All Chapters of LOVE AND RUIN: RHEA'S REVENGE: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

13 Chapters

1 - Proposal

Today was supposed to be the turning point of my life. The day that'd counter all the tough days I ever had and crush them so badly that they would look like they never even existed. The happiest day of my life. I had woken up to the news that my boyfriend, Finn Dalton, the newly appointed CEO of the SYR Group, had bought an engagement ring and was planning a surprise party for his love - me. I had immediately gone to fix myself up. I did my nails, hair, and makeup as he loved it - clean and not overly flashy - and I wore a maroon tea length dress that defined my curves. I paired it with my black stilettos, a pearl necklace, and a black purse. And when I stared at the mirror, I was proud of she who stared right back at me - Rhea Dawson. A tear escaped my eyes and I dabbed my cheek gently with a napkin and then a powder brush. It was a happy tear, reminding me of all the bumps and hurdles we had overcome in the previous years. I closed my eyes and let myself sink into my memorie

2 - Betrayal

"You're not supposed to be here," Finn said, his voice rather hushed as he got onto the passenger seat. My heart dropped to my stomach as I stared at him. He looked nervous and was fidgety. Not in a cute way but in a scary way. Whatever his plan was, I was definitely getting in the way of it. I facepalmed myself. How did I trust my eight year old sister and her best friend to the extent I believed their words that my boyfriend was gonna propose? "I'm sorry. Rita somehow overheard your plans to propose to me today and that's why I came. I was too ahead of myself." "Rhea..." he began, pinching his forehead like he did whenever he was stressed. "You need to leave now." He glanced at me and saw that my eyes were flooded with tears and his panic grew. He never liked it when I cried. "I know this feels terrible and I'm sorry. I'll give yo

3 - Escape

Rhea Ann Dawson was dead - killed by her boyfriend, Finn Dalton. The wail of a police siren jolted me awake, adrenaline kicked in, and a few minutes later I had gotten out of the car and sprinting as far away from it as possible before it exploded. I couldn't get far enough though and the explosion did the rest, throwing off the alley onto the street. But adrenaline still worked overtime and even though I was bleeding badly and had a few broken bones, I was able to get up on my feet and crawl into the garbage truck that was parked close by. Once I was nestled up in it, I fell asleep. I woke up again, thanks this time to the scorching sun burning up my face. I immediately tried to block its rays with my hand but it didn't budge. Then I felt a piercing pain tearing at my head and secondary ones in my shoulders, back, and ankle. I bit on my lips to hold back tears, forcing myself up.

4 - Blinded

"It's not," Diego replied, sending chills down my spine. "Can you not see?" I shook my head and I heard him sigh. "I'd tell Dad but he and Mom don't like it when I see them fight. Weird though that they're fine with me hearing them." "Do they fight often?" I asked, not because I was interested but I wanted to distract him from the noise. "Not really," he said, mumbling incoherently before continuing. "Just about twice a week." "Well, that's quite a lot. Reminds me of my parents. They used to fight all the time." I don't know if that sounded comforting. But my aim was to make him feel that it's not something he caused or could control. "What did you do?" I can imagine his eyes widening in curiosity and I could see his stare fixated on my face. Too bad I couldn't see his. But I could smile. So I did. And I hoped he saw it as a hopef

5 - Promise

I would have to face Finn again. And I wasn't going to do it blinded. The next few days passed like a breeze. Diego and his dad, Matteo, took good care of me and my injuries healed faster each day. Sofia, his mother, wasn't keen on having me around. Thanks to my A+ in Spanish, I could understand that she saw me as a moocher, a temptress, and a demoness sent to steal her family away. The old me would have left one morning, before anyone else woke up, so they'd be more peaceful but being blind meant they'd just have to find me passed out or even dead a few metres away. So even though it was insulting to me, I had to deal with it, depending on their kindness until I learn to survive on my own. Diego would show me outside and around the house while I tried to remember where everything was so I could move a

