Elena's POV “Get away from my family!” My heart raced as I stared down the barrel of the gun Alana held, ready to release the bullets if I dared to make a move. “You took everything away from me,” she accused, biting her lower lip as tears streamed down her cheeks. "Calm down, Alana, we can figure things out." Said Mike who was trying to reduce the tension in the yard. “Violence isn't the only way, Alana, we are here for your father's burial. “Can't we just respect the dead?” Raymond whispered, trying to reach her soft spot. Alana shook her head slowly, a cold smile spreading across her face, totally unfazed by the presence of the cops and the guests capturing the distressing scene on their mobile phones. “Drop your weapon and surrender now, or we will open fire,” the policemen warned sternly. “First, you took Ralph from me, killed my mom, took my inheritance, and now my sanity.” her voice trembled as she spoke, and her eyes mirrored the pain she felt, but does that justify
RAYMOND POV I woke up with sweat all over my body as my heart was racing so fast due to a nightmare I had just encountered. This was just one of the many nights where I had to struggle with the thoughts from that very night. All I see whenever I shut my eyes is blood gushing out of her mouth. 24 months have passed and I have constantly lived as a shadow of myself like one without purpose. The events of that night still haunt me, and the memories still linger. This was the price I had to pay for not hiding her words that night. Perhaps if we stayed home that day and had our movie date as Jasmine suggested she would have been with me right now. The heavens should have taken me in place of her rather than keeping me here to torment me with memories from that night. I tried to shake off the lingering effect of Jasmine’s death as I stumbled out of bed and made my way into the shower. I splashed water on my face hoping that the cold water could ease my racing tho
Elena's POV Two decades have passed since I officially became a member of the wood family. Tears rolled down my cheeks as I sat in front of the mirror, gazing at my own reflection. Despite my unending attempts to wipe them away, they kept flowing like an unstoppable force. I knew perfectly that the tranquilized atmosphere in the house was temporary even at the late hours of the night. I work like an elephant and hardly get 3 square meals a day. I've grown to find out that the man who claimed to be my dad hardly stays at home. He's always going on business trips. My mood was aligned with the heavy cloud and Stormy night. My tears rolled down to the scar on my chin. “Beautiful,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. At 17, this particular scar was given to me when I was accused of snatching Alana's boyfriend at the prom. The memories flickered in my mind. I could feel the pain. “It's all for the best,” I said reassuringly, giving myself false hopes and expecting things to ge
Raymond's POV I burst into the room, anger evident in my facial expression. My father, seated on the couch with a cup of whiskey, looked at me, his face pale and free from all emotions. “ You can't do this to me, Dad. You just can't!” I yelled in anger. “ I know you think I am irresponsible, but forcing me into marriage and choosing a bride for me without my consent? That's unfair!” My father's eyes narrowed and he put his drink on the table. “ The last time I checked, I never sought the opinion of an irresponsible child. Never in my life have I reduced myself to debating with irresponsible people. Just do whatever I instruct. Don't ever question or challenge me.” he replied, rolling his eyes. “ You're doing this for your selfish interest! What did you promise the godforsaken bride? A house? At times I wonder if I'm truly your son.” My rage was boiling and threatening to spill. I had to keep it in check. “ Let me burst the bubbles, Raymond. Y
Your wedding day, they say, is an important event in every young woman's life. But why don't I feel happy? Rather, I feel relieved that I have managed to salvage the reputation of my family name from the claws of the media. As I sat here, surrounded by my guests, I couldn't help but fix my gaze on Alana, my sister, the trophy daughter of Williams Woods. Her makeup is beautifully done, with just the right amount of elegance and subtlety that perfectly complements her natural beauty.One who's not a family or a close family friend might not be able to differentiate us because we could pass for twins. The only difference between us was the mark on the right side of my face, a reminder of the mishandling I suffered at birth by a public hospital midwife.As I caught sight of her, I was taken aback by her pale and unhappy appearance, and a wave of realization struck me. Was my marriage to Raymond not what she wanted?This thought kept running through me as I tried to concentrate on the g
ELENA’S POVAs the first glow of dawn came in through the curtains, a wave of nausea hit me like a tonne of bricks. For some time now my morning sickness had become an unwanted companion, a relentless force determined to disrupt my day. The harshness was beyond my expectations, as I had never experienced such discomfort before. No matter how much I tried to avoid it I had a continual reminder that a new life was developing within me.Every breakfast seemed like a battle, a fight to keep my meal down. My stomach always cramps in protest, as I struggle to keep eating just to give my baby something to munch on. In times like these the very thought of food caused my stomach to twist and spin, and my mouth watered with the possibility of vomiting. Even the smell of my favorite oven-fried chicken brewing in the kitchen made me flee to the protection of the wash basin.My morning sickness symptoms extended beyond nausea. Even after a full day's sleep, I would feel exhausted. As the days
