Chapter 2
Emily's POV
" I'm so sorry, if I knew you did not remember I would have not said anything at least till you left the hospital " Tasha said, her eyes holding remorse but i shrugged it off.
" It's fine. Can I...can I see the post again?" I asked her.
She looked at me unsurely for a minute, as though contemplating if she could fulfill my request, but eventually, she handed me over her phone and the smiling face of the couples attacked me, the two people who were supposed to be the closest to me, doing this to me three months before my formal marriage with my fiance of five years.
I could see my parents at the back ground too, shining their perfect teeth as they looked so proud of their daughter, after all I was just the adopted one.
I knew I was adopted from the moment I opened my eyes and that was because I was already nine when they adopted me.
They were the best parents I could ever wish for. The way they pampered and cared for me like their own.
I was fourteen when I found out of their own daughter that went missing a few years before they adopted me. I could see the pain in their eyes Everytime someone called to say they had an information but it just led to another dead end.
And when she finally showed up, one day, with the health worker who claimed to have raised her up until she was a fit member of society, their joy knew no bounds.
When the results of the DNA test came back positive, I was sure they could have burst from excitement.
My mum could never get tired of comparing her with themselves. Just how black her hair was, just like theirs.
But mine was a rich chestnut colour.
I did not mind anyways. I was working, I had my whole life in front of me with a fiance that could go to the moon and back for me, I had it all planned out.
So when she started stealing my spotlight with my parents, going on dinners that I was not included on, attending family functions with them forgetting about me, I did not feel all that bad.
After all this was her time to enjoy her parent's love.
She could take everything I had with my parents and I would not care. But she took my man.
My callous fiance that could not find the balls to tell me that he was now engaged to my sister and I had to find out about it through a blog post.
My fiance that took my life and my dreams and shattered with in one go.
I did not realize fresh tears were already sliding down my face until Tasha pulled out a white napkin, carefully dabbing my face with it.
" You shouldn't let them see you so down like this. I hated that girl from the moment I saw her. With her fake smiles and her graceful demeanor. I know you don't feel like it now but you would always be the star of the show, no matter how hard she tries" Tasha said.
My heart strings tugged as I sighed, nodding my head rapidly. It was comforting to know that I still had people who cared about me.
Even if my family didn't.
As I closed my eyes to go to bed that night, I could not help but reminiscence on how I had my met my fiance.
It was a cliche meeting, one that was picture perfect for books.
It has been at my favourite coffee spot.
" I would like to ordered an iced macchiato and also an Americano " he had said in front of me that day.
I was not paying any attention to what he did,, mostly because I had a major test coming up and I could already feel the heat of my failure dawning on me.
But then, he prodded me softly, handing me the cup.
I had stared at him in surprise.
" Can I help you?" I remember asking vividly.
To answer my question, he had flashed me a million dollar watt smile that still had the effect it had on me four years ago.
" I have been coming to this cafe for a long time and I just thought to give you a little something as we have been bumping into each other for quite a good number of times now" he said.
I did not remember ever bumping into him.
I could tell from the label of the drink that he held up towards me that it was the exact same one I always ordered.
" Well today I was going to buy drinks for my friends as well" I said giving an awkward laugh as his mouth shaped into an O, letting me step past him to place my order.
It was an awkward meeting, we felt awkward but it was nice. He had collected my number as I left the cafe and the rest was history.
The checking out part of the hospital was the most relieving. It felt as though I was leaving the guilt I had in my chest, leaving the pain of being repsonsible for the death of someone behind.
Tasha dropped me off at our house and I could not be more grateful. I knew I would not be staying here, not with him hanging around with my sister.
The house was silent when I walked in, and as I went to get my clothes, a pack of condoms fell out of his drawer, shocking me.
We had never had sex even though we had been together for a long time.
But here he was, with condoms.
Just then, as though he was waiting for me to make my little discovery, I heard the door open and he came in.
" Emily, what are you doing here? I had you were involved in an accident and honestly I have just been so busy, I was going to come today" he said but I knew it was all lies.
" Who are these for?" I asked him and watched him pale as I held up the pack of condoms.
