The living room was draped in muted hues creating a somber setting for the condolence visit. Framed photographs of Genevieve’s late child, Maya, adorned the mantle. The scent of lilies permeated the air, mingling with the faint aroma of freshly brewed tea which was being served to the people that came to condole with the governor at his time of loss. Three women huddled near the bay window, their voices hushed but filled with an undercurrent of judgment and hate, tinged with jealousy. Margaret, a woman of sturdy build with a penchant for knowing everyone's business, leaned in closer to her companions. Her eyes glimmered with a mixture of sympathy and a certain eagerness as she began, “I can’t believe poor Genevieve lost Maya. It’s just heartbreaking. But can you imagine, almost forty and this happens? It’s almost like the universe is punishing her.”Beatrice nodded, the second in the group. Her face which was mostly always pinched in disapproval nodded to concur with what the first
Genevieve noticed how her husband had walked off to go meet Le Faye the woman that had just entered.No, she couldn't be wrong, there was something more to it than them being in the same political party and she being a grassroot supporter.The way he had looked at her while she offered her condolences had something in them, sometimes she hadn't seen in his eyes for long, something she had always wanted, how she had always wanted him to look at her.She recalled the video that had gotten sent to her. The woman in it had been slim, with a hourglass body build, and she had worn a white dress!!!!!She had taken it as a random person, any girl could wear white. White fitted most girls. But as she kept on looking at the lady in the parlor, hourglass figure, black hair, white dress. Something melt on striking in her, a thought she didn't want to continue thinking.She and Lucas had made a promise earlier to stay accountable for whatever happened during the condolence visit.They had agreed t
Genevieve's heart churned as she watched her husband stare at Faye.He had seen her brother trying to harass her and had watched how he gulped down the tea he held, even though he was with some guests, his eyes were not taken off her.She was not mistaken anymore, the pictures had become clear. She were the one, she was the other woman, the other woman that dared her by going after her husband.What pained her the most was the caring eyes with which her husband stated at her with, vexing at her brother as he could not excuse himself to go confront him for his actions, lest calling attention to himself.She watched him, his reactions, his eyes, his expressions.He had never looked at her with those eyes, not even one, not even when she had given birth to Maya for him.He had always seen her as Genevieve, the wife that forced herself on him, and nothing more, nothing less.Not even as a woman worth desiring, the way men she had been with always did.The nights they had made out when her
Genevieve and Lucas returned to the parlour because of the sound of the falling glass that had caught their attention, the tension between them was still very visible. As they entered, the room fell silent, the remaining guests' eyes fixed on them with a mixture of shock and curiosity. The atmosphere was heavy, the usual murmurs of conversation replaced by an uneasy quiet.Genevieve's assistant, a young woman, hurried to her side, her face pale with anxiety. "Mrs. Genevieve," she whispered urgently, "your conversation with Mr. Lucas—it was broadcasted. Everyone here has heard everything."Genevieve's heart sank as she glanced around the room, seeing the stunned expressions on the faces of the guests. Some were whispering to each other, others simply stared in disbelief. She clenched her jaws when she saw some of the women muttering things to themselves.Nathaniel, standing near the back of the room, seemed lost in thought, his mind clearly occupied with the implications of what had ju
The phone rang several times before Genevieve answered, her voice weary. "Theo, it’s late. Haven't you gone home yet? What do you want?"Theodore took a deep breath, trying to keep his voice steady. "Genevieve, why didn’t you ever do anything about Lucas? You knew he was cheating on you, and yet you did nothing. You knew that lowlife was cheating on you,yet you did nothing!! You didn't tell me!! You didn't let father know!!!."There was a long pause on the other end of the line. Finally, Genevieve spoke, her tone defensive. "It’s complicated, Theo. Marriage isn’t as black and white as you think. There are things you don’t understand.""Complicated?" Theodore's voice rose, his frustration boiling over. "What’s so complicated about standing up for your rights? You let him walk all over you, humiliate you! Even though he's a lowlife!!! Why didn’t you teach him a lesson?"Genevieve sighed deeply"Do you think I didn’t want to? Do you think I didn’t lie awake at night, thinking of ways to
"Why?" Lucas fired, watching her go on with the wine she had in her hand drinking. His face and part of his clothe was bloody but he did not mind it, waiting for the answer he has come to get. "Why what?" Faye replied nonchalantly, dropping the glass by the side table."Why did you do that Faye?" He asked again, this time his voice louder."I just gave her a gift. Like she did to me. I only returned the favor"Lucas was angry and was not having it. He went over to the table and smashed the wine bottle and glass on the floor."How dare you do that Faye? How dare you???? How dare you broadcast my wife and i's conversation?" He thundered." Your wife?" Faye repeated after him.She chuckled." Isn't that what she is?" Replied back. " I felt tired of being in the shadow. I felt tired of being the unknown woman. I wanted to be known, that was why I did what I did" she replied him and began walking to where her bag and clothes was, picking up her jacket to cover her hands that were bare fr
