Disowned!

ELSA

I wiped the endless stream of tears that rolled down my cheeks as the taxi I boarded came to a halt before the grandiose gates of the Reins’ manor. I could only refer to it as “the Reins’ manor,” because I knew getting used to calling this place my home again would take a long while.

I alighted from the car with nothing but the dress I was putting on, not even a bag or a cellphone. I glanced at the bandage around my arm and I was too ashamed to step closer to the gates. I leaned against the fence and burst into tears for the hundredth time.

After crying for a while, I finally stepped closer to the gate. It required a passcode and I decided to try my luck. The last passcode was my year of birth and I entered it hopefully only to be downcast when it didn't open. The guards noticed my presence and led me into the compound. I walked sluggishly behind them with my head bowed. I was too ashamed to hold my head up, considering how I left here without a chase 4 years ago.

As they led me into the living room, they stepped aside, leaving me to my fate as I stood before my father who was seated with a twitch on his lips. My step mother walked in a few moments later, with Natalie my step sister and they all had a look of disdain on their faces.

“Look who we have here, the queen of the coast. Are you done exploring the world?” My stepmother, Giselle spoke up in a mocking tone as she sat beside my father, wrapping her arms around him. She never liked me and the feeling was mutual but I expected her to remain silent at least, now that I needed my father's help not to make things worse.

I made an attempt to sit as I was getting tired and weak but the yell I got from my father made me remain on my feet.

“What are you doing on this premises?” He asked with bulging veins and I couldn't mutter a response. My actions made my father hate me and the bastard Jason was to be blamed for it.

He wanted me to marry the son of his Italian business partner, Marcus Smith in exchange for a family alliance but I was so blinded by the love I had for Jason that I defied his orders and took to my heels.

“I'm sorry father—- I know I was stupid and I've realized how stupid I was. I'm— I'm so sorry for ever defying your orders,” I slumped to the ground, unable to remain on my feet as I pleaded in tears, hoping he could forgive me but he scoffed.

“You thought you knew better than father. He treated you right, he gave you all you wanted even though I was equally his daughter but what did you do? Run away with a jerk that has no name when he needed you to secure a lifetime fortune!” Natalie, my step sister, queried from a place of jealousy.

“It wasn't my fault— I was blinded by love. I'm sorry father, I've always been an obedient daughter, please pardon me for this foolish mistake I made.” I pleaded, still on the floor as I reached out for my father's calf but he kicked me aside.

“You lost every right to call me father 4 years ago when you walked through that door. I have only one daughter and that's Natalie here. You're a stranger and I don't know you!!” He yelled at the top of his voice. His words were like a thousand knives stabbing through my chest and a smile of satisfaction was sprawled on Natalie's lips.

“I know I wronged you father but you can't send me away. Mum's gonna be heartbroken in her grave, please— forgive—-” I coughed violently, unable to speak further.

“Listen darling, this girl is a spoiled brat who'd never obey you no matter what you do for her. She's an ingrate just like her late mother and she'll keep defying your orders if you bring her in. If she hadn't encountered a mishap, do you think she would have returned?” Giselle fueled the flame and the ill remarks she made about my late mum made my stomach churn.

“Get her out of my sight! I never want to see her anywhere around this vicinity.” He ordered the guards and my eyes widened in horror.

“No father— you can't do this to me, I'm still your child, please father!!” I pleaded as they gripped me by the arm.

“I forbid you to ever call me that, I'm not your father.”

I didn't know which felt more terrible; The hurtful words he was yelling at me or the pain I felt from the pressure exerted on my broken arm by the merciless guards.

My eyes brimmed with tears as my father remained seated with his legs crossed, watching the guards pull me out in my broken state. The satisfactory smirk on the faces of Giselle and Natalie, went further to prove how much they hated me.

As they tossed me out of the gates. I walked aimlessly down the streets and paused to glance back at the mansion I once called home. Born with a silver spoon, I had everything at my beck and call till the death of my mother on my 8th birthday. My world crashed after that incident when my father started traveling around for business deals with his mistress.

I felt lonely and frustrated till I met Jason in college at the age of 16. He filled the void my parents created in my heart and gave me a shoulder to lean on. On my 18th birthday, he confessed his love for me and asked me to date him. I didn't hesitate to say yes and that was how our beautiful love story blossomed. Unknown to me, that day marked the dawn of disaster.

My father was furious when he found out about our relationship and he insisted on me getting married to Marcus Smith who had wealth and affluence for a family alliance but I was blinded by my love for Jason.

I was given the options of marrying Marcus or being disowned and I gladly chose the latter and left to marry Jason, only for him to bring back his ex with whom he had been cheating on me all this while and shatter my heart into a million pieces.

I walked down the highway like an empty vessel and a question popped in my head. ‘What exactly am I living for?’

The question resounded in my head. It seemed rhetorical but I realized there was actually nothing to live for. I lost everything that ever mattered to me and at this point, all I wanted was to end it all.

I halted in my tracks and glanced at the highway with a heavy heart. I've heard the saying that life is beautiful but that probably doesn't apply to me because every perfect decision I thought I had taken since childhood, turned out to make mine miserable.

I shut my eyes tightly and took in deep a breath letting a peaceful smile sprawl on my lips. I took calculated steps and stopped at the center of the road, hoping a car would come and end my miserable life. With my eyes tightly shut, I heard the intense honking of an incoming car and I remained rooted to the spot, determined to end it all.