Chapter 1

     I was hearing muffled, inaudible voices. A thought popped up in my head, "Am I dead??", so I tried opening my eyes and I was welcomed by the white colour of the room that almost blinded my eye. Then I thought again, "Am I in heaven??"

    Still thinking, I shook my head vigorously saying it isn't possible. While in my trance, I felt a hand on my shoulders, shaking me, trying to get me out of my thoughts. Then those voices again called out to me and this time it was loud and clear.

    Slowly, I opened my eyes and the smell of antiseptic and drugs hit my nose. That was when I realised I was in the hospital.

    "Thank God, she's awake" I heard my dad saying

    "Let me check her vitals" The doctor said while my dad made way for him to do his job

    "Can you hear me Miss Walker?" the doctor asked

    I didn't answer.

    "If you can hear me, move your eyes to the left" he instructed.

    I did as he instructed.

    He gave me a few more instructions which I did. Satisfied by my response, he smiled then turned to my dad and said.

    "She's alright. Her brain just needs to register and get familiar with her current environment" The doctor told my dad.

    My dad heaved a sigh of relief and thanked the doctor. It wasn't until my dad sat down that I noticed my stepmom and my sister.

    Then I thought again, who would do that to me?? I don't think my stepmom would do that because she was with my dad after we finished having breakfast.

    Then was it my sister?? I doubt that because she wasn't aware of what happened to me back then or was she?? I couldn't wrap my head around those thoughts and it made me develop a slight migraine.

    I winced at the pain that accompanied the migraine. My dad moved closer to me and touched my forehead.

    "Are you alright sweetheart?" he asked worriedly

    "Yes Dad, it's just a slight migraine. I'd be fine" I smiled at him to ease his worries.

    "But what happened to you Vina" my dad asked.

    

    "I also don't know Dad. I was in the tub about to take my bath when I heard the knob of the door lock. I tried opening it but it has been locked from the outside" I explained to my dad.

    "Who would have done something like that to you?? No outsider was with us in the house so it's definitely between the rest of us at home" her father thought and turned to look at his wife and then his daughter.

    "Don't tell me it is what I'm thinking??" Mrs Walker questioned.

    "Whatever it is you are thinking. I don't know but when we get home we would settle this properly" Mr Walker replied and turned back to face Avina.

    The doctor came back a few minutes later, checked her condition and discharged her from the hospital saying she just needed to rest.

    "I'm fine. I have somewhere to be." Avina protested

    "You are not going anywhere. Postpone whatever meeting it is you have, we have a lot to do at home" Mr Walker strictly said, eyeing his wife.

    Her father thanked the doctor and they all left the hospital. It was a silent drive back home with only the music playing.

    They all got home and everyone got out of the car. They all walked into the living room and took their spots on the chair.

     Mr Walker was silent for a while. After what seemed like hours, he spoke.

    "I need whoever it is that did that to Vina to speak up because if I later find out myself the consequences won't be good. How can we live in peace amongst ourselves when we can't even look out for one another?" He stated.

    It's funny how my dad is acting this way. If only he knew what his wife has done to me, he wouldn't be saying these. I wasn't even bothered about knowing the truth because these people has never treated me as one of them before, especially my stepmom. 

     They only act nice whenever my dad's present or they need me to do something for them. I just chuckled dryly thinking about everything.

     I just sat there unbothered and wanted this so-called meeting to end quickly. 

    "It can't be your mother because she was with me in the room after breakfast so that leaves me to question you, Elena. What do you know about what happened" he questioned.

    I turned to face my sister because I was shocked. I'd never expected her to do that. She might be unwelcoming and kind of wicked but she'd never go this extreme. I looked at her waiting for her to give the reason why she did that to me or did she know about what her mother did to me and decided to try that too?? I just can't wrap my head around this situation. 

    What a beautiful experience to end my week with" I thought 

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     A white Lexus pulled up at the garage. The car door opened revealing a tall and well-built man with shades on. He adjusted his black suit, took his suitcase and walked into the company.

    Workers whose job was to gossip before the day's work started, felt the presence of their boss. They scurried off to the nearest place they could find, straightened up and pretended to be busy.

     The moment he was amid his workers, even those who weren't looking at the entrance or those busy with their work, oblivious of their environment, felt that the boss was around.

    His aura is always felt wherever he goes or steps into it. The aura surrounding him is so majestic and filled with elegance. The environment becomes chilly whenever he's present because he's the BOSS.

    "Good morning sir" Greetings echoed and sounded from every corner of the building.

     He simply smiled and walked into the elevator. Inside the elevator, he unbuttoned two buttons of his shirt and sighed.

    Ding! The elevator sounded notifying him of his stop. He got out and walked to his office.

    A few minutes after he was seated and relaxed, a knock sounded on the door.

    "Good morning sir" His secretary entered and greeted.

    "Good morning Clinton. Where's my coffee??" He inquired.

    "Oh, I'm so sorry sir. I thought you wouldn't need to take it since you resumed late today" Clinton explained.

    "Don't think. Just do your job. Can't your sixth sense figure out what I want and what I don't?? If you are tired of the job, you can always tender your resignation letter" He said, infuriated.

    "I'm so sorry sir. I'd get it for you immediately" The secretary apologised.

    He hurried out of the office to get Carter his coffee. While he was awaiting his coffee, he logged into his desktop and began some unfinished work.

    He was already midway through his work when the secretary walked back in with his coffee. He placed it on the table and stepped back awaiting further instructions. 

    Carter sipped the coffee, scrunched his face but didn't say anything.

    "You can sit" he instructed.

    He continued his work and sips his coffee at intervals. It took a few minutes but he eventually finished. He shut down his desktop and looked at his secretary.

    "So what's on my schedule today?" he asked relaxing back into his chair

    "You need to meet with the CEO of CJ Corporations, Have dinner with Mr and Mrs Hemington, go to see the estate manager, go to check out the new resort and your parents asked to see you" He summarized.

    "That's a lot. Well, we'd cancel the visit to the resort, I'd see my parents by next week. You can send them a text. The meeting and seeing the estate manager shouldn't take much of my time."

    "Tell my driver to prepare the car. I'd be down in 2 minutes" He authorized.

    "Alright, sir. Lest I forget sir, your sister came by the office before you arrived" Clinton added.

    "Ohh, thanks. I'd call her on my way." Carter acknowledged.

    The secretary left. Carter entered the bathroom, rinsed his face and fixed his shirt. He went back into the office, picked up his jacket and suitcase, and exited the office.

    He got to the garage and the car was ready. He entered and the driver started the journey according to the instructions given by the secretary.

    Carter then remembered that he needed to call his sister. He pulled out his phone from his inner pocket and dialled his sister's number.

    It rang thrice and then connected.

    "Hey, baby sis. I was told you came by my office today."

    "Yes, but you weren't around so I decided to leave." She explained.

    "I'm sorry. I had a lot to do before coming to the office. I'd make it up to you when I come to visit Mom and Dad next week and I'd get you something too" Carter promised.

    "Thanks, big bro. You are the best" she giggled from the other end.

    "Alright munchkin" he said and hung up.

    The moment he hung up, a car collided with his car making him and the driver jerk forward and then backwards, slamming their head into their seats.