My name is Rayna Giancarlo and I’m many things. I’m an abused daughter, the school ridicule, the abused fiancée, the vengeful daughter, the bitter niece, the runaway wife. But not for much longer. I won’t always be a victim. Soon I’ll rise up from the flames like a Phoenix and then I’ll burn everyone who had ever wronged me to ashes.
view moreChapter one
Rayna
"You're not going to school today until you're done cleaning!" My mother roared at me.
I turned, startled, "I'm done with my chores, ma."
Her only response was a resounding slap that has my neck snapping to the side. I cup my flaming cheeks.
"You useless girl," she snarled, advancing at me, "How dare you talk back to me? It seems you're beginning to get too audacious."
I staggered away from the wrath blazing in her eyes.
"What's going on up there, darling?" Uncle Timothy's voice barked from below.
I glanced over my shoulder to see my silver haired uncle standing in the middle the living room and glaring up at me.
"She refused to do the cleaning," mother smirked at me.
"Th-that's not true," I rushed to say, "I've cleaned the house already."
"What about the garage at the back? Did you clean it?" She raised one brow at me.
I gaped at her. Since when did cleaning the garage become one of my duties too? As if it wasn't enough that I had to clean this endless mausoleum from top to bottom every single day, still cook, do the dishes and any other errand they required.
As far as I knew, the garage wasn't in use and hadn't been in use in years.
"But nobody ever goes there," I said carefully.
Weeds had overgrown the small garage and the wooden walls were so rotten, I doubted it was safe for anybody to be inside there. The whole place needed to be bulldozered.
Green eyes narrowed at me, "It's high time people started going there again."
"Why are you bothering explaining yourself to her?" My uncle snapped, "If she wants to continue living under our roof and being taken care of, she had better get that garage sparkling."
Taken care of? I was the one who was taking care of myself and them. I was more than earning my place here. I did the work of more than a dozen house staff.
I glanced down at my red and peeling hands, "I have a test today. I'm not lying, it's the truth, you can call Mrs Rivers to confirm."
My mother snorted, "I don't care if you have your final exam today, you're going to do what I said you should do or you won't leave this house."
I ground my teeth together. This was exactly what had happened to me last year. I had missed so many days and even missed some of my finals.
The result was that I didn't join my classmates to graduate. I was determined to leave highschool so i could be able to disappear with my degree at least. I couldn't go through everything I had gone through in my mother and uncle's hands only to leave empty handed.
"It seems to me like little Rayna now think she's so grown," the man below growled, "Well, in that case, I don't think we need to continue feeding you."
For the last six months, I had been surviving on only scraps from their table, so it wasn't like there would be any difference.
I kept my gaze downcast to hide the hatred blazing in my eyes. I didn't want to receive another of my mother's slaps.
"Get to work you maggot," she snapped.
"Yes, ma'am," I replied meekly and made to rush to the attic where my room was located.
"Where do you think you're going?" Her cold voice stopped me in my tracks, "Is that the way to the garage?"
"Actually, ma'am, I'm headed to my room to change out of my uniform," I explained.
Her lips pulled back in a sneer, "Do you think I have time to wait around for you to make fashion choices? Get to work, now!"
My uniform was already hanging on by threads and I was sure I would look like someone who had just crawled out of her grave by the time I got to school.
"Please, ma'am," I gasped, "It won't take me more than a minute to change out of my uniform."
Another slap landed on the other side of my face, this one with enough fury behind it to send me crashing into the rail of the staircase and almost toppling down.
"Arrrgh," I cried out as my hip knocked painfully into the wooden edge.
"So your uniform is of more importance than my precious time?" Mother hissed, "If you aren't at the garage in the next second, I'll pull you out of that school completely. It seems it's becoming too much of a distraction."
With a horrified yelp, I took to my heels, flying down the curving staircase, past my leering uncle and out the back door leading to the abandoned garage.
Tears filled my eyes as I pushed open the heavy wooden doors and stared into the dark space.
