Chapter Three

“Are you being serious right now? You dare look me in the eye and lie to me?!” Rune snapped.

They stared at him, mouths opened in confusion. “I'm not lying to you, Rune! I would never do that! My drink was spiked and Posy…”

Posy cuts in. “You need to tell the truth, Thea. Your drink wasn't spiked, stop lying. There's a video of you and that man together last night and you don't look drunk to me.”

Thea's heart dropped to the pits of hell. “What video?” She asked.

Posy hands her phone over to show Thea. A video of her and the man she was with last night popped on the screen, and they were having sex.

“Right there! Yes! Yes!” Her voice echoed from the video as the man thrust into her. His face wasn't in view either...

This man has ruined her life and she barely recalled what he even looked like!

“A virtuous lady, my foot! Look at her! So shameless! I would be damned if I let my name be attached to yours!” Fiona snapped.

“No…this is…this..”

Thea glanced at Rune. “This isn't what it looks like. I…I don't remember this happening either. I would never hurt you! You know that!”

“ I don't believe you. You're the one in the video and you're lying to my face still. I trusted you when you told me you wanted me to be your first, but as it seems, you had other plans.”

Rune's words stabbed Thea in the heart, shattering her world into fragments.

“Rune.”

“I would be damned if I married a cheat.” He turns to Adam, Thea's father. “I'm afraid my family and I will not proceed with this marriage. I will not take Thea as my wife.. “

Adam’s grip on his walking cane tightened, his gold locks covering his face as he stared long and hard at the marble floors.

“Rune..” Thea muttered, tears rolling down her chin. What has she done? “Please...please, I'll do anything.. it was a mistake …” She wipes her tears. “We can check the hotel CCtvs. You'll see that I was really not myself..”

“Yeah. About that..” Posy clears her throat. “I heard that the hotel had issues with their cameras last night? I doubt we will find anything there..” She said and chuckled.

Thea glared at her. “You! You did this!” she snapped

“Don't you dare blame your sister for your terrible decisions!” Rune snapped. “She didn't influence you to do this either! She was worried sick when she couldn't find you at the party last night! She was so close to calling the police but unknown to us, you were busy sleeping with another man! You're such a slut!”

Thea winced at the spitefulness that followed his voice. He was angry, and he probably hates her now.

“I'm so sorry, Rune. I am… but she…”

“Enough Thea! Stop blaming Posy for what you did on your own! Accept it! You cheated on Rune!” Gina spat, clearly irritated by the situation.

No! No! Please…please just listen to me..” Thea sobbed, crawling on her knees towards Rune, but he shoved her off.

“Enough. This isn't going to work. This is over.”

Adam raises his head; his eyes void of emotions as he addresses his friend, Jay.

“I understand. And I apologize for the inconvenience that came with this situation. We can cancel the wedding.”

“Wait, Dad. Please let me just..”

“One more word and I'll kick you right out of this house.” Adam spat, glaring at her.

Thea sobbed, sealing her mouth shut.

“If the merger between our companies is to happen, the marriage has to take place between our families. It's the way we chose to go about it.” Adam reminded.

Jay nodded, and his eyes went over to Posy. “Then she can replace Thea.”

Posy glanced from Adam to Jay, pretending to be in shock.

“Me? You want me to marry Rune?”

Rune nods. “It's a logical amendment to make. I will marry Posy for the sake of the merger.”

Thea gasped, staring up at Rune with tears in her eyes. Just like that? He's going to replace her?

Was that all she was to him? A bloody agreement?

Adam nods “Very well. We’ll plan towards that and make sure it's a success. Once again, I apologize for the situation.”

Fiona glances at Thea. “If I were your parents, I would disown you and kick you out of the family! Uhm!” Fiona scoffs and walks out of the house with her son right behind her.

“I'll talk to her. Don't worry.” Jay leaves without sparing Thea another glance.

Adam turns to leave.

“Dad..” Thea called.

“Don't! You're the last person I want to see or speak to right now. Stay as far away from me as you possibly can.”