ELENA’S POV"Who is the father of that thing you are carrying, Elena?" Mrs Lawrence's voice echoed through the sitting room, full of irritation and anger.I felt the weight of her question push down on me, filling me with guilt and resentment. I strained to compose myself, my heart beating as I searched for the appropriate words. "I...I don't know," I muttered, flushed from humiliation.As the seconds ticked by, all I wanted was to disappear into thin air, free of the implicit accusations and bearing the burden of my doubt.I heard that old wall clock ticking away in the background, mixed with the eager chatter of the stewards who were eager to listen to Mrs Lawrence's conversation."Once again, my mother-in-law's voice sliced through the sitting room air like a rusty blade. 'Who is the father of that child?' she demanded. I jolted back to reality, a guilty flush creeping up my nerves."I tried to reply to Mrs Lawrence.“I…I can ex…p…lain” I muttered trying to catch my already
Elena go upstairs, you aren't moving an inch out of this house” Mary! Sabatine!. “Move these bags upstairs right now”. Said my dad as he walked from the garden to the sitting room where I was standing.You don't have any moral justification to throw your wife out. Yes, your wife because Elena is your wife and she must be treated as such. Honey, I didn't expect this attitude from you. You are a woman you should know better. Elena is a member of this family and that child is a ‘‘Lawrence’’. The earlier you accept It the better for everyone. Dad’s face fell with disappointment as he walked out of the sitting room. Knowing who my dad was, I expected him to kick her out without blinking an eye. But why is he on Elena’s side? Why is he protecting her? My mind wondered.As he made his points clear my mom and I gazed at each other in confusion. It was obvious that he meant every bit of what he said. Still in shock, I sat down on the sofa to process the shocking news that I just heard m
Elena's Point of ViewI stood in the poorly illuminated room, tears streaming down my face as I recounted everything I'd been through—the loss, the pain, the gain… everything.I hugged myself, memories of my son flashing before my eyes. I could still see him running toward me and planting kisses on my face. I shut my eyes, letting the tears fall freely, hoping that maybe the pain would go away if I just admitted that I was hurt. I could still hear Ralph's deep voice speaking to me:“Elena, stay strong. Raymond might be a jerk, but once you understand him, you'll be cool with him,” he would tell me each time he saw me drowning in pain.Now, they were all gone. The building made me feel a little uncomfortable with its tranquil state. Raymond, on the other hand, had always been moody, unwilling to discuss anything with me.I wiped my tears with the edge of my palm and stood up. Today, my father-in-law would be buried at the cemetery.I glanced at the mirror. I was dressed in a dark gown,
Raymond's point of viewThe sitting room was filled with laughter and sift clinging of glasses, particularly from my friends. I had invited only a few friends; we didn't want to make it known to avoid the prying eyes of the journalists.My father sat on the stool like a king with a warm smile, watching my friends drink to their satisfaction; it was his birthday.“Where is the baker?” I asked, my mom's eyes scanning the room as I searched for her. Just then, she walked in with the cake cradled in her hand. Her face was covered with a veil; she was an Indian, and maybe she was respecting her culture. I knew little about Indian culture. She had tattoos on her hand, which I observed as she slowly dropped the cake on the table.“I should be taking my leave,” she whispered, her voice tiny.“So early?” Elena asked, walking up to her.“Yeah, I've got some unfinished business to attend to,” she replied, her voice firm.Elena tried protesting, but I stopped her just in time with a kiss, which
Alana's Point of ViewI sat in the corner of the room, my eyes stretched wide as I focused on the window. Cadwell Psychiatric Hospital could be defined as hell. My hair was unkempt and untangled, resting on my pale face, and my clothes were loose, hanging on my shrugged shoulders. I had spent two months in this hell, and no one bothered to reach out to me.I dragged my hair and groaned, my eyes reddening as I thought about Elena. Her life was fixed, and mine was damaged.Just then, a lady walked into the room with a guard, her face pale.“Alana Laurence, you have a visitor,” she said. Visitor? That sounded like a word foreign to my life.I stood from the marble floor and strutted out of the room with her. My heart sank as I stared at Violet on the other end of the table, a smile crawling up her lips. Her hair was tinted, her lips crimson, and she wore a long red gown. She stole my breath away at that moment.She picked up the phone at the other end, her eyes urging me to do the same.
