Writer's POV"Sorry, did you just say that she recorded everything? All her conversations with Mary?" The judge asked and father nodded. The judge raised his brows in surprise. He sat back and focused his gaze on the other defendant. Everyone in the courtroom already knew where this was going."Bring your evidence forward." Eleanor gave them the flash drive and they played it to the whole room. It was loud and vivid, the parents recognized it as their daughter's voice. Hearing her voice again gave Eleanor goosebumps. She wasn't able to do anything, anything at all. He felt terrified, if there were nothing left for her, she'd just accept that she killed Mary and make that the end of her story. After the recording was played, the judge asked Eleanor to step forward. She did. She went to the podium, placed a hand on a book of law and the other in the air beside her ear. "I vow to say the truth and nothing but the truth.""So why did you record Mary's voice if you had no idea what she wa
Writer's POV Harrison sat in front of the television, gulping down the fourth bottle of liquor. He always made mistakes but this crowned it all. How pathetic he was, so heartless and stupid. He should have believed Eleanor from the very first time she said it. He blinked hard and resisted the urge to throw a bottle at the TV. "Fuck!" He screamed, lashing out his anger on anything his hands touched as he rose from the chair he was seated in. Full of pain and regrets. He went to Eleanor's room, the scent of her body still lurked around. Her bed was neatly laid, and the room was tidy. As Eleanor went out and she'd soon be back, Harrison laid on her bed, expecting what he knew too well was not coming back home. Loneliness kicked in, he needed her badly. You never know what you have until you lose it, that quote was proving itself to him at the moment. He opened a book he found on her table, took him moments to realize she was putting all her thoughts in the book, more like a mini dia
Writer's POVEverything had changed, and yet on the surface, nothing was different. Gabriel Carol, Eleanor's Father, was effusive in his work as a father. He has managed to keep the sanity in the house, keeping Eleanor at arm's length. Jess frequented Eleanor's room and Van kept her updated on the latest things she needed to know about school. Of course, she still wanted to go to school. She had nothing to do now that she was on her own.Not a single call or message had come from Harrison since the day she left the court, why was she expecting? To gather her life back, she would focus on being an artist and put every other thing aside, including love. Her heart still shivers from the thought of Harrison holding her hand once again. Why? Because she loved him. He was essential to her being like air and water. He gave her a purpose beyond mere existence.And now, as she read her books and sucked on a strawberry candy, she realized less harm had been done. "Are you inside?" Her father's
Writer's POV Serena got married to Harrison in haste. She'd told him to take his time but he insisted on having it right away. The wedding wasn't what Serena thought for herself. The guests were so few, the wedding wasn't announced. It took place in a Catholic Church, very close to their house. Serena felt so bad about getting married in a Catholic church, all the bad things she did to Eleanor wouldn't let her mind rest. Harrison wasn't happy on the day of their wedding, barely smiling at the guest. She wanted Harrison and he was hers now but why does she feel like she has taken something that isn't hers? Something that wasn't meant for her? They had no honeymoon and Harry became worse. He would slice a maid's face with a knife if she put too much sugar in his tea or coffee, he didn't hesitate to shoot a guard who got under his nerves. As for her, she stayed in a separate room downstairs. He put a lock on Eleanor's room and would hit anyone he saw around the room. He was possessed
Writer's POV"... and that's all they did in the class. It was just too much for me to understand. How do you even understand the things you are taught in class? Eleanor, you are a genius." Jess paced about in the sitting room while Van was busy with his video games. "It's not that hard Jessica, you are just too stubborn to understand. Try to be open-minded, maybe it would allow you to assimilate the things you are being taught. You should confide in me too, it's not hard to do. I understand math and some other subjects," Eleanor answered her sister and flipped a page of the book she was reading.She was studying color blending and how to use oil paint. it was the next idea she just made up. "You should try something better, like art. In art, you express your heart and feelings. It's not compulsory though, I'm just a lover of heart." Jess hissed and went to her room like Eleanor wasn't making much sense to her. Eleanor paid no attention to Jess's storming foot. Eleanor's phone rang
writer's pov"I would be able to see Hendrix easily and also get to play with Magny for two weeks," Eleanor said to herself on her bed. She rolled on her bed again facing her door. It was just two weeks, sure she could survive but waking up every day with the thought that Harrison was living in the same house was driving her mad. Her phone rang, Emil was taking his job as her best friend so seriously. She chuckled and picked up. "I'm sure you laughed before picking up," Emil said while laughing. "I think you have a camera stationed in my room now. It feels so good, speaking to you on a call like this. Ummm…""You are thinking about Harrison ain't you? If it bothers you too much, why don't you just go, risk it and come back in two weeks? It's just two weeks, okay." Emil had no idea how much two weeks were for Eleanor. For Eleanor, it was simply two weeks of torture. She couldn't imagine how it would feel, living with Harrison for two solid weeks and not being who she used to be worrie
