The room zoomed in dangerously and everything blurred from Lillian's standing spot at the entrance to her room.
Her room, her matrimonial room. Laid atop her matrimonial bed was her husband vigorously and pleasurably thrusting deeper and deeper into the honeycomb of her sister. Their moans, the only deafening sound that filtered through the hazy cloud in her mind. She refused to believe her vision. The two most important people in her life could never think to do this to her. The only people that cared about her would never do this. Her heart said differently. Her eyes saw reality. Reality she vehemently refused to believe. She moved closer to the bed. She wanted a closer look at them. She wanted to confirm their faces, even though she already knew. She wanted it to be a mistake. Just as she reached the foot of the bed, she saw her husband shake violently, emptying his release into the depths of her sister. Their sigh of deep satisfaction caused her eyes to water. As Bruce finished off into Rachel, he rolled off of her and that's when they saw her. Eyes red with anger and hurt, she stared at them. Bruce scurried out of the bed and Rachel pulled the quilt over her nudity. They were startled, surprised to see her there. She was supposed to be at the Fox's house till the next day, but she had come back early. Her parents had sent her out of the house, as they had felt disgusted and discomforted by her presence. One would ask why a parent would treat their daughter that way. Lillian was adopted into the Fox's family by Rachel's parents when she was barely an infant. Growing up, she had always wondered why her adopted parents had bothered with adopting her because they never liked her and had always treated her with scorn and hatred for as long as she could remember. This made her fall into depression and become reserved as a child. The only one that had gone to her rescue then was Rachel. With Rachel, Lillian felt safe and happy. She found a relationship greater than a sister with Rachel. Rachel was both a sister and her best friend. Then Bruce came along and swept Lillian off her feet. His love was the icing on the cake to make her life whole. The existence of Rachel and Bruce in her life, gave her purpose, hope and happiness. All that seemed to crash right in front of her. The pain she felt tugged at heart, stretching and squeezing the life out of her. "Why?" Lillian finally managed to ask with trembling lips. Her voice broke with sobs. Bruce turned his gaze away from her gaze defiantly. He had no hint of remorse written on his face. Instead, what Lillian saw was anger. Lillian turned to observe Rachel. Disappointment adorned the pain she felt as Rachel mirrored Bruce's indifferent look. "How could you both do this to me? How? I trusted you. You two were everything to me. I could lay my life for either of you. How could you do this to me?" Lillian shut her eyes as pain invaded every cell in her body. "Oh please! You sound so pathetic." Rachel put on a dramatic pose as she mimicked Lillian. "How could you do this? I trusted you. I would die for you." Her voice was laughing and mocking. "Pathetic!" She yelled. A gasp of shock escaped Lillian's lips. Rachel had never spoken to her in such a manner before. She didn't even look sorry. Rachel's voice sounded strange and sinister, in complete contrast to the sweet loving way she had always spoken to Lillian in the past. "What do you mean? What are you saying?" Lillian asked, baffled and shocked at Rachel's daring words. "You are such a fool. Always have been an idiot! What did you think? That we love you?" She asked incredulously. She spun her head to Bruce, draped a seditious hand over his shoulders. "Do you want to tell her dear?" Her voice was slurry. Bruce rested his gaze on her face and his eyes softened with love. He turned to Lillian . The tenderness in his eyes was immediately replaced with hate. "I want a divorce." Lillian's eyes popped. She didn't understand what he was saying. "Our third anniversary is in three days, Bruce. You want a divorce before our third anniversary?" She couldn't believe what he was saying. Rachel took it upon herself to speak for Bruce. "Oh no! The divorce will be after the anniversary… You see, Bruce's father had conditioned him before he could receive his inheritance. He needed to stay married for at least three years. I couldn't marry him then. You know how mom and dad are protective of me." She giggled at the thought, silently mocking me before she continued. "They would have never let me marry while in college so we had to look for a wife that would stay married to Bruce for three years. And you my dear, were the perfect candidate." Her words were a