6 - Corpse Bride

"Sealed with a kiss," I whispered softly and watched as Diego's face brightened up. Immediately his hyperness kicked in and he tried to get me to read everything in the room. Good thing Matteo and Sofia came in and saved me from him. They too were good-looking with Matteo being huge and tall while Sofia being a little bit shorter and chubby. A picture perfect family if you ask me. On the drive back to the cabin, Diego was given a headphone to keep his focus from me while I was given a brand new phone, keys to the house, and car keys for me. But I had to sign a contract first. I had to change my surname and live with the family for three years before I could move out. I would spend three years as Diego's sister until he went to a boarding school. Then I was free to go about my life wherever I chose. Sofia explained that I was allowed to visit my actual family and they were allowed t

7 - Lies

I was going to make Jennifer Rossi suffer. So much that she'd wish for death. I stalked Jennifer a bit more that night, falling asleep with my phone in hand and her face on it. The next day, we went for my checkup and I had 20/20 vision in both eyes. Before we left the hospital, Diego convinced me to take him to eat ice cream and we snuck away when neither Matteo nor Sofia were looking. We got to the mall and I indulged him and got him the biggest size they had cause his parents were "no-sugar activists" and he wouldn't get another chance like this. I got myself a small sized one and we sat and ate, chatting and laughing over random things. He smeared a little on his face and I leaned forward to wipe it but froze immediately. Downstairs, Finn and Rita had just walked in hand in hand, and they were head

8 - Young Gentleman

"I'll miss you too, Pinocchio." Rita said, gently patting my back. I swallowed hard and my heart rate increased briefly. Pinocchio was a nickname she chose to call me because it rhymed with hers - Pistachio. Now that I had begun to lie to her, it seemed very fitting for me. We stayed in the hug for quite a while. It wasn't up to five minutes but it felt like forever, and it strengthened my resolve. And when we finally broke away, I ached for a do over. She, though, was more interested in telling me about everything that had happened. However, we didn't get a chance to chat cause Diego soon appeared with Finn. To distract him from us and alert me of his presence, he let out a loud screech, earning them stares from everyone and making Finn panic as he tried to find out what his problem was. I used the opportunity to kiss Rita goodbye, grab my cap and make my way to the escalator. Once I got down, I waited by the exit for Diego and a few minutes later, he rushed over to me excitedly

9 - Jackpot

"That young gentleman carries extreme guilt and deep longing. There's nothing that can't be worked out. The love you both have for each other is deep and true. Don't let it slip." The ride home was quiet. I had my eyes looking out the window as the taxi sped through traffic. This city in which I had spent most of my life in now seemed so big and strange, probably due to the fact that this would be my last time here for a while. And the fact that I had to leave my sister in the care of someone who had tried to kill me was eating me up. If only my mom was here. But she wasn't. She was stuck in an asylum where all she did each day was stare. She never spoke nor did she show that she could hear. They said her mind got broken after Dad's death and there was no way to fix it but I think maybe she just wasn't there anymore. I paid her fees yearly instead of monthly and even though she woul

10 - La Casa De Garcia

I had won a jackpot in a lottery I didn't even sign up for. "Welcome to La Casa De Garcia," Diego whispered softly, pulling me out of my reverie. I put my phone away, my mouth agape in awe as the limo drove into the driveway of a magnificent private estate. As the gravel crunched under the tires of the sleek black SUV, I started to feel a sense of trepidation. Now that I was going to be in the presence of someone as powerful as the grand matriarch of the Garcia family, my heart couldn't stop racing for fear that I'd give myself out as an impostor. The vehicle rounded the final bend of the driveway, and the trees parted to reveal a mansion. I stepped out of the car, staring at it with awe, and in all its full glory, the mansion stared down at me. It wasn't just a house; it was a cathedral of limestone and glass, glowing amber in the twilight. Twin grand staircases swept up to a massive mahogany door, and rows of tall, arched windows reflected the manicured gardens like polished

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