Writer's POVEleanor's mother stood up quietly, looking at Eleanor for some answers. "Is it who I think I'm seeing?" Father wasted no time. He hugged her mother so dearly. "Roosevelt," he said in-between tears. "You are real. It is really you. This is your flesh, your breath, your voice, your eyes, your smell. I know them all, I can never be mistaken. Oh, how I have missed you. I never thought I'd ever see you again."Mother just stood in his arms, allowing tears to flow like a waterfall. Mother of all people must have missed father the most. Eleanor never knew a love that was greater than theirs. She thought she had prepared herself for the whole love drama but she caught herself shedding little tears while she watched them reunite.After what seemed to be a very long time, they both detached and touched each other's bodies, especially Dad. He touched mother's hair, her cheeks, and her chin. "It's been twenty years," her mother stated."It's been twenty years, ten months, and twenty
Writer's POVEleanor stared at Hendrix and his innocent face, throwing all those words at her like they were just casual words "I don't want to do any of all the things you have been mentioning, I just want to eat, then go back to my house. I have questions for you though." The waiter brought the food which looked a little bit funny. It used something that looked like broccoli to form a heart shape on the plate and filled the space within it with chips and sauce."What is so special about this dish that they have to give it such a complicated name?" Eleanor protested. "You are more used to the American dishes around here by being so illiterate when it comes to French food but you know how to French kiss. Did you even pass French In school?"Damn Hendrix, she could, at any point from now, throw her bag on his nose and that big mouth of his. "Whatever. This is a decent place to take your time."Hendrix laughed. "You look so frustrated. Look at those blazing eyes. Beautiful yet psycho. D
The sound of "Here comes the bride" echoed through the church of St Paul. A lot of people were seated in the church, waiting for the bride to come around. Eleanor was in the changing room, fighting her corset with Lina."Damn, this is tight. I could have chosen a much better dress. All in the name of fashion. What if I fail to breathe and I faint in front of my husband? Ish.""If you fail to breathe, I will pour you water. Just in case.""Emill," Lina warned."What? Have you forgotten what she did to me on our wedding day? She hid my tie and made me use a bow tie.""And it was perfect but you don't trust your best friend. That is what is wrong with you. Anyway, if you pour me water, you would owe me 5 million dollars. I would collect it from you. I know you know that.""Eleanor, you still want to bully me on your wedding day? Jeez. People change, why didn't you?" Someone knocked on the door and Emil went to pick it up. "You're not supposed to see your bride before the wedding. They s
Writer's POVHarrison went back to his hotel and tried to think about what he could do for Eleanor. It was a hard task. He knew Eleanor wouldn't just agree to see him just like that. There was nothing he could think of buying that would be catchy to her.He went to bed, hoping the next day would be very good.*** Eleanor walked back and forth to the room. "Again, who invited Harrison? This isn't a joke. Why would one of you invite Harrison without my permission? Why?"Her mother sat on a chair, knitting stockings. "As much as I hate the boy, he still looks handsome. Did you ask him the type of cream he was using?""Mother, this is not funny. Do you know how I felt when I saw him? I was going to lose my mind. Why would you do such things behind my back?"No one was answering her. She sat in the chair, frustratingly shaking her leg. "Well, I think he's a changed person. I heard he built a house for orphans on the streets. It is also said that he is a good man and he let out all his slav
Writer's POVHe held the child's hands and looked around as she led him to a hallway. "Magny? Where are you? Come out now. We have a visitor, he says he bears annoying Harry's name."Harrison laughed. The child was something. He found the plastic horse on the ground. He bent down and showed her the toy. Tada" "Yay! You found Magny." She hugged him. That was when Harrison perceived it. "Thank you, Uncle Harrison. I'll see you later, okay?" She said and ran off. He stood still. He could never mistake it. She smelled exactly like Eleanor. Exactly like Eleanor, he was sure of it. Come to think of it, her hair was also gray and her eyes belonged to Eleanor. If he wasn't hallucinating, then he was running mad. He closed his eyes and turned around. "I need to get them now. Mia, nice, go find Harry. Look for him, I didn't say you should hide and seek…" he heard the voice and the clacking sounds of shoes coming his way. He quickly hid in a corner.The fact that he was there wasn't the probl
