Victoria and Tyler also stood, and they watched them exit the house in silence. Only when Victoria gave her son a piercing glare did he move to follow after them, laughing lowly.
-
“Are you done?” Becca asked, peeking through the gap of the barely opened window. She stayed on the car after they got here, saying that it’s not necessary for her to come inside too.
Althea pulled open the door of the backseat and made Kai enter then closed the door again, sighing loudly. “It’s done. Have you booked a hotel room already?”
Becca nodded her head, “Yes, the hotel’s 20 minutes away from here.”
Althea nodded back and sat on the wheels. “Is that so? Then let’s go.”
While Althea was wearing her seatbelts, Becca leaned on her seat and stared outside, thinking. Althea was about to start the
CHAPTER EIGHTY-ONE:A Nobody--Becca decided to stay with them until she finds an apartment and a new work. The haunt is awfully slow, so bitten with the guilt of something she didn’t do, Althea was still paying for her when she babysits Kai whenever she has to go out to do something. Before Becca was able to find a new job, Jack expressed his sadness to Althea about what happened to the shop. He blamed himself for not guarding the shop that day. If he did, he might even stop the fire before spreading or stopped that man before he can even light a speck of fire.Althea just shook her head and laughed it off, saying it was nobody’s fault. Although it was pretty ironic for her to say that since she herself was feeling guilty. Later that day, he also passed his resignation letter to Althea. She was worried at first, thinking that he might not see a job immediately, but Jack assured her that he already found one, he ev
CHAPTER EIGHTY-TWO:They, Them--Two days after, Becca moved out with Jack. Both expressed their gratitude to her and vice versa. Althea wished them good luck before watching them leave from afar. The sight of them driving away was rather lonely, it was like she was sending her children away for boarding school. The time they spent might be small and short, it didn’t hinder the fact that they all grown closer.When they were already nowhere in sight, Althea turned back and went inside the hotel, trying to smile despite the emotions swirling inside her. It was really funny, to think she’ll be like this to the people she didn’t spend her whole time with. If her old self sees her like this, she’ll mock her. She was known to be aloof and cold after all.“Mom.” Kai called out after she entered their room. Althea looked up and saw the kid making a small hop to jump
CHAPTER EIGHTY-THREE:A man with a silver eye--That day, Althea was busy watching out for Kai to be bothered by the continuous ringing and buzzing of her phone. There was nothing more important than her child’s safety. Althea watched from afar as her son rode a horse in the merry-go-round ride. Kai searched for her face and when their eyes met, the young boy beamed at her. His eyes were going into slits in happiness and with one hand, he waved at her.Althea’s heart thump in nervousness, thinking that her son might fall from the horse, but seeing that his figure did not wobble at all, she sighed in relief and waved back at him. Then she mouthed at him, “Be careful!”Her son obediently nodded his head and once again held the pole of the horse with two hands. Althea let out a small chuckle before letting her eyes stray at the place where they’re at.The amu
CHAPTER EIGHTY-FOUR:Escaping--“Are you planning to die?” Ask the man. It startled Althea awake. She removed her focus from his eyes and focused on what he was saying. “If so, then don’t bring your son with you. He is too young to die.”He was mocking her. Althea knew, based on the tone of his voice. It might be hard to be heard against the noise of the chaos, but Althea caught it. He was clicking his tongue, and the disappointment on his face was clear as day. Like he was watching a horse racing and his horse was lagging.Althea gritted her teeth and glared at him in anger and irritation. Her face heated and immediately red in embarrassment. She was angry at herself and the man, even though what he said was out of concern. She’s irritated at herself for being slow and as just what he said, as if she was asking to be killed.She saw her son looking
CHAPTER EIGHTY-FIVE:Storming Out--Althea looked on the corner of her eyes and saw Tyler driving seriously. His face was devoid with emotion, but you can see his jaw tightening. Althea looked down and saw that the hands that were stirring the wheel have their veins bulging. He was gripping her wheels too tight. Althea was surprised when she saw this, it was like the first lesson on her college days that aims to refresh the knowledge she has on it when she was in elementary. She knew what he was feeling even without it showing clearly on his face.It was like her seeing the him when they were younger. When he used to give her a silent treatment whenever he was angry. But even him being angry, he still won’t forget to open doors for her.Althea removed her gaze on him and looked outside the window. It was a sunny day, there were only a few ca
