while eyeing the man standing near the woman, "but I know that you are blind in your love for her," she said to her father with pain in her voice before running out of the mansion.

"Don't you dare show me your face again!" Albert shouted in anger, but she was already out of the main door. "Don't worry, Albert. She'll come back," Hailey's mother, Rosina, exclaimed. However, there was an evil glint on her face as she looked towards the other person standing nearby.

He didn't say anything and showed her a thumbs up with an evil smile on his face.

Albert didn't reply nor he noticed anything. He just stormed out of the hall in anger.

Hailey kept running down the road, and when she could run no more, she fell onto the pavement with a thud. "Ahhh," she screamed, tears streaming down her face. "Why, God? Why? You have snatched everything from me today. What was my fault?" she cried out again, covering her face with her hands and sobbing bitterly.

She didn't know how long she sat there, crying and feeling desolate. Eventually, she got up and started walking aimlessly. Her eyes, which had been wet with tears moments before, were now blank. Her face, once filled with pain, had turned into a mask of stone-hearted resolve.

Eight years later:

"Send me the details, I'll check," she said and disconnected the call. She picked up her files and car keys from the side table and went out of her room. "Don't make anything today," she said to the chef as she left her lavish 5 BHK pent house located in one of the posh area of Bristol.

She entered the lift and pressed the button for the parking level. The lift stopped with a ting sound, and she stepped out. She pressed the car key, unlocking her car door. Settling into her car, she zoomed out of the parking lot and headed towards her office building.

Office:-

"What the hell are you doing?" she screamed, and the peon, who was about to place the flowers in the vase, got startled.

"What happened, Abria ma'am?" the peon asked, his voice trembling.

Abria hurriedly came towards him. "Why are you trying to get me fired? Ma'am doesn't like these flowers," she exclaimed, taking the flowers out of the vase.

The peon also noticed his mistake and his eyes went wide. "Sorry, ma'am. I don't know what's wrong with me today," he exclaimed in a sorry tone.

"It's okay. Now go and bring the other flowers," Abria said, and the peon hurriedly left. Abria looked around the office once again and took a satisfied sigh after seeing everything in its place.

However, her relief was short lived when the cabin's door got opened and she came inside. "Good morning, ma'am," Abria exclaimed and she nodded. "Today's schedule," she said the moment she settled down on her chair.

"Here," Abria exclaimed and in a swift second passed her one file. "Abria madam, look I've brought the flower, which Hailey madam likes," Peon blabbered while entering inside the cabin and Abria's breath hitched in her throat.

"What the hell?" Hailey exclaimed in a stern tone. "Sorry, ma'am," peon murmured in a low tone. "This is your 1st and last mistake, now out you both," Hailey exclaimed and turned her seat towards the window. Indicating that she don't want to talk more.

An hour later:

"Ma'am, we have to leave for the meeting," Abria intercommunicated her.

"I'm coming," Hailey replied. Ten minutes later, they left for the meeting and arrived at a hotel where she had a meeting with an investor. The investor couldn't come to the office as he had to leave urgently, so he scheduled the meeting at the hotel where he was staying.

"Sorry, Miss Andreev, for the earlier meeting. I had to leave urgently for Australia," the investor said.

"It's okay," Hailey replied, and they started the meeting. The meeting went well, and the investor informed her that he would be back next month to sign the deal.

"I'll come," Hailey said to Abria after the meeting and headed towards the restroom. She used the washroom and came out, glancing at her cellphone.

"Hello, dear sister," Hailey heard a voice. She turned around and found the person she hated the most standing in front of her with an evil smirk on his face.

Aaron Brooks, her so-called mother's illegitimate son, stood beside the double scoundrel of the century, Hector Willson. Hailey gritted her teeth. "I'm not your fucking sister, you scumbag," Hailey said and turned to go, but Aaron grabbed her arm and pinned her to the nearby wall.

"What the..." she tried to say, but he clamped a hand tightly over her mouth. "If I'm not your brother, then spend a night with me," he said, his voice dripping with malice.

Hailey became stunned upon hearing his words. She struggled against his grip, her eyes wide with shock and disbelief.

"Believe me, it will be fun," Aaron exclaimed further.

"Or what about a threesome?" Hector added, and Hailey's eyes went wide with horror.

Suddenly, Hailey dug her nails into Aaron's hand that was covering her mouth. Aaron hissed in pain and released her, but before he could react further, Hailey landed a tight slap across his face.

"I'm Hailey Andreev, not some random girl to be used by you two scoundrels," she exclaimed, her voice filled with righteous anger. She stormed out from there.

Hailey wanted to file a case against both men, but when she saw Hector, she realized she was in his hotel. Filing any case against them here would only be a waste of her time and might lead to more complications.

She had become accustomed to such things; ever since she entered the business world, she had faced numerous challenges. Yet, every time, she had stood strong.

To be continued...