I coughed as dust filled my nose and it only made my eyes water more. I looked around to make sure I couldn't be seen from the house before stripping my uniform white shirt off.
A hand over my mouth and nose, I grabbed the cleaning supplies right outside the door and stepped into the garage.
As I began to clean, I couldn't help but wonder why my own mother hated me so much. Sometimes I tried to convince myself that she wasn't really my mother, I imagined that my real mother was out there, searching for me and when she found me, she'll embrace me and love me.
Or maybe my father would come for me.
I didn't know who he was or if he was even alive. My mother had refused to tell me anything about him. Even going as far as to become violent when I tried to press the issue.
I sighed and continued to scrub the floors, tired of my own impossible fantasies.
Nobody was coming to save me.
My name is Rayna Giancarlo and I'm an abused daughter.
But not for much longer. I was going to get my degree and leave this life far behind me.
Zane's POV.If anything, I'm quite sure that my father would be proud of me. Pun intended. Not only that, but he'll also be pleased to hear that I'm about to cut down the salary of every staff by fifty percent and if he isn't, then he can return to reclaim the position as the CEO. Oops! That's not possible because he already announced me and there's no way he can revert that. In the meantime, I lowered the screen of my laptop and then reclined on my chair. However, I'd barely done that when a call came into my phone. Picking it up, I glanced at the screen and the caller happened to be my father. Of course, I knew that he would call. In fact, I am surprised that he just called. If anything, I've been expecting him to do so since the middle-aged woman left my office. I'm sure I saw her name on the payroll register, but it's a blur in my head now. Considering the fact that he had eyes and ears all over the company, someone must have told him about my plans. Nonetheless, I answered the c
Zane's POV.I straightened the collar of my shirt as I ambled through the hallway, heading towards my office. Well, about the call with Aya last night, I was this close to deleting her number from my cellphone considering the way she spoke to me. If anything, I was only trying to surprise her, but it's quite obvious that things went south and the thought of it just makes me get angry. Perhaps, I was getting ahead of myself after all. But then again, after giving it a good thought, I realized that her number on my cellphone would help me in several ways than I thought. With that thought in mind, a smile pushed my lips to the side as I gripped the doorknob to my office and turned it open. Although, it was rather early and a few of my employees would have been surprised to see me. But then, I have to own this seat as the CEO else I'll just keep being a boy to my father. In the meantime, I settled on my chair, lifted the screen of my laptop and then pushed the power button. Waiting for
Rayna's POV.The almost deafening sound of my alarm threatened to tear my eardrums apart as it began to blare. Although, I'm not one to set alarms, but considering how knackered I was last night, I had no choice but to do so because I had this feeling that I might actually sleep past my normal wake-up time.Not only that, but also, because it was Ethan's birthday and I'd to finish my work at the office in a short period of time so that it would be possible to spend the rest of the day with him since I'd promised to do so. In the meantime, I reluctantly tossed myself to the other side of the bed, reached for my cellphone on the bedside table and then turned off the alarm. Letting out a heavy breath as the room suddenly became quiet again, I rubbed my eyes off its somnolent look and sat upright on the bed for a few minutes to regain my composure. After a few minutes, I got off from the bed, shoved my legs into my flip-flops and then proceeded to the bathroom to take a shower. Before lo
Rayna's POV.For one, I thought that it would be a good idea for Greene to join in the fun. You know, it would be a good opportunity for a perfect start with his son. But of course, I will in no way convince him otherwise. It is completely willingly. If he sees no reason to do so, and decides not to come, then good and fine. However, I only had Ethan's interest best at heart. In the meantime, the line went silent for a few seconds. It was as if I'd just asked of the impossible and his silence? Well, it was loud enough for me to know that he wasn't interested. Or perhaps, he was, but his ego wouldn't allow him and I could understand that. But then, if Ethan's mom would want to spend the day with him, then I don't think it should be different with him as the father.“I do hope that you can understand—” “The fact that you won't be able to come, right?” I asked, stealing the words from his lips as I cut him off. “Well, it is rather obvious and there's nothing to worry about. I just want
