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 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
Chapter nine Malcolm “Are you alright?” I asked, the moment I got off my car. We were standing outside my house at Nineth Avenue, and I had a hunch that she was just returning from a family reunion from the look of things.“Yes, I'm fine. Can we go in please?” Emily replied, barely lifting her face. She was dressed in her long peach gown that concealed away all her curves, but even with that, I still thought she looked adorable.“Yes please.” I answered, leading the way into my spacious two storey building.She followed behind, keeping up with my strides as if she needed to prove that to me. “Please, have a seat,” I said, pointing to the couch by the table.My living room was a spacious lot of exquisite designs, with floor-to-ceiling windows and a high ceiling adorned with murals and expensive artworks. I believed that a man's house said a lot about him, so I polished mine to tellu story. Plush, custom-made sofas and a shiny table made of pine in the finest Italian leather, a firepl
Chapter eightEmilyA thousand and one pair of optical orbs flashed before me and the voice that broke the stillness came like a gunshot, a silent wail. It was the unmistakable sound of my mother’s scoff: a dry, brittle sound that hovered between a scoff and a cruel laugh, as if mocking me for daring to show my face. I'd known that sound my entire life, but never before had it felt so sharp, so final, like it did that evening. I didn't see her, but I knew she was up, on the middle floor, peering down at me through her nose.Regardless, I took that brave step into the room, each step feeling like a mile. Then I caught it, the scent of lilies - my grandfather’s favorite, mingled with the sterile undertone of polished wood and old money. As I walked past the living room into the drawing room, ignoring familiar faces who did the same - none reached out to me, nor smiled. They simply watched, like vultures circling around a living prey, feeding on its fear.At the far end of the drawing
Chapter sevenEmilyAfter Tasha dropped me off at home, alone - which was the most reckless decision I'd made that evening, I drowned myself in some few bottles of whiskey. What was I thinking? That it would soothe my pain? Crap, I only woke up with a banging hangover.The next morning, my noisy phone ringtone shook me awake. I shot a glance at the screen and resisted the urge to roll my eyes. It was my cousin, Julian. What did he want?"What is it?" I started, bracing up for a verbal war, but out came the softest reply ever."When you didn't reply to the message, I thought something happened." I cringed. "Message?" I repeated, sitting up on my bed. "What message?""Erh, about grandpa's gathering. Today. I mailed it to you yesterday, and was looking forward to a quick response from you."Did something happen? Julian was being too nice. I opened my eyes wide and looked around, zooming my attention on the brown envelope on the table. Slowly, I recalled picking up the mail the night bef
Chapter six Malcolm “Here, dry your eyes!” I whispered, offering her a tissue.Through a foggy gaze and with shaky hands, she took the tissue paper from me and dabbed her tears splattered cheeks, wiping off tons of make-up in the process.Watching her squeeze the soft paper as if it could offer some form of solace, as if pouring her aggression on the paper could alleviate the pain she hoarded inside, pierced me in the chest like a hot dagger.I didn't know how long I was going to watch her hurt herself or let some motherfuckers who didn't care about her hurt with their words and actions.“Do you want to make them pay for everything they've done to you?” I asked, gently, but with the tenacity of a wounded beast.I watched her nod, unsure of my next statement. I had no idea how she was going to take the idea going through my mind. Nevertheless, I still gave it a shot.“Then marry me. Let's give them what to talk about.”Emily froze, as did my brain. I was up for an adventure, yes, and
Chapter 5Emily's POV The garden was my favourite place especially at night. Growing up, I knew I had a thing for gardening. I took my time to sniff the flowers enjoying the pleasant scent they enamated, enjoying the joy that filled me as I watched them bloom.This was my childhood, sitting on the old swing and watching nature unfold before me.I sat there now, shaking in my thin dress and a part of me began to wish I had brought a little shawl.It would have gone a long way in protecting my frail arms from the biting cold.I could feel a cold coming up but I did not mind. I would sit out here for a while, at least until I garnered enough courage to step back inside that party.My thoughts were interrupted as a warm jacket was placed over my shoulder, nearly making me jump out of my skin.The man that stood in front of me was regal to say the least.He was tall and finely built, his hair styled in a way that I could not comprehend and his fine chiseled jaw looking like he had stepped