The Queen behind the mask

The black, swirly gates opened before Craig had even stopped the car, and I stared out the window. My heart tightened as I took in the view; nothing had changed. Everything looked the same, even the fountain in the middle of the courtyard my mother had adored. The white and red roses she had planted around it before she died were still there, along with the huge oak tree my father used to sit under with me when I was a little girl. Everything was the same, yet it felt so different.

Five years had passed since I left this place for a man who promised me the world, a man I thought loved me, worshipped me, and would always be by my side. I never understood why my father had dismissed Roman so easily.

Back then, I had believed my father was wrong. Now, after everything Roman had done, I was beginning to understand that he had seen something I had been too blinded by love to notice.

Now, here I was, returning home, humiliated and divorced, with the painful reminder that I had wasted five years on a man who did not deserve me.

"Miss Ellena, welcome home," Craig said gently as he opened the door for me.

Home.

Gosh, that word almost broke me.

“Thank you, Craig,” I said, slipping out of the car and grabbing my things. He smiled politely, got back into the car, and left me standing alone.

And then I saw him.

My father.

He wasn't wearing the tailored suit I had always remembered; instead, he wore black trousers and a plain white shirt with the sleeves rolled up. His hair was silver now, and he looked as if he hadn't slept well in a long time.

For several seconds, neither of us spoke. Then his face crumpled.

"Oh, my sweet girl."

He held out his hands to me, and I broke. The tears I had fought so hard to hold back finally erupted and spilt down my cheeks as I buried my face against his chest. He cradled me as if he feared I would disappear.

"I'm sorry," I cried. "Dad, I am so very sorry."

"Hush now, my girl." He kissed the top of my head and stroked my hair. "You have nothing to apologise for, do you hear me?"

He pulled back to look me in the eyes.

"But you were right. All those years ago, I should have listened to you."

He looked at me and then smiled. "Perhaps, but you were young and thought you were in love, Ellena. You are home now, and that is what matters most to me, okay?"

My bottom lip trembled. "I chose Roman over you. I chose him over my future, the company, and everything else."

My father had every reason to be angry with me. He could have told me to sling my hook and slammed the door in my face, and I wouldn't have blamed him. He had every right to refuse to let me back into his life. After everything I'd put him through over the last few years, who was I to expect him to welcome me back?

"Come inside," my father said, looking up at the sky as rain began to fall. "I don't want you to catch a cold, and I'm sure you must be hungry after such a difficult day."

I just nodded; that was all I could do.

My father led me into the house, and everything was unchanged: the wallpaper, the floor tiles, and even the fresh smell of flowers. I couldn't help but smile.

"Here, you will always have a home," my father told me as a plate of hot cottage pie was served in front of me.

"I know. Thank you."

My gaze drifted to a photograph on the wall of my father and me smiling together, taken at a charity gala. It was also the night before I had left for good. He had wanted me to take over the family business, but I had refused because he wouldn't meet Roman. He had said Roman was no good for me and would drain me of my money and status.

My phone lay on the table beside me, and I picked it up. As I scrolled through Roman's messages, I saw how furious he was that I had left and that a man he didn't know had picked me up in a Rolls-Royce. His messages were full of excuses and accusations.

I also saw more photos of him and Vanessa around the home we had shared, with her showing off as if she owned the place. I smiled to myself because she wouldn't be laughing for long.

Roman texted me again, stating that we had to talk, but I had no interest in explaining myself to a man who had got another woman pregnant behind my back. I turned off my phone and looked back at my father.

"Dad, I want to come back to the company," I blurted out, placing my knife and fork on the table.

My father looked at me mid-chew.

"Are you sure, Ellena?" he asked quietly.

"Yes, I am certain." I nodded and sat up straighter in my chair. "In fact, I have never been more certain in my life."

I watched as his expression softened.

"Then you may." He smiled as if he'd been waiting to hear those words for a long time.

"When I left, I thought I was choosing love. I wanted to build a life with Roman without needing anything from you or my inheritance. I wanted to prove that I could make it on my own, just like Mom had."

My father reached across the table and covered my hands with his, a twinkle of joy flickering across his face.

"That is like music to my ears. Your mother would be so proud of you. She always believed you were capable of great things."

He smiled at the memory of my mother.

I squeezed his hand and smiled back.

"I don't want to be the woman my ex-husband made me believe I was. I want to be myself again."

"Hmm, well, then that is exactly who you are going to be."

I took a deep breath.

"Then tomorrow, I will return to the company," I declared.

My father smiled, and for the first time in five years, I felt as though I was finally where I belonged.

I had lost my husband, my marriage, and five years of my life.

But I hadn't lost myself.

And it was time I remembered exactly who the fuck I was.