Zane's POV.I had no idea it felt this good giving people a piece of your mind. I'm sure Jess would stay away from me for the next few days except she's really desperate, and I do not want to believe that she is. However, what I don't want is to be controlled by the words of an old man. Not only that but I don't want my life to be dictated by the words of two old men who were only seeking for ways to strengthen their friendship and make good money even if their decisions put my emotions in jeopardy.“Who was that?” my father asked, with an edge to his voice. “I know it's a lady. So, tell me who is she?” I hadn't even shut the door yet when he threw that question at me. Was that how curious he was or wasn't he able to watch me from the window like he does should anyone show up at the gate? I guess the darkness wasn't helping matters.“It was, Jess.” I said, walking towards the sitting room immediately I shut the door. “She thought about something which would really benefit us, and so
Rayna's POV.I knew it was only a matter of time before they left. Talking about my mom and uncle. And, I was expecting it. I mean, who would decide to stay after everything I did. For one, they would have realized that they were never welcomed to begin with but then, I am still surprised they stayed that long regardless. In the meantime, Onyx walked past behind me.“Come here,” I called, with an edge to my voice. “What was that for?” If anything, she needed to understand her place as a worker in my house and not an opinion giver. And, for that reason she needn't join any conversation in the house unless she's asked to say something.“I don't understand ma'am.” she said, looking confused than she sounded. “Did I do something wrong?” “Really?” I asked, letting out a laughing scoff. “Are you asking me that right now? Or have you suddenly forgotten what you did earlier? Did I ever ask for your opinion while I was discussing with my neighbor as they called themselves?” I did the air qu
Zane's POV.I knew that her reason for coming had something to do with the marriage arrangements. But then, I don't think I was speaking a different language when I made my intentions about it clear to her the last time. If anything, I made sure my words were easy enough to be understood even by a toddler. So, why is she here again after all the explanations I gave concerning the reasons why it wouldn't work out anymore?“Jess, I made it clear to you the last time that I want no part in the marriage anymore.” I said, shaking my head. “There is no point revisiting that issue because I won't change my mind. Look, I don't know what our fathers discussed but that marriage isn't going to happen.” “You can't do this, and you know that right?” she asked, narrowing her gaze at the words.“Why not?” I asked, with a shrug of my shoulder. “My father isn't the one who's getting married here. I am. So, I don't see any reason why I can't say that I'm not interested in this anymore.” “My father ha
Zane's POV. Giving my father a piece of my mind is one of the few things I've always wanted to do. Perhaps, he must have felt a fraction of the pain I feel whenever he calls me a boy. But then, that's just the beginning of things yet to come. Should he keep disregarding my capacities then he'll be surprised to see what his doubts will turn me into? In the meantime, I gripped the doorknob, turned it open and then stepped into my room. All I had in mind to do was just to close my eyes and get some rest because I've had enough for the day. Standing in front of the mirror on the wall, I loosened my tie, took it off my neck. And, just as I began to undo the buttons on my shirt, my phone rang. I picked it up from the bedside table and glanced at the screen to know who was calling. It turned out to be Jessica. For one, I thought I made myself clear the last time we met that I want nothing to do with her anymore so, why in the world is she still trying to reach out to me?“What do you want
Rayna's POV.I have no idea who assured them that I'm their neighbor. However, for all I care, I don't have anyone as a neighbor. So, wherever they got the idea from, then it's not too late to discard it. But then, it was rather obvious that they couldn't recognize me and well, I don't expect them to. Meanwhile, it's been over ten minutes since they arrived, but then, they'd been standing, expecting me to offer them a seat. Left to me, they would stand till we were done with whatever discussion they brought to me because I didn't ask them to come in the first place. And, I didn't tell them that I was in need of a neighbor. Perhaps, when they realize that they weren't welcomed, as adults who know what to do, they'll leave on their own.“You are still standing?” Onyx asked, crinkling her face in surprise as she held a long broom and dustpan in her grip. “And how is that any of your concern?” I shot back, with an edge to my voice. “You should focus more on your job. However, I need you
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