CHAPTER EIGHTY-SIX:Like old times--Tyler hopped off the car and chased after Althea. Fortunately, she hasn’t gone that far since the guards her assigned for her stopped her from going further away. Although it was not a fun sight since she kept on cursing them out. Tyler can still remember that she’s like this whenever she’s furious. The side that only he knows.It’s really bad since her smart and collected image will be destroyed immediately if they saw her like this. She’s just continually spitting profanities. Tyler was glad that he did not bring the boy with him.“Let me go!” Her voice became clearer as he approached them. “Let me go or I’ll punch you!”“We can’t do that ma’am.” Said the straight-faced man. “You must stay here.”“No!” Althea explo
CHAPTER EIGHTY-SEVEN:Another guest--Morning the next day, Althea woke up earlier than anyone in the house can. She went downstairs and tried to find the kitchen in the massive vacation house of Tyler. When she finally found it, she already wasted 10 minutes of her life.Althea can do nothing but sigh deeply because of it. They had no chance to explore the house yesterday, after Tyler told where hers and Kai’s room is, which is the room right next to his by the way, she and her son went there and locked themselves in. It was also the time for his sleep, so she slept with him.Both were tired from the chaotic morning they had.When they woke up, it was already 8 in the evening. Tyler was considerate and he just sent a maid to bring their dinner in their room. Both ate and stayed in their room the whole night. Getting enough rest, Althea is full of energy.
CHAPTER EIGHTY-EIGHT: She’s an adult! Not a raging horny teenager! -- Victoria raised a brow after seeing their exchange. She then said with a smile on her lips. “Oh, what’s this? It looks like you both know each other thoroughly to be able to understand each other with just a glance- “No.” Althea shot her statement down mercilessly. She opened the gap of the door wider to let her in. Victoria looked at her son and Tyler shrugged at her. She entered the house with a chuckle. After that, she looked at the interior of the house. After seeing enough, she hummed in delight. “This is not bad, my son.” Althea confirmed it by then, Tyler was not lying. It seems like Victoria really has no idea about this place until now. “I know.” He replied airily. His answered made the two of them scrunched their nose. He then gestured at a maid. “Make us coffee. Bring
---I did what I was ordered to, and when I finally got to the bottom of it…What the fuck?“I knew things would be interesting if I keep him by my side.” Startled, I looked at my sister who suddenly appeared out of nowhere. She was looking at the photo with interest in her eyes. She looked at me. “Erase every record the police had or anything within Victoria’s reach, we can’t have her figuring out everything before I can have my fun of them destroying each other.”“Hmmm,” I glanced at her. “Isn’t she your friend?”“Friend?” She smiled, appearing innocent. “I don’t have anything like that. Father banned that word to us, brother.”“... If that’s what you say.”“Good!” She turned and stretched her body. “Ahh, I can’t wait to see Sheryl get destroyed by the man she loves. Or maybe, it would be mutual destruct
—“Is that your fiance?” I asked as soon as I sneaked at her back, wanting to scare her.“Stop doing that!” She yelled at me. I laughed at her, telling her sorry. She clicked her tongue before nodding. “He is. Handsome, right?”“Hmm?” I pretended to think about it. “Not really.”She scoffed. “Really.”She turned her back on me and continued her work, facing the paper works that were piled on her table. She was 15.I stood behind her, looking at the man on her table.From the day I knew that all along, she was the leader, I decided to stay and look after her. When I told her about my decision, the pause she had was short but eye-catching. Before I could register the pause and understand the meaning behind it, she answered my words with a smile.‘I will be glad to have you under me.’ Her smile was pretty chilling, more bone-numbing than our father’s s
—I am older than her by 5 years, and I remember her looking at me from behind. Normally, one should feel happy to know that someone was looking at their back, admiring them, but that’s not the case with me.Every time I look back, turn to look at her over my shoulder, every time I caught her eyes, I can’t help but shudder:She feels the same as our father.We were only half-siblings. We have the same father, but that’s not the case with mothers.My mother died when I was four, then our father brought another woman into the house after that. That woman was Charlotte’s mother. She was warm and kind. I remember her talking to me a few times.‘Charles, even though you don’t have my blood, please think of me as your mother too.’ She said one time when I tried avoiding her in fear that she wanted me dead. That was what most people who wanted to seize my father’s power would do if they were in her position
