The pressure in the room was palpable as Mr. Jakes fixed his criminating aspect to me."Woman! I have heard some accusations I never believed I'd heard about someone my son would marry." Ethan and I turned and gave him a shocking look."What? Mr. Jakes, I do not understand. What are you talking about?" He leaned forward and said, "Do not play innocent with me. I have heard rumors about you having an affair even before now." Ethan said defensively, "Dad, where did you hear that? That is ridiculous!" "Ridiculous? I know what I heard, Ethan. And I know why you married her." Pointing at Elah.More confused I asked,"Why? Why did I marry Ethan?" "Because you thought he did not know about your terrible history.""Dad, that is enough! You have no right to talk to Elah like that." He didn't seem to listen to Ethan but went ahead with his words. "Oh, I know her type. Just like her mother. She tried to seduce me so many times, but I never fell for her seductions." "Wh…wh
The discussion was tense, feelings ran grandly, but she denied any involvement of her father in the death of my mother. She claimed her father knows nothing about my Mum and had no knowledge of his recent conditioning. Determined to uncover the secret, I excavated into the web of deception that Elah's father had woven. The disclosure about Elah's father had burned a storm within me. I could not comprehend the treason, and the need for vengeance fueled my conduct. I rushed out of the room, my mind clouded with wrathfulness and pain, and headed straight for the sitting room where I had left Elah and her butler, Nima. To my bafflement, she was nowhere to be set up. "Elah? Elah, where are you?" I turned to Nima, Elah's maid, who was hard, hoping she could give some information. "Nima, where's she? Where is that daughter of a murderer?" Nima who was nervous and all shaky answered, "N…no, sire. I have not seen her since you and your father left the room." "Damn it!
~~ELAH POV~~In the room, Nima could not hold back her gashes at the sight of my torture. Crying, "Oh, Mrs Elah, I can not believe what they have done to you." "Nima, please. I need your help. I need to know what's up with my father." I said weakly. "Of course, Mrs Elah. I have missed you so much. I never believed I would see you in such a state." "Nima, listen precisely. Where is the secret phone I gave you?" “Here it is, Mrs Elah. I kept it safe, just as you instructed." "Thank you, Nima. I need to call my Dad right away. I need to know if he is okay." Nima dithered, a shadow of fear crossing her face. "Mrs Elah, I think calling him now would only make things worse for you." “What do you mean?” “I overheard Mr. Ethan give orders to his guards to keep an eye on you and all your calls, especially now you just came out from the dungeon, he knows you might want to speak with your Dad.”"Nima, please. I need to hear his voice. I need to know if he's okay." Nima
Days passed, and I waited patiently for that moment. The pressure in the house was palpable, and I knew Ethan's reservations were growing. Nima, my maid, became my confidant, abetting in the discreet arrangements for my secret meeting with my father. Eventually, the night arrived. With Thomas by my side, we made our way to the undisclosed position where my father was hiding. The reunion was a blend of feelings – relief, joy, and a profound sense of gratefulness. Tearfully, "Dad, I was so spooked. I thought I had lost you." I said as I wrapped my arms around him tightly. "I am fine, Elah. We will face this together. But there is something I need to tell you, a secret that will explain everything." As we sat in the dimly lit room, my father began to unveil the layers of secretiveness that had shrouded our lives. The secret, painful and complex, surfaced, slipping light on the reasons behind his attack and the web of deception that had entangled us all. As my father rec
The citation of Ethan's father added another layer of complexity to the entire situation. Ethan's eyes narrowed, confusion giving way to a growing fear. "What does he have to do with this?" Just then, Thomas surfaced from the thick leafage, a mimicking horselaugh escaping his lips. The sound echoed through the stillness, transferring shivers down my spine. "Surprised, Ethan? Your dear father and I have more in common than you think." The disclosure hung in the air, a heavy verity that denied Ethan's appreciation for Thomas' appearance. Ethan, caught between the disagreeing truth, attempted to make sense of the treason unfolding before him. "You and my father, what's this? What have you both been hiding from me?" Now pointing the gun from his father to Thomas, then back to his father again. "We have been playing a game, Ethan. A game of power, control, and heritage. You were always just a pawn." Thomas smirked.Ethan's anger reached a boiling point as he grappled w
Anguish and rage collided within me, an internal tempest hanging to consume the remnants of my being. Ethan, ignorant of the impending storm, stood caught in the crossfire of our unraveling alliances. Ethan's voice pulsing, "You will not take her from me. I will not let you." “Then watch and see.” Ethan's internal struggle played out on his face as he lowered the gun. "Ethan, do you really think she cares about you? She's just a pawn too. A pawn you can use to regain control." He cracked the gun, the sound resonating through the clearing, and aimed it at Mr. Jakes and gave a shot, but to my horror, Ethan's gun was having no bullet in it. Fear struck Ethan like a blow, the color draining from his face. Ethan frenetically, "No, no. What is going on?" Ethan immediately turned and slapped his guard when Mr. Jakes and Thomas burst into loud laughter.The threatening sound of their laughter drowning out the despair that surrounds Ethan."You really think we would give you a
