1. A ghost from the past

“You’re sleeping?!”

 A booming voice arrived, snapping me from my slumber at once. 

I did not realize when I had managed to fall asleep on the couch, amidst all the chaos of the room. Piles of files and books lay scattered on the floor, most of which belonged to my husband Calvin. 

 As I looked to my right, I found Fiona, my mother in law, glaring at me from the doorstep. I instinctively got up on my feet, straightening my hair in the process. It’s been three years since I married Calvin, but I still couldn’t earn my mother-in-law's affections. 

“Who is going to clean all this mess if you’re going to sleep?” She demanded.  “Quick, get it all done before Calvin arrives. You know he hates it if things are out of order.” 

Nodding, I knelt down on my feet and began gathering the numerous books that lay on the floor. It felt funny that only a week ago did I get this room thoroughly cleaned by my house keeping staff, and my mother in law still managed to find this room untidy. She was forcing me to clean the room once again, saying that the house help is not as efficient as I am. As I couldn’t dare to oppose her, I meekly complied. The two women always found pleasure in knowing that I was miserable. It was as though they wanted to remind me everyday that that was all I was fit for; doing household chores and remaining confined to the deserted room of this lifeless mansion I call home. 

“After you’re done here, make sure you pick up Calvin’s clothes from the dry cleaning for tonight’s gala.”

I internally groaned, “The driver is sitting idle outside. I think he can drive-“ 

“You think I don’t know that?” She retorted. “That driver of yours is incompetent as it is. I don't trust him! Remember what he did last time? He booked an appointment with a gynecologist instead of a general physician when Jen complained of pain in her stomach.”

“Well,” I said, suppressing my smile, “Jen mentioned that she could be pregnant, so it’s only fair that he assumed she’d like to-“ 

“Shut up!” She hissed, “I told you to never mention it, didn’t I? It happened ages ago.” 

It happened precisely 2 weeks ago but okay.  

“Anyway, you have the entire afternoon free, isn’t it? You can go with him.” Fiona said. 

Seeing as there was no way I could get out of this. I merely nodded. That was the easiest way I could get her to leave me alone: by giving in to her demands. 

Calvin had been absent from home lately, spending most of his time at the office. Being the CEO for Anderson Constructions was not an easy job. Lately, his job had been more demanding. Despite his hectic schedule, I didn’t mind doing little things for him, like picking up his dry cleaning. It was the least I could do.

I was Cassandra Harper Anderson, an adopted daughter of Arnold Harper, who owned one of the biggest steel manufacturing industries in the country. Mr. Harper adopted me out of kindness because he saw how I was bullied in the orphanage.

I was okay with giving up my career for Calvin so I could be a great wife, and eventually a great mother to our children. Everyone thought I was silly for doing that. Even my father, being the CEO of Harper Industries, has offered me a great job in his company, but I declined. I believed that I was doing the right thing. I loved my husband immensely, and I was ready to do anything for him. 

Stretching my arms, I tried to relieve some tension in my body, but I realized that I was sore all over. Having endured a long night cleaning his office room last night, my body was begging me for more sleep. I barely caught three hours of rest before I had to wake up this morning and get to cleaning the rest of the room.

Sundays were the only time I could relax, but thanks to Fiona and Jen, my sister in law, my life has become a living hell. They were already overstaying their visit, so I couldn’t help but pray that they leave soon.  

After having scrubbed all the floors clean of dirt and placing all the things back the way my husband liked them, I finally exited the room. As I looked at the clock hung on the wall right outside the door, I realized that it was almost lunch time. I was at it for five hours! God, I was starving. 

I decided to avoid my mother-in-law in the living room, so I took a different route to the kitchen. When I got there, I found no leftover breakfast—just a bowl of cereal for me. Fiona had made sure the cook only prepared meals to her liking.

Most of the days, I would be left with no food, and I had nothing but a bowl of cereal and milk to eat. Today was no different. Finding little use in fighting, I fetched myself a clean bowl and began preparing my meal. When I settled down to eat, I began hearing parts of Fiona’s conversation with Jen in the living room. 

“I heard that Becky’s condition has drastically improved in the past few weeks.” Jen casually mentioned. “The new drug they tried seems very promising. The doctors claim that it might even bring her out of coma.” 

The spoon fell out of my hands and clinked against the marble of the counter top. My heart was sinking.

Becky was going to wake up?