MAURICE'S POVI looked at Glenda. She was sleeping so peacefully. It took a lot of restraint from me not to wake her up and take her again as I watched the slow rise and fall of bare breasts.The night, as it was becoming a usual occurrence, had been filled with love and passion, deep intense passion. Glenda was an eager lover. She was in perfect sync with me, matching my energy in every dimension I morphed our love making to. A passionate young lover that could sexually satisfy me.I felt myself growing again just at the thought of our romp last night. I smiled to myself and got up. I looked out the floor-to-ceiling glass window in my room that allowed me to see the lake. Only this room had this view.The first night I made love to Glenda in my room and not hers, she had been so fascinated by the view even though she had seen the lake a thousand times. She was one hell of a nature lover.It was still dark. The skies shone with twinkling stars and a beautiful crescent moon that seeme
GLENDA'S POV I stirred awake to find Maurice's side of the bed empty. It was cold and I deduced he had been up for a while. I yawned and stretched on the bed. Last night had been, well, pleasant. Very pleasant. I smiled as I replayed the events of the previous night. I was getting used to spending the nights with Maurice in his room. I loved being in his room. Aside from the passion that we had every night, the room had the best view in the house. You could see the expanse of the lake just as one could from the balcony. This was an even better view and I was so enamored with it. I got up from the bed and decided to go back to my room since Maurice was not here. I'd freshen up, change my clothes and go look for Maurice. Then we could have breakfast together. Dawn was setting in, the darkness of the night was ebbing away and the brightness of light was replacing it. I showered and felt as fresh as a new day. I smelled of soap and scented oils added to my bath water. A wonderful f
MAURICE'S POVNo! I don't want anything. I don't want your inheritance. I don't want a divorce. I don't want you to leave. I don't want anything, just stay. Just stay, Glenda.The voice in my head screamed, but my lips remained glued shut. Why wasn't I saying anything? Why couldn't I try to explain? Why wasn't I stopping her? I could stop her.Say something damn it! Stop her! My mind willed but my body remained static, unyielding and unmoving. I watched motionless as Glenda sluggishly turned and walked away.Her shoulders slumped and laden with gloom. Her hand hung weakly by her sides, still clutching the papers. She was obviously devastated. My legs began to move. What am I doing now? I asked myself as I mechanically strode to the spot where Glenda had stood. She was no longer there. I didn't stop her when I had the chance. I just stood there like a numskull.I palmed my face and clenched my jaw taking deep breaths. I was growing mad. A whirlwind of anger was stirring within me. Ang
GLENDA'S POVIt's been two days since I locked myself up in my room. Two days of drowning in sorrow. Two days of getting nothing to eat except the cold dish of betrayal. The hurt I felt filled me, eliminating whatever appetite I may have had.It was happening all over again. I was back to the place where I started, waking up to a fresh baked platter of betrayal. Just whenever I thought I was getting a break, life slaps me back into a harsh loveless reality.How could I even think that a man like Maurice would grow to love me? How could I think he was interested in me? How could I think he was slowly breaking down his high built walls to let me in? How could I let myself be fooled yet again? I let myself be used over and over again. I fall clueless everytime! Every damn time!I should have known the son got his genes from somewhere. An apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Maurice and Brian were the same piece cut out of the same cloth. Ruthless carnivores! Feeding off the goodness an
MAURICE'S POV (Two days earlier)Sam stayed true to his words. He informed Nana as soon as he finished talking to me. I could have sworn he even informed Nana before he called me because Nana requested for me almost immediately.“What is this I hear?” Nana berated me as soon as I reached her.Damn Sam! What was I? A child that he'd report to my mother? He'll definitely be hearing from me. “Don't stay quiet. What did you do to that poor girl? What was Sam saying over the phone?” Nana threw questions at me in quick succession.“I don't understand why Sam would report me to you. I'm not a child Nana. And this is something between me and Glenda.” I tried to hide the anger from being revealed in my voice.Nana kept a disdainful glare on me as I spoke. She eyed the length of me waiting for me to finish.“Is this how I raised you? To steal and rip others off their inheritance?” Nana's watchful eyes remained on me and I suddenly began to feel like a teenager called to the principal's office
GLENDA'S POVFor the first time, I confessed my feelings for Maurice to someone.Nana smiled at me. A certain calm fell over her expression.“That's a good thing.”“I don't know, Nana.” My voice was low pitched. “I'm the only one in love.” I said weakly.“He loves you too.” Nana said with a certainty I found difficult to believe.I shook my head, refuting her claims. “No. Nana he doesn't. I've only come to realize that I'll never be the woman he wants. I'm young and stupid. I'm immature, not like Lucy who is older and matches him. I'm not the woman he wants, Nana. I could never be, even if I tried.” I spoke with vehement conviction.“That's where you're getting it all wrong my dear. You're everything and more the woman he wants. He loves you but is too scared to admit it.” Nana paused, giving me time to absorb all that she had said before she continued.“He is a grown man with big fears... I don't know how to make you understand. But don't listen to what he says. Listen to what his he
