AN OLD ENEMY I

Rome parked his car in a hurry and stormed into the house. His eyes flared with rage as he saw Dave sitting comfortably with his legs crossed, sipping a glass of wine like a man without a care.

“Where is the girl?” Rome asked sharply, trying to suppress his rising anger.

“So, you really want to get married? Just because you’re afraid I’ll threaten your succession as chairman?” Dave responded, casually dropping his glass to the floor. It shattered with a loud crash, red wine pooling like blood.

Rome stepped closer, voice cold. “How the hell can you be a threat to me? You’ve been killing innocent women for the past two years, and I’ve been covering for you like a damn fool. Do you think I’d do that if I saw you as a threat?”

He took a breath, still standing in place. “I’m only marrying her because of my mother, do you understand? So stop this nonsense and bring the girl out. Now.”

“Mother! Mother!! Mother!!!” Dave roared, slamming his palm onto the glass table. The surface cracked beneath the force, and blood began to gush from his hand. “She is not my mother!” he shouted.

Rome merely glanced at him and down to his hands, which were dripping with blood. He smiled faintly. If it had been before, he would have rushed towards him and tended to his wounds, but not anymore.

“She’s your mother whether you like it or not,” Rome said firmly. “She raised you, brought you up to this point. You’re old enough to stop craving motherly affection. This should be the last time you provoke me, Dave… or I might kill you myself.”

With that, Rome turned and entered one of the rooms. There, he found Ophelia asleep on the bed, wearing a transparent nightgown.

“What an asshole,” he muttered under his breath. He took off his jacket and gently wrapped her in it before carrying her in his arms.

As he carried her out Dave said something making him stop in his tracks.

“I didn’t kill them, Rome. Trust me. I just wanted to piss you off,” Dave said, tears now streaming down his cheeks. “I’m craving attention. Mother hates me. Father never wanted me. And you… you’re always too busy. I never killed anyone. I just wanted you all to look at me.”

Rome paused. “I don’t believe you,” he said, voice void of emotion. “Not after what I saw you do to Celine… and now to Ophelia.”

Without another word or glance, he walked out, carrying Ophelia with him. Dave slowly fell to his knees, weeping uncontrollably.

I just want my family back, he thought. The family that once loved and protected me… my affectionate brother, my protective parents, and my loud but cheerful grandfather.

He clenched his fists. Where did it all go wrong?

Remembering how his brother's first girlfriend Savanna was shot dead in front of him and he was accused of killing her, Dave punched himself hard, sobbing harder as guilt tore through him.

Rome got home and slowly dropped Ophelia on the bed. He was about to turn back when Ophelia suddenly grabbed his arms.

He looked at her face and saw her crying and sweating in discomfort, her body trembling.

She was whispering something.

He leaned closer.

“Mother… Mother… stay with me…” Ophelia murmured through her tears.

Rome slowly pulled his hand from hers and went outside the room. He soon returned to the room with a damp handkerchief. He gently wiped the sweat from her face and placed a cold towel on her forehead to relieve her temperature before walking out, He lingered by her side for a second longer, watching her sleep.

“Turns out,” “everyone is craving for motherly love.” He murmured with a faint smile.

Then, he quietly closed the door behind him.

Ophelia stirred awake, her body heavy, her mind foggy. A faint scent of unfamiliar cologne and the creak of a door caught her attention.

Ophelia stirred awake, her body heavy and her mind clouded with confusion. The faint smell of unfamiliar cologne and the soft creak of a distant door tickled her senses.

She blinked several times, trying to adjust to the dim lighting around her. Her head throbbed slightly as she sat up, taking in her surroundings.

She got up from the bed and walked outside the room still in her transparent nightgown and Rome jacket.

“You’re awake” Rome questioned at the sight of seeing her.

“What happened” she said groggily, looking around for somewhere to sit.

Why don't you get a shower and change your clothes first Rome replied walking towards the kitchen.

“What’s that smell? I’m starving,” Ophelia muttered, ignoring his requests.

“I’m cooking,” Rome replied without looking at her, “but you can’t have a taste. Not the food I made.”

Rolling her eyes, Ophelia walked back into the room. She scanned it carefully until she located the bathroom. After a refreshing bath, she looked around, searching for the wardrobe.

“There you are,” she said, opening it. Her eyes widened at the sight of seeing the pieces of stuff inside. “Wow… this is huge.”

She gasped at the sight of the extravagant dresses, shelves of designer bags, and rows of shoes.

“This is heaven,” she whispered, smiling.

She picked a simple dress and returned to the dining room waiting patiently for the food to come.

Suddenly, Rome’s phone on the table lit up.

Curious, she picked it up to bring it to him but, the caller ID made her freeze.

It was Celine.

Her best friend. The one who had become her worst nightmare. She is still staring at the screen, And didn’t notice Rome had returned.

“What are you doing with my phone?” he asked snappily.

“I… it’s…You have a call,” she said stammering.

Rome snatched the phone from her. “When you’re done cooking your food,” he said flatly, “go to bed. Be ready early tomorrow we have somewhere to be.”

Before she could reply to him or say a word, he was gone.

Ophelia dropped to her knees, her hands trembling.

“Celine” Just hearing her name made her feel sick. The very person who destroyed her life…

“What’s her connection with Rome?” she whispered. “Is she perhaps the one who set our family up again!?” she questioned herself.

She clenched her fist and grabbed the hem of her dress. “Celine Grey” I will make sure you pay for everything you did. She whispered as tears dripped slowly from her face.