mumbled jumble in Lillian's mind. The cloud of confusion that hovered over her mind thickened by the moment and her expression didn't hide it. Rachel shook her head indicating how stupid she thought Lillian looked. She sighed in exasperation, tired of explaining. "You're so dumb you know." "Don't waste your time explaining my love. We get divorced in the next three days and we can be together with all the wealth." Bruce spoke, smoothing Rachel's hair. "But.. but… but you.. we met at the.." Lillian fumbled. "It was all part of the plan! I set you up with him. Your meeting was arranged. Mom and dad won't care if you jumped into a river and so they allowed your wedding at a go. Jeez! Do we have to spell everything out for you?" Rachel spat at her. Bruce rubbed his hand over her back and kissed her neck. Rachel giggled seductively. The sound caused rage to stir within Lillian. Lillian watched them frolic before her. Her anger rose. How could they? They've fooled her all the while? They made a mockery of her love. How dare they? She couldn't let this slide. She wouldn't watch them win. "How about I tell your father your marriage was a fake? Would he still give you your inheritance?" Lillian dared. The look on their faces told her she had them by the throat. She knew Mr Daniel Leon, Bruce's father. He was as strict as a law, following every rule in the books. Once he knew his son wanted to obtain the inheritance through dubious means, Bruce could as well kiss the inheritance goodbye. Lillian spun on her heels and headed for the door. If they thought she was stupid, she'd show them how stupid she could be. "Lillian!" She heard Bruce thundered behind her. She sprinted for the door, fear invaded her body. He was fast. He gained up on her swiftly. She didn't know what it was, but she felt the impact. Boom! First the shattering sound, then the fear and pain surrogate her fears. She felt herself slipping, slipping into oblivion. Darkness clouded her mind just before the deafening silence. She fainted."Toss it over! Come on, hurry!" There was urgency in Rachel's voice."Don't you think we should check if she's still alive.""No one can survive such a beating. Didn't you see how they almost splattered her brain out? The guys did a good job. Her head and face is destroyed. Toss this trash into the river before someone sees us." Rachel urged. She darted her eyes back and forth the darkness of the overhead bridge on which they stood.Bruce grunted as he lifted the bag enclosing Lillian's body. "I don't know why you didn't pay them to dispose of the body too." He whined."You want it to be traced back to us? Is that what you want?... Just hurry up and let's get out of here!"Lillian heard the voices in a haze. Her body felt numb and alienated. The physical pain she felt was like nothing in the world. Her breathing was so slow, she thought she would die the next minute. She held her breath when she was lifted. The pain heightened with the contact. She felt herself rise. Her pain increas
Dr Tony was taking off the bandages wrapped around Lillian's face. He worked with dexterity as he pulled on the bandage. It's been five weeks of waiting since after the surgery."You will feel numb around your face when the bandages come off, but it shouldn't alarm you. It's normal and the feeling will wear off in a moment." Tony explained as he unwrapped the bandage. Sam Knox stood by the corner of the room, his heart racing and his eyes shone with fear. He was eager to see the result of the surgery and yet, uncertain how Lillian would react to her new face.Lillian had only been able to communicate by nodding whenever she was spoken to. The bandages had prevented her from speaking. So they had not been able to have a real conversation with her.Tony had said that the chances of Lillian remembering anything about her past was very slim. But Knox couldn't shake off the fear that she would remember her past life. It would be a disaster if that happened.Tony finally removed the last o
"Yes." Knox nodded at her. "Yes. You are Ashley Knox." He reiterated with tear filled eyes. "You are my Ashley.""You are my daughter." He announced with tearful glee. She watched him move near her. Uncertainty flooded her gaze. She looked up at Dr Tony whom she inexplicably had a measure of trust in. Tony sensed her insecurities and he understood them. He had seen it a thousand times, patients waking up to memories of their life snatched away from. Knowing nothing. Remembering nothing. The feeling was depressing. He nodded silently at her, consenting to the information she had just received.She turned her gaze away from Tony to regard Knox who had stopped in his tracks. Her countenance had not been welcoming causing him to pause."You are my father?" She inquired.Her innocence burst open the flood gates of Knox tears. He shook violently, collapsing on the bed on which she sat. She suddenly felt guilty. He was her father and she didn't know him. She imagined how that must hurt. S