Adam leaves with Gina right behind him, trying to pacify her husband. Posy moves close and laughs at Thea, a devious look in her eyes.

“Sad, isn't it? Look at you. The perfect daughter on her knees, begging to be forgiven for cheating! Who knew this day would come?!”

Thea glared at her, eyes filled with rage. “Why did you do this to me? I've been nothing but nice to you!”

“Nice to me? All you did was outshine me!” Posy snapped, her brows furrowed in irritation.

“Every day of my life, I had to follow in your footsteps. Why? Because you are the model daughter and I'm sick and tired of getting compared to you! I didn't do anything! You did this to yourself!”

Posy stands on her feet, dusting off her dress.

“Rune is mine now and so are your shares in the company.”

Thea's throat felt tight. “What?”

Posy folded her arms. “ You don't remember? You signed it over to me last night. Thanks for the pre-wedding gifts.” Posy blew her a kiss and burst into laughter.

Posy chuckled as Thea’s eyes narrowed on her in anger. “You..”

All Thea had ever done was adore Posy ever since Gina married her father! She was like the little sister she never had.

“I did nothing! Besides, the man you spent the night with wasn't the man I had in mind. Poor Thea. Now everyone's going to know you're a cheat!”

“ All this? Just because you were jealous? You're my sister!”

“Step sister! I would rather rot in hell than identify with the whorish womb that gave birth to you!”

“Keep my mother’s name out of your mouth!” Thea threatened, standing on her feet.

“Or what?!”

“What's going on there?” Adam asked, walking down the stairs once more.

Posy throws herself to the ground and screams! “Please, Thea! I was only trying to help.”

Thea chuckled in disbelief. “Get up! stand on your feet and stop pretending!” Thea snapped.

“Oh my goodness!” Gina shrieks in shock and rushes over to Posy. “What happened? Are you okay? Are you hurt?!”

Adam glances at his daughter in disbelief. “Did you do this?!”

“No! I..”

“Dad, it's okay. I'm sure it was an accident. Rune just cancelled their engagement. I am sure she is still very upset about that. Thea, I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to take your place..”

“You don't owe her any apologies! Thea, what has gotten into you! What is wrong with you?!” Gina snapped.

“I didn't push her!” Thea yelled, clenching hard to the hem of her dress.

“Don't you dare raise your voice at my wife! Apologise to Gina and Posy now!”

Thea said nothing.

“Did you not hear me? I said apologise!”

Thea’s heart raced, she had never defiled her father, nor had she ever raised her voice at anyone in her entire life.

An apology could fix this. It could get her in her father’s good graces at least.

“No.” Thea blurted out. “I will not apologise.”

“Get out.” Adam ordered “Pack up everything you own and leave this house immediately! You are no longer a daughter of this family!”

Thea exhaled, relief washed over every fiber of being in her. For the first time, she's rebelling against her father, against his expectations.

Her eyes met Posy's. ‘You think my life is so perfect? That I am loved for who I appear to be and not who I truly am? You wait and see. I have never thought to get even with anyone but I will get even, Posy. In the worst way possible!’ Thea thought.

“I'll leave and I will leave with absolutely nothing.”

Thea heads towards the double doors and pushes it open and slams it shut only for a SUV pulled over right in front of the porch.

She paused, wondering who the visitor was. The door opens and a tall man in a limited edition suit steps out.

He approaches Thea and pulls a stop in front of her, studying her hair for some reason.

“Dark brown hair. Amber eyes.” He noted.

“Are you Miss Thea?” He asked.

“Yes? Who are you?” Thea asked, scanning the man in front of her; he didn't look familiar.

“My name is Dante. Mr Blackwood requests your presence. He would like to discuss about…last night.”

Thea froze. The man she was with last night! The receptionist had told her his name was Blackwood.

The bastard who ruined her life?

“Blackwood?!” She asked.

“Yes, you are right madam. Mr Blackwood would like to meet you in person, Miss Thea. He's waiting for you…”