His look, a mixture of pain and guilt, contended for understanding. But my heart, wounded and bruised, slowly finds compassion in his face. "I loved you with everything I had, and you threw it all down." “You what?” I was shocked.“Yes, but I couldn't let my guard down because of my Father and I didn't want you to see me as a loser who doesn't know what he wants.”“You treated me like trash, even in front of your workers and now you open your mouth and say you loved me?” “I s…..swear Leah, I do I…”“You know, you rich people are always like this, you definitely need my help now that's why you profess a fake love to me.”“Elah please, you need to help me.” The forest seemed to echo my frustration as I turned down from him, my eyes fixed on the breathless body of my father. But as I stood there, the weight of leaving Ethan behind, broken and fighting for his life, came unsupportable. Frustrated, I whispered to myself "No, I can not just leave him there. What kind of person
“Yes, but I don't know who those men are?” “Are you sure they are not the same people who killed him?” “I'm scared, I think they are.”“Just hold on right here, I'll be back.” “No sir, you can go out there. Those people are dangerous.” But before I could finish my statement, Mr. Joe opened the back of his truck and brought out a bunter kind of gun. “Stay here and wait for me, if things go wrong, this is the key to the truck, drive as fast as you can.”“Ok…okay sir.”His actions were a haunting specter, but his determination transcended my fear. The night air hung heavy with pressure as I squinched in the dark, watching Mr. Joe approach the two men standing beside my father's body. “Please God, don't let anything happen to Me. Joe.” I whispered some words of prayer.Fear gripped me in its icy claws, each twinkle resounding with the dread of what might unfold. Mr. Joe, conscious of my presence, walked towards the men with boldness. Calling out, "Hey, what’s going on over t
He held out Thomas' diary, his eyes contending.“Elah, I read this. I discovered the truth, the whole truth. Thomas manipulated everything. I believed the lies he said about you, and I am so sorry.” I took the diary, flipping through its pages. The lies goggled back at me, the crooked web of dishonesty, the treason, and the woeful words of distrust. “How could you believe these, I never once made you doubt my loyalty to you even as your contracted wife, Ethan.” “I know Elah, I allowed my jealousy to get the better side of me.” “Ethan, how do I know this is not just another of your games?” I asked, skeptical. He shook his head, despair in his eyes.“I lost everything, Elah. I lost you. I lost myself. I can not change the past, but I want to make amends.” “If I was joking, I wouldn't be here kneeling in public and telling you how much I want you Elah. You have shown me what true love really is. I had not experienced the kind of love you showed me during those times we were to
I took a deep breath, turning down from the window and walking into his ward. The discomfort in my stomach grew with each step I took towards David's bedside. His eyes met mine, and he shouted causing him to burst into tears. I wished I could shield him from the pain that awaited.But the truth had a cruel way of revealing itself anyways. “Why did you leave me Elah, I thought you and Dad abandoned me?” David wept bitterly as he spoke.“I would never leave you David. I am so sorry, please forgive me?”“Where's Daddy, why isn't he here? Is he tired of my illness?”. I wept profusely.I knew I needed to let him know and so I gathered all the strength I needed to talk and said, “David,” I began, my voice catching in my throat.“We need to talk.” He mustered a weak smile, his pale face contorted in a blend of expectation and fear.“What is it, Elah? Talk to me, where is Daddy?” I took a seat beside him, holding his hand in mine. The weight of the words I was about to utter felt like
Immediately Prisca and Anna burst into tears, causing me to weep also.Mr. Joe with a teary-eyed reply, “Elah, we will not abandon you. We will find a way, I promise.” With a forced smile I said, “You've done enough, Mr. Joe. Please, take care of David and let him know I love him.” As they left the station, their steps faded, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I could not bear the thought of dragging them into my web despair. The tears that welled up in my eyes betrayed the strength I had tried so hard to maintain. The battle for justice had taken an unanticipated turn, leaving me to grapple with the consequences of my acts. The air in the courtroom was thick with pressure as we waited for the Judge to deliver the verdict on my case.Mr. Joe, the twins, Gabriel, and I stood there, a dimmed tableau of anxiety. Lima, my colleague from Ethan's company, was also present, but her countenance was different from the rest of us. She seems to carry a heavy burden, her eyes swolle