"Theodore Montenegro?" The police called and Theodore turned back to look behind him from his father's office he was in. "You are under arrest for charges of corruption and other forms of abuses. Please stand up and place your hands behind your back" "Corruption? Theodore repeated, surprised by the number of men that came to arrest him." There must be some mistake!" He Interjected looking at his father who seemed disappointed."You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you""This is ridiculous! I demand to speak to my lawyer immediately!" He screamed as he got hand cuffed. "You can contact your lawyer once we get to the station. For now, please cooperate and come with us."They began to lead him out of the building, the eyes of his colleagues and employees following in shock and disbelief that the former governor was being a
"What is it now? Who is here to see me again?" Theodore grumbled as he came out to the visiting area again, grumbling it might be another person coming to taunt him like his wife had.Looking at the figure standing tall before him, his blood began to boil."To what do I owe this visit Lucas?" He asked and began to laugh, looking him from his head to his toes, wondering how and what made him grow wings enough to think of selling him out."I came to tell you that this was my reply" Lucas said." What?" Theodore replied him, confused."You dared me. This is my reply"For a while Theodore stood and watched him, torn between laughing and screaming at him for keeping tabs at him in the past."You touched my woman Theo, you touched her in places you shouldn't have. She belonged to me but you dated me" he continued, telling him the main reason he had replied him.He moved Faye, alot like he had always told her and he couldn't watch Theodore walking up and down without anything being done to
Morgana's heart was heavy as she walked into the airport. Going to Italy seemed to be the only solution to the guilt she felt. No, that wasn't what she wanted. That was never what she had envisaged her revenge to end up as. It took a different turn because of Lucas' decision. All she had planned, the years and efforts she had wasted hoping to put Genevieve behind bars where she would be a prisoner of her thoughts, of her fall and that of her family's, where she and her father would have no one else to blame for what had befallen them but themselves, it all seemed to be bygones now. Her eyes darted to the screen and the news being announced. "Good evening. Breaking news tonight from Montenegro, a series of shocking revelations and tragic events have captivated both national and international audiences, making waves across the internet. The controversy began with the arrest of Theodore Montenegro, the former governor of Montenegro, whose recent trial took an unexpected turn.
"This is your fall Genevieve, whether you like it or not. This is your fall" Morgana muttered as she continued to struggle with her in the locked car, using all her might regardless of the knife that had been driven to her belly to reach out to the car controls to open the car doors."I will never fall, especially not at your hands. I will keep my head up high. I will keep rising. I will never fall!!!" Genevieve continued screaming as they struggled with each other.Successfully unlocking the cars doors, Morgana stepped out trying to run away amidst the stab wound in her belly.Nathaniel came rushing to where she was, pushing Genevieve who tried to assault her the more right into the car.Lucas had arrived and on coming down from his car to behold the stab wound on the already weak Morgana, he took the driver's seat of the car Genevieve had been pushed into.Nathaniel carried Morgana to the opposite lane and tried calling an ambulance while awaiting the arrival of the police he had c
"Miss Genevieve, I will do you the favor of walking you out of the classroom ma'am. Consider it my last form of respect to you who was once the head of the school's Parent's Teachers Association" Morgana said and motioned Genevieve to the door but she didn't seem to budge, still drowned in thoughts of what she had said to her earlier." Ma'am, I'll plead with you to stay outside now. I wouldn't want my guests to be frightened when the police come for you" Morgana sought to add and it seemed as if her last sentence struck a chord with Genevieve as she began to walk away, while she, followed her, leading her to the door." Say, why don't you follow me to the crime scene Morgana? Wouldn't you want to pay your last respects to your parents as well? I heard you never found their body. That's so much you could do yet brag so loudly and vainly" Genevieve said to her as they reached outside, finally finding her voice in the privacy engulfing the both of them at the passage way.Morgana batted
