The clock on the wall continued its relentless march in the silence of the empty house. I stood there, clutching the glass of water in my hand, feeling the coldness seep into my palm, but it did little to numb the pain that radiates through my entire being. The events of the evening weighed heavily on my heart, threatening to crush my spirit.Herod, the name reverberated in my mind, a bitter reminder of the betrayal that had torn our family apart. He had been like a brother to me once, a confidant, but now he was a treacherous shadow in my life. His actions had not only stolen my wife but had shattered the very foundation of trust on which we had built our relationship."How could he? How could he twist my life like that? We are cousins! We are f-family."I longed for solace, a respite from the stormclouds that seemed to perpetually hover over my head. With a heavy sigh, I made my way up the stairs, the weight of the world seemingly carried on my slumped shoulders. The faint sound of
The sun beat down on the pristine tennis court as Athro and I engaged in a challenging match. It had been a few days since I had received the shocking news about my wife's supposed death, and amidst the whirlwind of emotions, the only escape I could find was on the court. Little did I know that another twist of fate awaited me on this scorching afternoon.As we volleyed back and forth, the familiar chiming of my phone interrupted the rhythm of the game. Athro shot me a curious glance as I reached for my pocket and retrieved the device. My heart raced as I saw Keigan's name flashing on the screen. Without wasting a second, I answered the call, but my voice betrayed the anxiety that crept within me."Keigan? What is it?" I asked, my throat tight with anticipation.His voice on the other end sounded urgent. "Theron, you need to hear this. I've uncovered something, something that turns everything upside down."I froze, the racket slipping from my fingers as his words hit me like an electr
I couldn't believe my ears. The words that had just come out of Herod's mouth echoed in my mind, shattering the fragile semblance of normalcy I had built for myself. I stared at the screen of the TV, dumbfounded. How could this be true? How could everything I believed about myself be nothing more than a lie?Mother Tanna, sensing my distress, came to my side, her gentle touch offering solace amidst the chaos in my mind. Her comforting presence grounded me, and I turned to look at her, seeking answers, seeking reassurance.Her eyes, usually filled with warmth and compassion, now held a deep sadness. She knew the truth, the truth that Herod had just unveiled to the world. I longed to hear her voice, to have her explain everything, but I couldn't. My voice had been taken away from me, just like my identity.I had always known I was different from the other Duffins. I was never quite as good at baking, never quite as adept at following their traditions and recipes. But I had never questio
I could feel my fury building up inside of me, like an uncontrollable inferno threatening to consume everything in its path. I had reached my limit, my breaking point, and there was no turning back now. Herodotus had to answer for his treachery. He had played with my life, shattered my world, and it was time to confront him face to face.Exiting my car, I stepped onto the grounds of Herodotus' sprawling estate - a stark contrast to the chaos that raged within me. The wind picked up, whipping my hair around my face, mirroring the storm that brewed within my soul. This confrontation was long overdue; it was time to settle the debts that were owed.Herodotus emerged from the grand entrance, arrogance dripping from every pore. With each step he took, my blood boiled hotter. I could see the smirk on his face, as if he relished the pain he had caused me. It was in that moment, as we locked eyes, that time regressed. Memories flooded back, intertwining with the burning anger that coursed thr
••Athara••I stood in the kitchen, surrounded by the hustle and bustle of the household staff as they prepared meals for the day. It was a routine I had grown accustomed to - lending a helping hand to the maids in the kitchen whenever I had the chance. Today, however, fate had a different plan in store for me.As I moved about the kitchen, conversing with the maids and chopping vegetables, a sudden explosion reverberated through the room. The stove had malfunctioned, causing a violent eruption of flames and debris. Chaos ensued as the fire rapidly spread, licking at the walls and consuming everything in its path.In that moment, amongst the panic and fear, something stirred within me. It was as though the flames had ignited a fire within my own consciousness, rekindling a sea of memories that had long been forgotten. I felt the weight of a different life, a life where I was not Eliana, but Athara.My mind raced back to a hospital, a place of sickness and despair. I remembered the angu
The clock struck midnight, casting a haunting stillness over the room. I found myself unable to rest, my thoughts consumed by the tumultuous events that had brought me to this point. The pale moonlight filtered through the curtains, casting ethereal shadows upon the walls. I turned my gaze towards the bed, where Herodotus lay still, his eyes fixed upon the ceiling as he slumbered.A sense of unease shrouded me, driving me to seek solace in the comfort of my phone. I reached under my pillow and retrieved it, feeling the cool touch of the device in my hands. With trembling fingers, I unlocked my phone, revealing a flood of notifications. Ignoring them all, I navigated to the messenger app, my heart pounding with anticipation.Theron's name appeared on the search bar, and a mixture of excitement and fear coursed through my veins. Memories of our clandestine meetings, stolen glances, and secret whispers flashed before my eyes. My mind brought me again to who he really was to me. He was my
I woke abruptly from a deep slumber as the sound of gunshots pierced through the peaceful night air. Disoriented and filled with equal parts fear and adrenaline, I quickly nudged my husband Theron awake. The urgency in my voice was palpable as I whispered, "Theron, do you hear that? Gunshots!"Theron jolted awake, his senses immediately attuned to the danger lurking outside our walls. Without wasting a moment, we both sprang out of bed and hurriedly made our way towards the bedroom door. In the corner of the room, Mother Tanna was already awake, her eyes wide with alarm as she gingerly cradled our young children in her arms.As we exchanged hurried whispers, Theron and I knew that it was paramount to protect Mother Tanna and the kids at all costs. We understood the risks involved, and in a moment of desperation, we implored her to stay behind and keep the children safe within the confines of our home. Though her heart carried worry, she bravely nodded in agreement.Barefoot and clad i
We were just inside the house all day. I suddenly felt like taking a shower so I stared at Theron. "Do you want to do something, love?" he asked me. Even though I've lived here for a while, I suddenly felt that things somehow changed. It was also a long three years that I was away from him and our children because his cousin took advantage of me when I'm having amnesia. "Theron, I want to take a shower."Theron stood up and came to me. His lips kissed my forehead that's why I smiled, looking down. "Love, you don't need to tell me that you want to take a shower when you're feeling like taking a bath. You're not a guest here. You are my wife and this is our house," he said as he distanced himself from me. I sat on the bed and stared at the wall. The times Theron and I were together in this room played through my mind. At first we didn't get along because we didn't love each other. But the time came when we found ourselves in love with each other and we started to change everything