“Your Honor, these documents detail the elaborate scheme orchestrated by Mr. Jakes. From the falsification of Ethan’s death to that of my parents. This evidence is genuine.” The court registrar asserted a strong resoluteness in his look. The Judge, in his authority, gazed at Mr. Jakes.“Mr. Jakes, do you have anything to say in your defense?” Mr. Jakes stammered, putatively caught off guard by the weight of the evidence presented against him.“This is absurd! I have done nothing of this kind. Those documents are fabricated, Your Honor.” Ethan was ready for this. With a calm address, he turned to the judge.“Your Honor, I expected this response. That is why I've brought more evidence and also used myself as one to support my claims.” Ethan unbuttoned his shirt and showed the Judge exactly where Mr. Jakes shot at him the night he killed my father. A series of witnesses were called to the stage, each attesting to the shady dealings and manipulative tactics employed by Mr. Jake
I ran like I never did before, fueled by a blend of fear, determination, and the burning desire to reunite with Ethan. I immediately made my way to Mr. Joe's sister's house to change my clothes, gather my things, and restrategize before facing the challenges that lay ahead. The familiar scent of the house offered a evanescent respite, and with a quick change and a heist of my bag, I was ready to leave for Mr. Joe's place before the search for me began.As soon as I arrived at the hospital where Ethan was, relief washed over me like a gentle drift. To my surprise, Ethan was awake. The joy that swelled within me was overwhelming, and I could not stay to embrace him, to hold him in my arms after what felt like an eternity. With the documents in hand, I eagerly handed them over to Mr. Joe, our silent passing understanding to each other. The fact that Ethan was conscious and on the path to recovery overshadowed every fear and consequences of my act.After all, I wouldn't stay in
"This is a blow, Elah. But we can not give up. We will find a way. We always do, “he assured, though the weight of the situation lingered in his tone. Seven months had passed since Ethan fell into a coma, and the lack of progress in his condition counted heavily on my spirit. The little income from my cleaning job slightly covered his bills. Mr. Jakes's hatred for me remained unvarying, and Thomas's incuriosity persisted. The following day, as I diligently went about my cleaning duties, the unanticipated sight of Thomas standing before me jolted me out of place.James called me to his desk and said, “Elah, I need you to take over the cleaning of Mr. Jake's office for this week.” My eyes widened as I looked at him.“I understand you don't want to face what happened the last time but you are the only person that can do this.”“What about Lima, she has been the one handling his office even before I came here to work.”“Lima is sick. And she has been admitted to the hospital
Without a second thought, she locked herself inside, seeking consolation from whatever had happened within the confines of Thomas's office. The sound of her muffled heartbreaks echoed through the whole room, creating an atmosphere of pressure. I dithered for a moment, torn between esteeming her buried body and offering a comforting presence. The weight of the knowledge that I carried, the scene that occurred behind the doors of Mr. Jakes and Thomas’ office, prompted me to take action. Swallowing my apprehension, I gently knocked on the door. “Lima, it's me, Elah. Can I come in? I just want to make sure you are okay,” I said calmly. For a brief moment, there was silence on the other side. With a loud shriek, Lima spoke, her voice cracking with the weight of her feelings.“Leave me alone, Elah. I do not need your pity or help.” I ignored her words and stepped forward, leaning against the bathroom door. The seconds ticked by as Lima wept in solitariness. I could not shake
Prisca, always the open one, raised their collaborative sentiment, “A cleanser? Why not a better job, Elah? Did you not finish your education?” I sighed, realizing that explaining the complications of my life was no simple task.“It's a long story, girls. But trust me, there is a reason for everything. You will understand soon.” Despite their original reservations, the twins mustered a semblance of enthusiasm for my job. Gabriel, always the probative family son, decided to lighten the mood by promising me a makeover. His plan was to disguise my identity, icing that no one recognized me while I navigated my plan. The night passed, a mixture of happiness and expectation. Gabriel worked his magic, transforming my appearance to ensure that I blended seamlessly into a different person entirely.The morning sun brought with it a new morning, and I felt a swell of determination as I prepared for my first day on the job. Arriving at the office beforehand, I met James, who wasted
“I will.” As James walked down, I felt a mixture of relief and anxiety. The first step into Ethan's company had proven more grueling than I expected, but I was determined to navigate the complications ahead. The hassle with Stella served as a stark memorial that the path to justice was full with challenges, and Elah, fueled by determination.I decided to take a walk around the company, feeding my eyes and taking memories of each part of the company. As soon as I got tired I decided to go to the hospital where David was. I knew it was not going to be possible to see him but I just wanted to see how he was faring. So I left the company and boarded a taxi.Firstly I sat in a coffee shop not far from the hospital thinking of how I was going to break the news of father's death to David.I didn't know I had stayed at the coffee shop for hours thinking.I shook myself off and left for the hospital.The evening sky cast a soft gleam as I arrived, my heart heavy with the weight of the