Morgana was discussing with some parents when she noticed Genevieve walking towards her. It was a rare sight considering the face that she had been declared wanted by the police. Standing up to meet her, Morgana couldn't help but taunt her. It was her downfall she had come for. The downfall of the driver that had hit her mother."Mrs Genevieve, or is it Miss? I do not know what title to refer you by, the news about the divorce is spattered all over the internet"Genevieve slapt her immediately the words came from her mouth. The women sitting down behind them gasped. Torn on what to do at Genevieve's presence, considering that she had been a member of their club yet now wanted for heinous crimes.Morgana held her cheeks, holding back her anger." Ma'am, violence isn't allowed in the school. Have you forgotten? Ohh, I almost forgot. You're not a parent again and it's understandable that you might not recall some of the school rules"Angered by he utterance, again Genevieve landed a sl
Montenegro's face twisted with anger as he grabbed his daughter by the arm, dragging her roughly toward the basement. She stumbled, trying to keep up, tears streaming down her face."Please let me go father, I promise to become better from now on" she pleaded. "How many times do I have to tell you to behave in front of the press Genevieve? You're supposed to act properly so you'd be loved by all. So you'd steal attention. So you'd be the talk of the internet for weeks to come!!!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the house."Dad, please, I'm sorry!" she cried, her voice breaking with fear. "I promise I'll do better, please don't lock me up again!"Her mother rushed forward with panic in her eyes. "Honey, please, let her go!" she begged. "She's just a child! You locked her up for days already, please have mercy! You can't keep locking her up each time she all's short of your expectations. She's human"He turned on his wife, furiously "Stay out of this!" he bellowed, raising his h
The house had a shabby look and still had the white table clothes that had been used to cover the properties.Everywhere was dusty as well.Nathaniel watched a dog come in. It might have come in from the neighbors houses as he left the gate open.He let it be. Atleast it was going to keep him company. He walked over to a carton and began to unbox it. It had some of their family portraits. They were mostly of him and his mother and only few had his father in it with them.It tucked at his heart. He couldn't blame only his mother for running away and abandoning him when he was little. He had witnessed how she was always abused by her husband, perhaps she had left them hoping that it would be the right decision to make.He couldn't take it out on her. She took the decision for her life and he would advice any woman in her shoes to take such decisions too, if they had been in his mother's sort of marriage.A marriage that had the husband always abusing and neglecting his wife. With his
The flickering light of the single lit candle cast long, wavering shadows on the walls of their small home. Now that he was thinking about it, he couldn't help but wonder why they had lived in such a shabby humble place while the new family of his father's he met lived in a mansion. Their house seemed old, so it meant that his father had always been rich since tie immemorial but left them to live in a humble home and environment.His mom had sat by the wooden table, the one he was currently staring at, and her fingers had nervously traced the grain of the wood. Her heart was heavy, burdened by the silence and the secrets that had settled between her and her husband. He recalled his father, Dante entering the house, his tall frame blocking the light momentarily. He had the air of a man who was always in a hurry, always preoccupied with something just beyond reach. His mom took a deep breath, mustering the courage to confront him. "Dante" she began softly, "this is getting too much,
The Banner that bore the People's Progressive Party title on top of the party house had been removed. A new banner for a start up company was being used to replace it.In a short while everything about the PPP had been erased, even their party office sold out.Lucas watched as the Carpenters hammered the new name on, while some repainted the walls giving it a whole new vibe."Governor, you don't need to worry. I'm sure nothing would be found on you. You'd still remain the governor of Montenegro after the probe" his assistant tried to console him.His former assistant rather.He had switched places. He had resigned not wanting to work for the government again. But he had come to him to exchange pleasantries after he saw him in front of the Party house.Lucas knew that he was just trying to condole with him.He was sure he wouldn't be found innocent. He carried out alot of bad deeds on of his father in-law's orders.It had already been more than a week his probe started and no feedback
Genevieve listened on as her father made a call to Dante.He was the last escape route they had and she was sure he would find a way to sneak them out of the house and the country without the police finding out.He was skilled in doing such, that is why her father had taken him in as his cartel business partner."He said we should get ready. Just pack a few things. We'd leave by midnight" her father muttered to her before dropping his phone on the table.She wanted to say something to him but she was interrupted by the gunshots they heard from the gate."They're here" she announced to her father and began running away.Her father stood up and took to his heels, following her as well.The both of them had been declared wanted. Not just for one crime nor for their embezzlement and stashed slash funds, the new accusation that came up and had Theodore's voice as the testimony was a big factor too and they couldn't save themselves from it. The evidences we're glaringly clear.She ran to th