"Don't worry, you'll meet him soon." DJ assured. He couldn't remind her that he hadn't spoken to or seen his brother in a very long time. He didn't have a good relationship with his family. He thought he would tell her, but later.Ashley peeled her eyes on him, watching him intently. She wanted to read his reaction to the question she was going to ask next."Was I good girlfriend to you?"DJ grinned. Contentment brightened his gaze. "You are the very absolute best girlfriend ever! In all my dating years, I've never met someone like you." There was pride in his voice. Pride and love. So much love."I'm the happiest to have you back." He stood up from the settee and moved to the bed. He knelt before her and took her hand in his. Staring into her eyes, he poured out his heart. "I love you Ashley."She stilled. His confession a huge surprise. "I don't know what to say."He smiled, his eyes never left hers. "It's fine. Take your time. Take all the time you need. I don't mind courting you a
Ashley laid on her bed in the dimly lit room, eyes wide open and fixated on the white ceiling. Sleep had traveled far from her.The events of the day replayed in her head. The new faces she had met and didn't know; her stepmom, her step brother and her fiance.How could she not remember her fiance? She must have loved him enough to want to be married to him, but now she didn't know him. He was a stranger to her. She recalled the hurt in his eyes. As much as he tried to mask it, she sensed it. How could she forget those eyes that looked at her with so much love?She scoffed. She didn't even remember her father. The man who had birthed and raised her. The man who seemed to love her more than anything else. Everything was a mumbo jumbo.Nothing made sense to her. She felt like a child seeing the world for the first time. She wished to return to the hospital. At least there, no one expected anything from her. No one seemed pained that she couldn't remember them.Even her cabin at the ho
“Who was that?” Rachel asked over her shoulders as she stood before the mirror, putting on her jewelry.The full length mirror reflected her image, doing its job just as it did while Lilian occupied the room.As they had discussed, she and Bruce had gotten married at the city hall. It was a quiet wedding with only family members present as they were trying to keep away from the press.The vile woman, Rachel, didn't hesitate to take over Lilian’s room. She had immediately erased all traces of Lilian. It was as though Lilian had never lived there as Rachel redecorated the entire space to her taste.From the corner of her eyes, Rachel could see Bruce's reflection as he approached her with a smile plastered over his face. He was dressed up neatly in a black suit and ready for the evening's event.He reached her in no time and wrapped his arm around her waist, holding her from behind. He rested his chin on her shoulders and she watched him from the mirror with curiosity, waiting for an exp
Ashley's eyes were big and graced with dark circles by the morning when she stepped out of her room. DJ was seated in the living room, idly waiting for her. He smiled once he set his eyes on her descending the stairs. “You’re awake.” “Did you just arrive?” She asked as she approached him. “No. I've been here awhile. I was told you were still sleeping and I didn't want to wake you up.” He replied with tenderness. She hadn't been asleep. She had stayed awake all through the night unable to sleep, pondering over what Paul had told her. It had been difficult for Ashley to convince Paul that she really couldn't remember a thing. He was convinced that she was only pretending. It made her wonder what kind of life she had lived before she got in the accident. She thought it was absurd that she had been sleeping with her step brother. But she didn't tell him that. She dared not. Not when he was already fuming over her rejection. She was more than grateful that he didn't try to force