Alana's Point of ViewThe distant hum of machines could be heard, the strong scent of antiseptic evident in the air. I tossed and turned on the bed, pain coursing down my abdomen. I was at the hospital; even without opening my eyes, I knew it.The low, distant chatter of patients and doctors added to my unease, and I had no other option but to let my eyes open.“Damn it,” I cursed, sitting upright. Sweat raced down my forehead as I stared at the doctors and nurses running around me.“She is awake, Doctor,” one of the nurses said, signaling the attention of Doctor Lucas.Maintaining his friendly demeanor, he walked over to me, a smile spreading across his lips.“Alana, welcome on board,” he teased, trying to lighten the tense atmosphere. Honestly, his sense of humor sucked. I couldn't believe that I had come to the hospital after being pushed down by Elena.“How do you feel?” he asked, a hint of concern in his voice.“Better,” I grumbled. To be honest, I felt that he should shut up and
Elena's point of viewEver since my stepmother's burial, Alana's health has deteriorated. She had handled her departure like a grown woman, but now she acts like she lost it. Her change of behavior was secretly causing an alarm. I don't mean to use the word, but she acted insane.“You awake this morning?” Raymond's voice sliced through the air, startling me from my thoughts. A smile tugged beside my lips as he leaned in, his hands cupping my boobs. He pressed my nipples, and I let out a soft moan.“What's bothering my angel?” He asked, his voice hoarse.“Nothin’.” I replied, relaxing on his chest, his cologne dominating the air.“Alright, if you say so,” he whispered, biting my ear, and I giggled in response.“You going to jog today?” I asked, playing with his darkened nipples, which were perched on his muscular pecs.“The only exercise I want to do is with you,” he whispered, rolling me over and staying on top of me. I could feel his bulge harden on my stomach, our gaze fixated for
Alana's point of viewMy eyes were weary as I stared on a pillar, trying to avoid everyone's attention from my direction. The hot, steamy chocolate coffee enveloped the air. I reached out and took a sip, my eyes still fixated on the pillars. It wasn't easy acting like I was grieving my mother; well, I was good at what I did. It was obvious I was better than I had given myself credit for.Raymond stared at me from a distance as he played with Hope. I wasn't a telepath, but I was sure whatever was going on in his mind was clearly not good. The news felt unbelievable in his ears. It was pretty obvious that he wasn't convinced that my mother died so fast, even after he demanded an autopsy.I got up from the couch, walked over to the table, and dropped the coffee cup. I could notice his gaze trailing behind me as I walked out sobbing. I had requested an emergency burial for mom; the authorities had their doubts, but I seventy had my way after so many pleadings from my lawyer and my surna
Alana's point of viewI could feel anger course through my veins as I paced back and forth.My mother had one job to do, and now she screwed it up. If she was as smart as she claimed to be, I wouldn't be stuck in this mess.My knuckles collided with the pillars, and my brows arched as I stared at the mirror in front of me. The beating of my heart quickened as I bit my lips. I rolled my eyes in anger, sinking into the soft mattress. I was torn apart between seeing my mother's face and staying back at home. With a frustrated sigh, I rose, dragging my feet across my spacious room. Striding gracefully with a poised elegance, I walked down the stairs, Elena's gaze trailing behind. She had halted her lively conversation after she saw me. My shoulders shrugged, and I walked outside the sitting room and into my car. The car swerved through the streets, and I got to the police station in no time.The harsh fluorescent light of the prison visiting room flickered slightly as I walked in, my f
Elena's point of viewThe afternoon sun streamed down the window, casting warm glows on the floor.My hand grasped the baking pan as I carefully grazed butter on it, humming my favorite song ‘Bad Guy by Billie Eilish.’ It was Hope's birthday; he just turned six, and we decided to throw a little party. I had chosen not to allow my dad's condition to take a toll on me for now.The scent of freshly baked chocolate cake wafted through the atmosphere, perching on my nostrils. I stood erect as my eyes scanned the kitchen for any other thing that needed to be done; thankfully there was none.Quickly, I dropped everything I was holding and walked into the shower cubicle to wash away the day's exhaustion and grimness. As the cool liquid ran down my spine, I felt a sigh of relief engulf me. Seconds stretched into minutes, and I was done with my bath. Just as I was about to select a gown from the vast collection of clothing in my wardrobe, my eyes rested on the CD, which stayed lazily on the n
Elena's Pov.I was seated by the balcony and delighted in the refreshing cool breeze and invigorating fresh air, which provided much-needed comfort for my stressed body.Been pretty stressed lately, and I was advised by Doctor Lucas to have enough rest. The sweet melodies of the birds nearby transferred a calm sensation into my soul.So lost in thoughts, I jerked upon hearing the shrill sound of my phone ringing. I got back into my bedroom to check who the caller was. On realizing that it was my father's doctor, I picked it up instantly.“Good evening, doctor, please, how is my father doing?” “I am so sorry to break this news to you, Elena; your father passed on in the early hours of the day,” he explained with sadness evident in his voice. What! How!“This isn't happening, W- What happened?” I stuttered with short breaths. My heart raced rapidly as my fears began to resurface. I could feel sweat beads forming on my forehead even with the cool breeze that filled the air.“I have in