Chapter fifteenMalcolm "Why did you hint at sex between us earlier?""I needed to make it sound real." Emily answered, sipping from her ice cube glass."Sounds logical, but now I actually wish we'd done that." I joked, resting my head on the backrest with that same smile still on my face.It wasn't until I lifted up my face that I realized that Emily hadn't dropped her glass.“Did I startle you, sweetheart?” I asked, lifting my head and hand simultaneously. She was gazing at me like she'd been struck by lightning. “I was just messing with you. Nothing serious.” I said, in just defence and that seemed to work.“Sorry, I must've taken that the wrong way.” She mumbled, skittering nervously, and I thought for a second why that had been a bad joke.It wasn't everyday I joked about intimate stuff like that, maybe that was why she took it the wrong way. "This is paradise, Malcolm. I'm so glad we came to Sicily." She commented, savoring the flaky pastries, and gazing out at the breathtak
Chapter fourteen Emily I was sun bathing in the sunny and infectious energy of Taormina, Sicily, with the white mountains towering over me, when I suddenly lifted up my eyes and realised I was staring at a ghost from my past. One that had refused to die.“Why is he here?” I asked, turning to Malcolm who was still on his phone.“You don't know?” he asked, following my gaze.The black sunglasses he wore covered his eyes, but I could tell that he wasn't surprised to see Louis.I shook my head in response, while watching him for an explanation. “Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer. You want to give them what to talk about? Keep them where they can see it.”I made a wide O with my mouth open then squealed excitedly. “I had no idea that you could be such a daredevil. You're so mean, Malcolm.”“Not everyone should be your enemy, especially people like me.” He said with a macho smile, and I smiled back. “By the way, have you thought of a special name for me yet?”“I beg your p
Chapter thirteen Malcolm “Is there a problem here?” I asked again, and Louis stiffened.This was just the beginning, I'd told myself after he'd left my office that afternoon, and I knew it was only going to get more fierce from now.“We were just talking,” Louis answered, stepping away from Emily, but that didn't help the tense exchange between the two. I strode quickly over to Emily's side and as if she could read my mind, she lifted her hand to me. “Where did you waltz off to?” She asked, ignoring Louis. For that, I gave her a subtle thumbs up.“To attend to our guests,” I replied, taking her hand and staring lovingly at her. That was an act I learned while in college - the art of lying with your lips and eyes. Then turning to Louis, my gaze hardened, “That's enough, Louis, did I not tell you that?" I said quietly, with a calm but authoritative voice. "You're causing a scene and upsetting my wife."Louis's face twisted in anger, but he took a step back, his eyes darting between
Chapter twelve Emily Fate was on my side. On the day I was supposed to get married to Louis, Malcom and I tied the knot in an elaborate wedding in his courtyard. We thought an elaborate wedding would be a good head turner, and yes, it served its purpose.We transformed Malcolm's ethereal courtyard into a fairytale looking wedding rendezvous, while allowing the soft, warm light of the setting sun lit over the lush greenery.An exquisite floral arch made of roses and eucalyptus stood facing rows of white chairs adorned with delicate silver ribbons and fresh peonies. These chairs were arranged in style on the two sides of a gold colored aisle runner.Mercury glass holders held candles that flickered beautifully and soft music echoed from the live band perched on a raised platform at the rear of the courtyard.Malcolm looked his best - although it was a fake weeding, in a dashing black tuxedo that caught my breath hanging in my throat as I walked in. My parents refused to walk me in, b
Chapter eleven Malcolm “Why are you so concerned about who I'm getting married to, Louis? Is it because she's your ex?” I asked, watching him closely.I observed that his shoulders tensed up a notch, like a kid who’d been caught stealing chocolates, but he quickly released his muscles before looking outside, at the panoramic view of the surroundings.My office had floor-to-ceiling windows which offered breathtaking views of the city skyline. I loved to gaze at the world from here. It felt like my ivory tower. Some days, when the weight was too heavy on my shoulders, I loved to stand there like Batman watching over the city. It's crazy, but inspiration always seemed close enough when I did that."I’m telling you, Uncle Malcolm, Emily isn't what you think she is……" “....and you think you know her too well, don't you?” I interrupted squarely.“Of course. I mean, we've dated for a long time.” he stuttered, his hands on his hips.“Okay. So, tell me, what happened? I heard you got engage
Chapter tenEmilyAs expected, nobody received the news with a light heart, and it was already anticipated. Louis went all crazy when he received the news that by 5:30 am the next morning, he was at my front door banging like a destitute dog.“Who's there?” I had no idea who the idiot was when I flew to the door, else I would've snuggled deeper into my blanket and allowed the late July rain to drive me to sleep.Louis was inside my house the moment I let the door open, pacing like a wounded lion whose next mission was revenge.“What is this about?” I started, following him with my eyes.“You tell me,” he replied, stopping momentarily.“What do you mean?”“Don't play games with me, Emily.” Louis yelled, anger visible in his eyes.“No I wouldn't. I don't think playing games with you would be that fun. Besides, I don't go playing around with a piece of crumb I'd tossed to my sister.”That hit! I only realised what I'd said after it splurged out of my mouth. Whoa, where did I get that fro