The hall was filled with people glamorously dressed. Rich organ music filtered through the air, blending smoothly with the light chatters and laughters of the guests. Waiters moved around holding flat trays sitting flute glasses filled with champagne. A buffet table generously adorned with various meals sat at an accessible corner of the hall. Mr and Mrs Leon stood amidst a small group laughing over small talks. “Where are you going?” Mr Leon whispered to his wife who had just excused herself. “Bruce and Rachel are not here.” She explained, a bit of angst laced her voice. “Are you going to bring them from their home?” Mr Leon asked. He didn't try to veneer the sarcasm in his tone. “No. I'm just going to call them. The chairman is about to get on the stage. What will happen if Bruce is called and he is not here?” “Relax woman! They are already on their way.” Mr Leon said sternly to his wife. “Allow them be.” “Oh, Mrs Fox is here. I'll just ask her instead.” “Bruce and Rachel ar
Ashley wakes up to a pair of eyes watching her with love and admiration.She scoffed and chuckled groggily. “Don't tell me you stayed like this all night.” She said in between stifling a yawn as she stretched her muscles to wake.DJ grinned. “What if I did?”Ashley rolled her eyes. “Creepy.” She twisted her head to check the digital clock on his nightstand. DJ rolled his eyes. “Lemme guess, you have to go.”Ashley chortled. “Accurate guess. I just need to handle a few things. And I need to see Pamela too.”DJ furrowed his brows. “You see Pamela every other day.” He said pointedly.Ashley sighed. “This is different. We had a fight last night after we left your brother's.”DJ lifted his brows and whistled. “That bad?”“Yup!” She responded, pulling the covers off her body to reveal her nudity. “She already texted last night that she wanted the day off today.”“Can she just do that?” DJ asked, his eyes raking the perfect symmetry of Ashley's body, feeling his member hardening again.“She
Ashley shut the voice in her head constantly scolding her for spitting hurtful words at Pamela. Pam had been right. Maybe she was controlling, acting like an overbearing mother. And even though she didn't trust Thomas, she couldn't have at least respected Pam and tolerated him. All he did was help them. Grateful for the walk, she had enough time to reflect and simmer down. She would apologize to Pam. She reached her house and saw the car parked in front. She recognized the car as DJ’s. She glanced around and was pleasantly surprised to find DJ, but stunned to see him seated on the cobblestone step. “DJ?” She quickened her steps and met up with him. “Why are you sitting out here? Why didn't you go inside?” She asked, her gaze darting to the house, wondering if someone had asked him to stay out. “The maid who answered the door said you weren't in but would be back soon, and I didn't want to wait inside alone.” “You could have called me.” “I didn't want to disturb you.” She passed
Pamela's heels clicked angrily as she matched past Ashley. “Pamela.”. Ashley stopped her. “You should see these.” she dug her hands into her purse to fetch out something. “I got my hands on Bruce's financial record. And you won't believe what they contain.” “Good for you.” Pamela said sarcastically, not bothering to take a look at what Ashley had in her hands. “Are you alright?” “These damn signals.” Pamela muttered cusses under her breath. Her finger punched her device as though she was in a fierce battle with it. Frantically trying to book a cab, the reception on her cellphone was in opposition to her wants. “What are you so worked up about?” Ashley asked, catching up to her. Pamela ignored her, kept pressing on her phone, exiting and re-entering the app as she received the same service unavailable response. “Argh.” Pamela groaned in frustration. Ashley stole a glance at the screen. “Let's get to my house. I'll ask a driver to drop you off.” Ashley suggested seeing that P
Pamela eagerly got in the front seat, her interest in Thomas no longer subtle. “Thank you so much.” She buckled her seat belt, her gaze not once flickering off the young man. Thomas glanced at her. “It's no problem. Where're you girls headed?” “Up East.” Pamela answered. “Up East?” Thomas exclaimed. “That's on the other side of town.” He pointed out. Pamela chuckled. “Yes. Ashley's father lives on that side. And she lives with him.” “So what brings you all the way out here?” “Business. We are expanding our horizon, moving our business this way.” Pamela responded genially. “Oh!” Thomas nodded, understanding flooded his mind. “Yeah. We had our debut exhibition here sometime last month. A small awareness about our brand.” Pamela chortled. “I heard about that and I wouldn't call that small. Although I didn't attend, I saw a glimpse of it all over the net. It was a great show… Awesome designs… I couldn't get over the number two collection.” He chuckled. “So much so that I place