MAURICE'S POV “You told Nana everything!” I snapped at Sam once he took my call. I could hear him inhale sharply and I sensed he was stretching. He sounded groggy when he spoke. “What?” “Who is that?” I heard the female voice ask in the background. I knew it was Jane. “It's my brother, Maurice.” Sam sniffed as he responded. “It's past midnight.” She whined. Then I heard the ruffles and then shifting. “Hey!” Sam said again. He seemed to have moved elsewhere. “What were you saying?” It was evident that the sleep was slowly clearing. “I said you told Nana everything! You big mouth!” “Is that what you called at this hour to tell me? I was asleep.” Sam sounded astonished. “Fuck your sleep! You put me on the hot seat with Nana. I've had to endure listening to her remind me how she groomed me and how wrong I was to attempt doing what I had in mind… As my brother, I expected you to have my back!” “It's because I have your back that's why I told Nana before you did something stupid
GLENDA'S POV I watched Maurice pace restlessly up and down the hospital hallway. If anxiety was a person, then it would be Maurice. He was making me dizzy just by watching him. I bowed my head and silently prayed that this turned out to be nothing serious. That nothing had happened to Nana. “You should sit. Your pacing is increasing my anxiousness.” I said lightly. My agitation was rising with his incessant walks, making me assume the worst. Maurice paused in front of me and I dared not to raise my head up to him. I could feel his hot gaze on me and I didn't want to be consumed in his emotions. I sat there, quiet, small and continuously diminishing. His presence chipped away my confidence. I breathed out a grateful sigh when the buzz of Maurice's phone ringing cut through the air. Still standing before me, Maurice dug his hand into his pocket and fished out his phone. “Sam.” His crisp tone resonated through the hall. “Sorry, I should have called earlier. I was distracted.” He sai
GLENDA'S POVONE WEEK LATER“Where is he? How is he?” Concern adorned my weary voice as my worried gaze rested on my brother-in-law.“He’ll live.” Sam said with a grin.Jane nudged him and gave him a warning glare. “Be serious for once! Don’t scare her with your silly jokes!” She reprimanded him.Sam pouted, but his eyes didn’t discard the mischievous glint they held. “I’m serious. I’m sharing good news.” He said with a shrug.Jane’s irritation at her husband stood up a notch. Her glares intensified. “Can’t you see that she’s worried?”Sam sighed resignedly. “I was only trying to lighten her mood.”“Well you’re doing a terrible job at it!”Sam raised his hands in surrender. He shifted and gave way for Jane to come closer to my gurney.Jane approached the bed with a sweet smile. “We came as soon as we heard. How are you feeling dear?” She helped adjust the gurney so my upper body was elevated. It gave me a better view.“I’m doing fine... Where is Maurice?" I asked again.It has been two
MAURICE'S POVBrian acted impulsively. That's what I thought and I couldn't resist the urge to scold him. He shouldn't have taken such a risky task upon himself. I was most certain that he had hurt himself, his hands were hurting and he was hiding it.“Scold me later, after we leave here.” He smiled at his deed, hiding his pain behind those genuine smile.I couldn't help but manage a half smile. He looked charming. Brian was a good boy. He just needed to be pointed in the right direction and I'm glad he found his way back home.I promised myself at that instance that things would be different from there on. He would be my son and I would be his father.I nodded for him to come along and went ahead with Glenda, expecting him to follow behind us. I had only taken a few steps when I heard the crash.I immediately turned around. “Brian!” I yelled, but it was already too late. “Dad.” He choked out in response. He blinked, sighed and seemed to relax. He looked calm, smiling up at me. As t
BRIAN'S POV“Elsa?” I asked him in surprise.It only meant Elsa had run after me when she couldn't stop me from going into the house. That crazy bitch!With everything that my father had told me, it was clear that she hadn't entered with good intentions. She must have sensed my intentions and she wanted to act ahead of me.She wanted to cement her plans, ensure everything happened according to how she wanted it. It was her house after all. She knew where she had left Glenda and could find her easily.Maybe it was a good thing she came in. This unit was large and finding my father and Glenda in this fiery mess was already proving difficult until I stumbled on the door, and heard the thudding coming from within. If she hadn't locked them in here, then maybe I would not have found them.I wanted to lift Glenda, carry her in my arms, but I thought against it and allowed my father to carry his wife.“I doubt that she's still in the building. Quick, let's get out of here.” I ordered and w