Writer's POV*Five years later*"Brother, look at this model. She also sent you a message and you still haven't replied. Why? Do you want to live like this forever? This isn't some Disney movie. I am married and you are not. People are talking," Nikki protested to her brother who was packing his bags. He wasn't paying attention to Nikki and he wasn't interested in doing so. "Brothers I am talking to you, do not ignore me.""Nikki. People are different. Some people love marriages…some don't. I don't. I need to get to the office. I am trying to lead by example."Nikki pursed her lips. "Is this because of Eleanor? Are you still punishing yourself for that? You know you deserve it but this is enough. It's been five years and you are not getting any younger. You need to find someone to get married to and have kids. Who would take care of your company when you are gone?"Harrison was dressed and tired of Nikki. He would do anything to drive her out of his house but he didn't want to push h
Writer's POVHarrison walked around the house, screaming and throwing things apart. How would he explain it to her? She wouldn't even want to hear him out. He was done. He had to accept the fact that he would never have her again. There was no magic for him to perform.*Two hours earlier*Harrison was mild and sad, wondering and planning how he was going to meet Eleanor and get the shit out of her. Someone knocked on his door. The guards opened. For a moment he thought it was going to be Eleanor but instead, it was her friend, Candy.He knew Candy was Eleanor's friend so he thought it would be easy if he sent Candy to Eleanor so that Eleanor would at least mind meeting him."Good morning Mr. Tolstoy. How are you?" Of course, he wasn't fine. All he wanted at the moment was to see Eleanor. "I am fine," he lied. "Eleanor isn't here at the moment and Jay already took his leave. I thought he told you all that?""Oh, dear. I wasn't sure about what he was telling me on the phone and why Elea
Writer's POVEleanor Carol dressed up in black. Luxury Black. She did her makeup and made sure everything was pitch black. She took her bag and headed out of the house. Her destination was a place she didn't want to visit but Emil just reminded her how brutally she was of that place. She entered Tolstoy's apartment. The guards didn't stop her. Every clicking sound of her shoes emitted danger. She wasn't smiling. She went in and went straight to the stables. She didn't care if Harrison was home or not. The moment she saw Magny, the horse neighed happily. I hadn't seen her for a long time. She smiled. At least something was still capable of making her smile. She related the horse. She was taking him home. She found the men that used to be there. They already knew her face so they let her be. Perhaps they had no idea Hendrix was in prison. She caressed the horse and calmed it down. It must have been so lonely staying there alone. There was no Hendrix to take care of him so she was goi
Writer's POV"Mother, you know you don't necessarily need to give Eleanor the princess treatment. You have no idea what she has done to me whenever I was with her in my house. Mother, I have PTSD. She is a scary person. Too scary," Emil grumbled and reported.He was done with his part of the chore and he wanted to sleep like Eleanor. He was just trying to be closer to Eleanor's mother. He understood why Eleanor had to take a break."You are trouble, Emil. If I were Eleanor, I would throw you something hard in the face. you would wonder why I did that to you. Do you want to sleep too or do you just want to disturb me?"Mother was done with her cleaning too, it looked like the whole house was back to being brand new. He followed Mother back to the sitting room. He just wanted to have some time with her. Emil didn't lie about the way she had been approaching and referring to him. When they were kids, she used to be a mother to both of them. She was strict and equally sweet. She would ca
Writer's POVSerena finally had peace of mind. She was back with her family and she had nothing to worry about. Liam was already in prison, nothing could threaten her any more. She felt a little pity for Eleanor. She didn't deserve what she got but Serena was still glad for their lives.This was the calm after the storm. She finished cleaning Jess's room and Eleanor's room. She had a lot to do there but with the music she was listening to, it was all a piece of cake.They all already had breakfast so she went to take her bath. Jess's room was nice and cozy. It was her room now. She had to decorate it the way she wanted and please. First, she needs to get Liam's card. She can't just sit and not gain anything from him just like that.After taking her bath, she called Anderson. She told him she would need his company to go and search Liam's house. Now that they know he has children although both kids were also in prison, they would be out soon and they would want to go and claim their fa
Writer's POVEleanor finally heard what she wanted to hear but why wasn't she happy? Why wasn't she rejoicing? A larger part of her was broken down, thrown into pieces. She regretted taking the case to court. She should have stayed and arrested Mary. She should have just found an alternative rather than being in so much pain to herself.With the things she just went through, she knew it would take her a very long time to love and be loved. She trusted Harrison. She believed almost everything he said, just to figure out he was the reason why she was going through everything she was going through and he was okay with it. He didn't say a word about knowing who she was but he did all along. She watched as Mary was taken away alongside her children. There was no difference in her facial expression. As for Hendrix, he walked majestically past. She trusted him too much too.She thought she had seen a friend but it backfired on her. Eventually, she was left with Emil, the only one who stayed