Ashley went back down. Her mission for attending the party had been a dead end. But not entirely unproductive. For one, she had Rachel in a messed up corner. That alone was enough to make up for the night. And it brought her great joy. The other, she got her hands on something very important. Something she could use to bring Bruce down. As she reached the base of the staircase, she weaved her gaze through the crowd to where she had left Pamela. She hissed. Pamela had moved. No longer in the same place. She would need to find her. She plowed ahead and blended into the crowd, darting her eyes through the small cluster of people, looking for Pamela. It didn't take long before she spotted Pam, intently focused in a conversation with a strange man. Ashley walked up to them. She heard Pam giggle girlishly as she closed in on them. Who was this man? And why was Pamela entertaining him? “Pamela.” She called, but her call went unanswered. “Pamela!” Ashley called forcefully. This tim
Bruce smiled at her. “I'll see you down stairs.” He gave her one long last look, his eyes lingering on the flesh of her exposed cleavage. With great effort, he peeled his gaze away. He adjusted his tie, tugged his jacket before he stepped out. Not once did he consider he was leaving a stranger in his bedroom. Not once did he think she should have gone out before him. As stupid as they came, Bruce went down, back to his party, leaving her there, in his room. Ashley had never seen a more fóolish ídíot than Bruce. It made her wonder what she ever saw in him before. Now alone, Ashley looked around the room. It felt like a cemetery. Everything in it was dead. It was nothing like the home she had created with warmth and love. The room had been restructured and repainted to suit Rachel's preference; bland. But of course, what could she expect from Rachel who knew nothing about love and warmth. She sighed. Her fears, confronted and defeated. Now only a painful memory. Taking one las
Ashley stood by the foot of the stairs, hesitating momentarily. She looked up the staircase, each case reminding her how familiar it used to be. The room suddenly began to close in on her. The large space became too small.The hairs on her skin stood. Goosebumps adorn her body. Her breath quickened and her body quivered with cold chills.She shut her eyes, lifted her dress and took one step up. She clutched to the mass of her dress too tightly as waves of memories hit her.It was torturing. But she didn't stop. She continued, climbing on with a racing heart. The beating of her heart overshadowed the soft music that echoed from the lower floor. For the first time after six long years, thick fear filled her guts. But not once did she consider stopping. She charged, matched forward, turning her fears into her fuel. She needed to do this. She needed to confront this.Cheering and reminding herself why she was doing this, Ashley reached the landing.Then came another difficult task. Wa
Pamela got the answer to her question. Ashley wasn't going to abort anything. Especially not with what they had tried to do. Bruce and Rachel had to be the worst humans on earth with the blackest of souls. And Pamela couldn't fathom how they lived with themselves. With so much wickedness in their hearts. “Have you contacted Alex?” Ashley's voice pulled Pamela from her thoughts. Her brows quirked as she got her mind back into the room. “Uh yes. He is safe and in hiding. Bruce wouldn't be able to find him even if he searches under the sea.” “Good.” “So what do you intend to do about this?” Pamela asked, referring to the information they had just received. “I'll go see the DSC myself. I need to ensure that he doesn't switch sides.” Her voice tinged with a smooth hardness. A hardness she developed when she first discovered their deception. If they were so heartless, she could as well return the energy. Pamela nodded in understanding. “Then what next?” Ashley's eyes glazed with an
“How did it go?” Pamela asked Ashley as she walked into the office. “How is Bruce?” “What do you expect? He's a hot mess, whining about his damaged reputation.” Ashley responded, settling into her office chair. “Does he suspect you?” Ashley laughed. “Suspect me? He has no reason to suspect me… Yet.” She added. Her expression turned brooding as she recalled Bruce's attitude towards her at the hospital and Rachel's confident smile. “What is it?” Pamela didn't miss the change on her face. Ashley shook her head and pushed the thought to the back of her mind. “It's nothing.” “I can't believe this worked out so well. For a moment I feared that the plan might come back to bite us. I can't believe Bruce went through the whole damn thing without checking once to see if things were going right.” “Alex is smart and Bruce is a fool.” There was no kindness in Ashley's words. Pamela giggled, finding Ashley's comparison amusing. Ashley swiveled her chair, turning her sides to Pamela while