MAURICE'S POVA miracle did happen. Only it wasn't how I expected it.“Glenda!” I thought I was hallucinating someone calling Glenda. I braced myself. The thief had come. Death was near. It was so close, looming over us and breathing over my neck. I could feel it. But I wasn't scared. I wasn't afraid. I was ready for whatever was to come.“Glenda!” The call came again.My eyes flew wide open when I heard the second call. I was not hallucinating. I was not imagining things. Someone was indeed calling Glenda.Quickly, I raised myself from the forlorn stance I had assumed on the floor.My dead hope resurrected instantly. Someone was here. Someone had come for us.“Is anyone there? We are in here!” I yelled. My voice had become hoarse, dried from the smoke. I prayed whoever it was out there had heard me.“We are here!” I tried to increase my volume. I ended up wheezing from the strain.I guess my coughing gave away our location as I heard shuffling, then someone approaching.“Elsa?” I as
MAURICE'S POVHis reaction only confirmed my fears. Glenda was in that heat.I watched in horror as the flames grew taller into the sky. My breath hitched. My fears skyrocketed. Anxiety clothed my core. I was shaking with fright.That's when I caught sight of the approaching figure. A ray of hope stirred within me. Maybe. Just maybe.Brian strode past me like a zombie, his gaze set upon the fire like it was beckoning to him.Once the outline cleared to reveal Elsa, every ounce of hope and logical thinking within me vaporized.At that moment, nothing else mattered. Not Brian. Not Elsa. Not me. Only Glenda.I willed my legs to move and like a flash, I ran past Brian into the fire. The dense, hazy smoke welcomed me. Everything blurred in my vision. I squinted in an attempt to adjust to the smoky view.I squinted through the smoke and raised a hand to fan out the smoke. It didn't help to clear my view.“Glenda!” I called out. A raspy cough escaped my throat as the smoke filled my lungs.
BRIAN'S POVI caught a whiff of the familiar perfume as I entered the house. My heart began to beat at a double rate. My worst fears came alive when I stepped into the room to find it empty. Glenda was gone.“Shit! Shit!” I cussed and kicked.I exasperatedly ran a hand through my hair. Just when I had everything ready. When all my plans were ready and set. That sick bitch had to appear now. Why did I ever bring her here? What had I ever found attractive about that sick witch? I looked down at my crotch and cussed myself for my lack of control. But how could I have known then that this would come back to bite me in the ass? How could I have known that Elsa was as sick as the woman who birthed her?“Darn it!”Was this how all of my plans would be ruined? Would I not be able to protect Glenda? Would I allow Elsa and her mother to have the last laugh?No! I swore to protect Glenda and I would fulfill that promise.But where do I even begin to look for Glenda? Where could Elsa have taken
GLENDA'S POV I didn't want to accept how foolish I had been. How gullible I was. How blindingly trusting I was. “Elsa, please tell me this is all not true. Tell me this is all a prank. Say it. Laugh all this off… Say you're joking!” I yelled at her. I shook my head as though doing that would dispel everything that I had heard. “You are a liar! I don't believe you!” I broke into a sob. “I trusted you, Elsa. I loved you! I trusted you!... You were my sister! That's how much I cherished you.” I spilled through my teary, pain-filled voice. “And I hate you! I hate you Glenda! I hate you!” She countered, panting with dark rage. The room was filled with the heat of the hate emanating from her. The stench of her loath towards me was palpable in the ambience of the room. It felt so surreal. Like acting out a scene with the evil villain. Only, this was far from a dream or a movie. It was my sick reality. I could never have thought Elsa, whom I considered akin to my sister, harbored su
MAURICE POV It was a long drive. It had been two hours ago since Lucy agreed to take me to the place she talked about, yet we still hadn't reached. We kept taking neverending turns and corners. “Are we there yet?” I asked like an impatient child eager to reach the park sooner. “No. It's right up that corner.” Lucy replied. “How many more corners are we going to take?” Exasperation embellished my tone. “How did you even come to know about this place?” I asked out of my impatience and eagerness to quickly reach Glenda. The long hours of driving was beginning to make me rethink my decision. I couldn't help but begin to consider that this may be a ploy to distract me. “Um, he brought me here one time when we needed to talk privately. This is his hideout.” she spoke shyly. From the sound of her voice and the expression on her face, I understood that this was where they came to do all their plotting. Could Brian and Lucy still be working together? Could this also be one of
BRIAN'S POVI repeatedly slapped the passport against my palm, relishing in immense satisfaction as I walked to my car. It had taken longer than I had anticipated to get it done but I was finally holding it. My ticket to leave this place without being spotted by anyone.Best part, I was taking the woman I love along. Everything was falling into place. I smiled to myself as I got in my car. Aunt Helena had no idea how smart I could be. By the time she'll realize anything, we'd be long gone. Far long gone! To a place where no one can ever find us! Our disappearance would be a huge disappointment to Aunt Helena. It would put a big hole in her plans.As I sat in my car, my hand rested idling on the steering wheel. I gaze through the windshield, staring fixated at nothing ahead, my mind traveling back to that day at the hospital.★★★Flash back★★★“I've lost him.” She was crying profusely. “We failed.”I glanced over to Lucy curled on the gurney, an irritated look draped my expression.