SPECIAL CHAPTER ONE: A Victim of Jealousy (10)“He is so cute…!”Days had passed since the birth of her son. Althea was peeking at him with a glass wall between them. She still has IVs in her hand, and she hasn’t recovered most of her energy yet, but she seems like she was overflowing with one.She had her palms against the glass, Althea feels like looking from where she was is not enough, she wanted to slip through the wall and hold him. But it was still not safe, so she held the urge in.A bracelet on her son, the letters were a little bit incomprehensible, but she can read them. It was the name of her son:Alexander Kai GrahamAlthea felt giddy, she can’t wait to hold him in her arms soon.“He’s your son?”“Yes,” Althea responded without thought. When she realized what she had
SPECIAL CHAPTER ONE: A Victim of Jealousy (09)—Blood was trickling down.Plop, plop, plop.Bead-shaped blood fell from her private area continuously. It seems like someone pressed the pause button of the world; Althea felt everyone in the supermarket stopped moving.‘No.’ She thought to herself as she watched the blood slowly forming into a puddle beneath her feet. She can feel the hot liquid trailing down her legs. ‘This can’t be!’This day is supposedly like the normal days she had. Strolling around and buying things she thinks she wants. But in the middle of it, she just suddenly felt it come down.She’s only six months pregnant.“Oh my god!” A lady came to her, holding her shoulders in worry. Her eyes were on the blood, aghast. “You are bleeding!”
SPECIAL CHAPTER ONE: A Victim of Jealousy (08)—She didn't think of it anymore and immediately set an appointment for the abortion.The next day, she went to the center and waited in line.Althea was all covered up, afraid that someone might recognize her in this hospital. She was pale, she had to deal with the morning sickness alone, and she had no idea what to do the whole time because, in her previous pregnancy, her mother was there.Now she was alone, dealing with everything she doesn’t want to.Althea wants to sob and to get everything over with. She can’t believe she committed a grievous sin to her friend. If only she didn’t get tempted with the money, things would not escalate like this.‘It’s all his fault,’ she galed at the entrance of the hospital where few people were going in and out. ‘He fooled me!’
SPECIAL CHAPTER ONE: A Victim of Jealousy (07)—“A brothel?” Althea asked as soon as she entered the place. Her eyes wandered around and she felt overwhelmed by the red hue of the place. The lights, the atmosphere, the people. Everything here was new to her. She doesn’t know what to feel.“First time here?” The lady in heels asked. She gestured to someone far away by her hand and the other nodded before leaving their sight. “Don’t be nervous, you will only be entertaining guests… Why you don’t want to? It’s money, you know.”Selling myself. If it was her in the past, she would strongly disagree and storms off from here. But now, she has nothing but emptiness, she abandoned her pride and morals. She doesn’t have any desire to live anyway. This much won’t hurt her.“Anything’s fine,” Althea said, her
SPECIAL CHAPTER ONE: A Victim of Jealousy (06)“What happened to you?” Altheaopened her eyes and saw a fuzzy scene. There were heads in front of her peeking at her from above. Althea could not recognize the features of the faces, but she knew they were medical workers because of their uniforms. It was the uniforms that the nurses and the doctors wear that she sees every time she goes to the hospital for check-ups and visits to her father.“You have been stabilized…” She heard muffled voices as if she was submerged in an ocean, waters entering her ear canals. She tried to move, but her body was too heavy like lead. She gave up and remained still, still unable to do anything, not even talk.“The man who found you and sent you here already paid for the medical bills…”‘What are they talking about?’ Althea had no clue. ‘It seems important.
SPECIAL CHAPTER ONE: A Victim of Jealousy (05)“Do you like it?” The man asked Althea who was silent with her head bowed. “Do you like it?”“...” She had no response.His eyebrows twitched. He dislikes being ignored despite ignoring people.He bends down and held her chin to look at him forcefully. “Hey, little mouse, I am asking you a question. Do you like it?”“...” She still had no response.With eyebrows raised, he stood up and stretched his arms. “Sigh! After all, we did to repaint the wall, that blood only amounted to that much. It wasn’t even able to cover one-fourth of the wall. So regrettable! Now, the little fierce rat is not fierce anymore…”He glanced down, his cold eyes looking at the woman who was sitting on the cold ground motionlessly. “She can’t even appreciate our