Whispers from the past

Chapter 5

Alex got home to find Violet already asleep. He quietly took his dinner and went to bed. The next day, Violet pretended as if everything was normal. She acted cool and casual, and the two of them were getting along well. Time went on, and a month passed. During that month, Alex and Violet grew closer. He took her out on dates and showed her a side of himself he had long buried. Though he wasn’t fully open, it was clear she was the only person he had allowed to come this close.

“Alex, I hope you won’t be gone longer than a week,” Violet said, making a cute face that made Alex laugh.

“Yes, Violet, I won’t. I’ll close the deal before the week runs out, and soon I’ll be home.”

“Promise me,” she replied, holding out her pinky finger. Recently, Violet had noticed she couldn’t help but feel more emotional around him.

Observing her emotional changes, Alex chuckled. “I guess we’ve grown on each other,” he thought.

As Alex left in his car, she waved him goodbye. Walking into the now-empty house, Violet thought about what to do next.

“Gosh, am I always hungry?” she mused, making her way to the kitchen. As she devoured her meal, she promised to take her baby shopping the next day.

***

“Lucas, what’s going on? Why are you so moody?” Josephine asked as she climbed into bed, ready to sleep.

Lucas, standing near the window, replied, “I got word from a trusted source at the company. Father is planning on retiring.”

“What?” Josephine gasped, horrified. “But he hasn’t discussed it with us! I mean, we both know he won’t consider you for the position, but he can’t just leave without nothing to our Liam.”

“That’s what I’m worried about. I think the old man is planning to give everything to that waste of sperm, Violet,” Lucas said angrily.

“Really? I think I know how to get detailed information,” Josephine muttered to herself.

The next day, Josephine hurriedly left the house alone, driving towards grandfather’s mansion. She parked discreetly at the corner of the property, waiting. After what felt like an eternity, a dark BMW finally pulled out of the gate. Recognizing the passenger, she tailed the car.

The car stopped in front of a law office. A tall, slightly aged man in his sixties stepped out, holding a stack of papers, and headed inside. When he returned, just as he was about to get into his car, he felt someone grab his arm.

“Josephine?” he said, visibly shocked.

“Hi, Alfred. Long time no see,” she replied with a mischievous smile.

Alfred, grandfather's butler and right-hand man, handled everything related to her grandfather’s affairs.

“What do you want, Josephine? What made you follow me?” he asked, clearly wary.

“Oh, nothing, Alfred,” she teased. “I just wanted to find out a few things.”

“I’ll tell you nothing,” he snapped. “I would never betray my master’s trust.”

Josephine scoffed. “Is that what you tell yourself to help you sleep at night? We both know you already betrayed Grandfather… about twenty years ago, didn’t you?”

“Shut up! I thought we agreed never to speak of that,” Alfred said, visibly annoyed.

“Yes, for both our benefits,” Josephine replied smugly.

“What do you want?” Alfred asked, sighing, clearly just wanting to get this over with.

“Information,” Josephine replied, determined.

“About what?”

“Is Grandfather planning on retiring?” she asked, studying his face for any hint of a reaction.

Alfred, desperate to end the conversation, replied, “Yes.”

“Okay, who’s next in line? Who’s going to take over? Liam or… that woman?” Josephine pressed, her frustration evident.

“I don’t know. Grandfather gave Violet a condition she must meet. It all depends on whether she can complete the task,” he admitted reluctantly.

“What condition?” she demanded.

“That, I’m not telling you,” he replied firmly.

“Why are you acting so difficult, Alfred? For old times' sake—”

“There were no ‘old times,’ Josephine. Stop threatening me, because I’m done. If this all comes to light, you’ll lose far more than I will.”

Josephine, briefly chastened, took a deep breath and softened her tone. “You’re right. But everything I do, I do for him. We both want what’s best for—”

Alfred interrupted, “He told her to get married and be pregnant before the year runs out.”

Not wanting to continue this conversation, Alfred walked to his car and drove off, leaving Josephine rooted to the spot.

“What?” Josephine whispered in shock, eventually recovering. “What a condition!” she murmured as she headed to her car. “If that’s the condition, then that woman has already completed part of it…”

Just as she was about to enter her car, she noticed a glass mall across the road and saw none other than Violet, shopping. She rubbed her eyes to be sure, then looked again. Violet was standing in the clothing section, holding a child’s hoodie in one hand and caressing her stomach with the other.

“No… it can’t be. Is she pregnant?” Josephine asked herself, nearly yelling. Deciding to find out, she followed Violet.

Minutes later, Violet exited the mall with shopping bags and got into her car, heading toward her mother’s house. Josephine followed close behind.

As Violet walked through the door, she called out, “Mom! I’m home!” When there was no reply, she remembered her mother mentioning she was taking Wave for a check-up.

“Oh, I forgot,” Violet said, heading further into the house, unaware she’d left the door unlocked. As she was about to climb the stairs, Josephine appeared.

“Well, well, well,” Josephine said, clapping her hands mockingly. Violet froze, shocked to see her.

“What do you want, Josephine? Why are you in my house?” she demanded.

“I just wanted to see the conniving thief.”

“Leave my house, Josephine,” Violet said, trying to keep her emotions in check.

“So you were that desperate to steal from us that you faked your marriage?” Josephine sneered.

“Look, Josephine, I don’t know what you’re talking about. When you’re done embarrassing yourself, as you always do, you can leave,” Violet replied, turning and walking up the stairs toward her room.

“Why is she here? And what does she mean by ‘fake marriage?’” Violet thought, climbing the stairs. She heard a voice in her head urging her to run as fast as she could , get into her room and close the door, but she ignored it, unwilling to give Josephine the satisfaction of rattling her.

As Violet reached halfway up the stairs, Josephine, furious at Violet’s indifference, suddenly charged towards her.

"Bitch," Josephine yelled as she grapped Violet's hair.

“Let go of me, you witch!” Violet yelled, struggling to free herself. In the scuffle, Josephine pushed her. Violet tumbled down the staircase, hitting her stomach as she landed on the floor. Josephine froze, shock registering as she saw Violet lying in a pool of blood, writhing in pain. Panicked and unsure what to do, she ran out the house, never looking back.