Retirement Party

During the long drive, One thing helped Carol thing about. Each second password, thinking about Troy who was love of her life. She spent most of her life with him, her first love, first friend, first everything. But when did she go wrong? Why didn't she notice any red flags?

He was same, handsome, charming, sweet, kind, because of her, he learned sign language, he wanted to cook for her when she was busy, normal date nights, funny and already was in time. Even a week before her wedding, he flied back home, just to ensure that the wedding went well.

There was nothing, no red flags, no hints of him betraying her. She can't understand how things turned into this mess. If he was acting like this with motives behind, she can't help but think of his perfect acting. Oscar winning acting. In her life, people have been stabbing her back like she doesn't feel hurt at all. They tried to use her constantly. But Troy being the one has completely destroyed her trust in anyone. Even in herself. She can't trust anyone anymore. And Falling in love, that's a thought miles away from her thoughts.

It's 6am, when she pulls over the car in front of her house. It's A private property with a four room apartment. This house is closer to her company which she handles for last five years after her maternal grandpa asked her to help him with his business.

She bought it three years ago and had been staying with Troy. She feels sick to enter the house. Knowing everything will remember him and his betrayal.

She has dropped everyone off to their house and apartments. Eunice tried to insist on coming here and giving her company but she refused since she had to go back to her grandparents' house.

She didn't say anything about her wedding to her mother's extended family. Although she works for her maternal grandpa, her side of the family has always been a bit hostile towards her.

Three years ago, her mother suddenly popped up in her life and demanded her to give half of her savings and one of her lake houses because her mother's new husband lost his job.

She said No, since she never acknowledged her family. Especially her mother. After that day, lots of family members tried to bully her, calling her different names. She threw their words back and told them to be the bigger person and give their own savings and house to her mother.

It became a strong rift but she didn't care and doesn't care.

Today, she might face some of them. But she doesn't care since she can't hear what other people say.

After taking a long shower, she decides to take a short nap before she gets ready to leave for the family gathering. She has a lot of times after taking days off for her honeymoon. Now this is not happening, so she will just spend time alone to handle her emotions.

She isn't sad. But a bit empty and confused.

As she grabs her phone to set alarm, her eyebrows raise with surprise. There is a few messages from an unknown number. She opens the chat list, finding its from Damien.

" I have arrived safely! Hope you have too"

" Let me know when you are home."

" Don't cry!"

" Goodnight, Mrs Crawley!"

She smiles reading the messages, they're short but somehow comforting. ' Hope I won't regret again '

She thinks while sending the replies. She won't cry she knows. Since she was a kid, she is used to with handling her emotions properly. Specially when she knows that it won't benefit or change the scenerio of her life.

But it feels great from a random stranger who suddenly helped her from the disaster.

It is a quick response. " I have arrived safely and I am going to take a nap. Thanks for yesterday. I am hoping to meet you tomorrow!"

Hitting the send, she grabs her pillow and closes her eyes. Thankfully she has changed the bedsheets. She doesn't want to waste her thoughts on her past anymore.. Although it hurts. But she will eventually heal and move on.

Thinking about it, She hits her pillow and drifting off. Exhaustion is helping her to take a nap immediately.

After three hours, she wakes up, before the alarm rings. It was quick but a complete sleep. She has been planning the wedding for months, wasting lots of energy. Now she feels great.

Stretching her arms, she grabs her phone and walks in the kitchen. She will have a quick breakfast and get ready to leave. But her attention goes to her phone, it chirps with a subtle vibration.

" I will pick you up. Let me know your address!"

Pick me up? She smiles and sends a simple response, " I will be waiting!"

She thought it's the end of the conversation but her phone vibrates again,

" Already up?"

She sits down after dragging her chair, which isn't her plan and forgot about her breakfast, " Yes. I had a good nap though!"

" Oh!"

She grins and types, " What about you? Had your breakfast?"

" Yes. Toast and salad"

" Rich people's food " She sent...

" I thought you were rich too"

She laughs a bit now.

" I forgot!"

" What will you wear tomorrow?" He asks,

She raises her brow a bit, since she didn't give a thought about it.

" Maybe a dress. Do you have any dress code in your family?" She asks since lots of rich people like to be crazy.

" No. Whatever you are comfortable with!"

" That's great. I might wear a dress. I will send you a picture. If you think this is not applicable,. I can change!"

She hums trying to think about her dress collection. She has bought a beautiful floral sundress. It's a white, knee-length dress.

But she wonders if she should do it or not. Since she is going to meet her husband's parents for the first time. This shouldn't be appropriate.

" Don't worry about it."

" Okay. Let's meet tomorrow. I have to leave now. Have a nice day"

She drops her phone and decides to have her breakfast as soon as possible. It's already Noon. She has to drive to her grandpa's for two hours.

After a while,

It took her another hour to get ready and leave the house. She is quite confused and curious why her grandpa who is the chairman suddenly decided to throw a retirement Party when he didn't even discuss about it with her. Since she has been working as CEO of the company for five years, she has already been told that she would take over the company once he retired. So he was supposed to talk to her about the retirement beforehand.

Still, she shrugs it off. She got thousands of unwanted surprises in her life. It's nothing to feel sad about. As long as they don't betray them.

After two hours, she arrives at her grandparents' house. It's their old house where they grew up and lived their entire life. When she was a kid, she used to stay here.

After parking her car, she enters the house, being welcomed by a few cousins who aren't close to her. They're quite young and she met them a few times.

" Oh! It's Carol! The bitch is here!"

Carol who can't hear, smiles at her aunt who is close to her.

** Hello, Aunt!** She waves her hand.

** Hi! How are you doing?** Shelly, her youngest aunt hugs her.

" How funny! You just cursed her! You two faced bitch!" Her another Aunt smirks from behind.

" Well, Only for today. Today is the best day!" Shelly smirks and breaks the hug,

** You look skinny, My Little Girl! Don't you eat? Come with me. I brought your favorite foods!**

** I am not hungry. Where is grandpa? And grandma?** She asks, looking around.

** On the yard! It's BBQ party** Shelly winks at her and walks towards the yard.

Carol follows her. She can't hear or understand what is happening. But her entire family is directly ignoring her. She is used to it. But once she notices her grandpa is talking to his sons and grandchildren happily, she knows something is about to happen.

" Dad! Your grandchild is here" Shelly says, her voice mixed with mockery.

** Carol! My Sweet girl! Come here!** He smiles, drawing the chair next to him. ** Sorry for sudden announcement. Grandpa is feeling sick. So I decided to throw a surprise party**

Carol smiles and shakes her head, ** It's fine.** She sits next to him.

** Carol!** Her Uncle smiles at her and shows his phone. Not everyone learnt sign language.

She looks at the sentence on his phone, being a bit shocked that they're taking initiative to talk to her.

" How are you, kid? Hope we will be able make up our time!"

She looks at her uncle, who is busy eating and looking at her with a smug look. She doesn't understand what he meant by that. She types on the phone, faking a smile,

" Sure!" She pushes the phone towards him and looks at her grandma who is heading to the entrance gate. She frowns narrowly since her grandma never ignored her like this before.

The entire situation somehow makes her feel bad.

" Clara is here." Her grandma walks in with a woman in her mid fifty and a Man with two teenage kids.

Noticing her grandpa smiling and talking to someone behind her, she turns. Her eyes widened when she notices the woman behind her, holding the cruelest smirk on her face.

' Mom?'

She stands up, feeling a strong uncomfortable feeling stirring within her. She looks around, including her grandparents, one thing is for sure, the situation isn't good at all. There is something about this party and she has a bad feeling about this.