Dead End

Chapter 8

Dead End.

Elara Winterfell.

My legs felt heavy as I trudged out of the company. Cameras were clicking, flashes almost blinding me, but I was numb to every feeling.

As I stepped out of the building, I turned to give it one last look. The happy and sad memories I had here… Unconsciously, my eyes flitted up towards the top of the building and something struck me. One of the windows was open.

That was weird. The CEO never let his windows be opened by anyone. The conditioning in the room was more than enough for that. Suddenly, I felt so self-conscious. I felt like I was being watched from that distance. Was he there? Was he looking at me?

Why would he even do that?

I shook my head to myself and walked out of the massive gate, saying a silent prayer against the insanity of my mind.

“Where are you going, ma'am?”

I almost jumped, startled. A cab was in front of me. When did I even stop it?

“Uh… I…" I stuttered for a few seconds, “Skyline Avenue. The sixth street after the mini shopping mall.” I regained myself immediately and opened the door.

“That will cost you…"

“I know the standard price,” I snapped at him, “I will pay it. Just get going.”

*

I paid the cab driver after apologizing profusely for my transfer of aggression to him.

“It's okay, ma'am. Have a pleasant day ahead.” The cab driver drove off with that.

Even as I felt bad for him, I felt even worse for myself. How was I going to go on with my life?

Companies were going to reject me because of the scandal. How was I going to pay back what I owed Rowan? How would I give birth and still take care of the children? What really happened to me that night? Who is the actual father of my children?

Yes, that's the first step I would take. I had to find out the details of that night, and who I was…

“Have you sorted out your feud with Connor?” The voice that always sent shivers down my spine spoke, and I froze in place.

“I…" I tried to muster, but words failed me as I turned around shakily to look at him.

“You what?!” He almost screamed, walking towards me in a zigzag manner.

Wasn't it so early to be drunk?

“Father, I..."

“Don't call me your father!” He shouted this time, pointing a finger at me. “I need my allowance! I need it now!”

“Fa…" I paused and gulped, my hands shaking as it gripped my bag in a bid to calm down. “Connor and I are done… There will be no more allowances.” I hung my head low as I said that, waiting for his wrath to rain on me.

Two seconds passed and everything was quiet. I looked up at my father and my heart broke at his situation. He was struggling to stand without falling.

“What's that in your hand?” He asked, motioning to the brown envelope I had taken out of my bag in the cab. “Give it to me…" His words were slurred as he staggered towards me.

“No…" My voice quivered as I took two steps backwards and away from him. “These are just files that I need to finish up and submit at work tomorrow.”

“Heh…" He gave me a miserable chuckle, “You think I haven't seen that you have been dismissed? It's all over the news, girl!” His voice rose and octave higher as he staggered closer to me, and all I could do was take steps backwards.

I couldn't let him have this money. It was my only hope of survival before and after I gave birth. This money could get me a decent place to live in, take care of my feeding and also get baby accessories for my children. My hand unconsciously touched my stomach, and I rubbed it. It was still flat.

“I also heard from my sources,” He paused, and my eyes snapped back to him, it was like he was struggling to keep his eyes open, “I heard that you were paid off really handsomely too. Your boss wasn't that wicked.” He gave me a cruel smile and stretched his hand towards the brown envelope.

People had started coming out, standing on their balconies, pointing and making videos of the scene. My head hung low as I opened the envelope.

“Father…" I tried again, and his face twisted in disgust, “This is my last means of survival…"

“And I care because?” He cut in sharply. “Give it to me!”

“I will give you part of it.” I tried to reason with him as I dipped my hand inside the envelope to pick out a bundle of ten thousand dollars. “I need to…"

A slap landed on my face, and it flew with force to the side that I could hear a crack. In my disoriented state, I felt the envelope being snatched from my hand. When had he even moved closer to me? I raised my head, and my eyes widened in surprise.

’M... Mom?” I said shakily as I swallowed the lump in my throat, trying to keep the tears down.

“Step-mother to you! After you killed your mother? How dare you call me that? Do you want to kill me too?” She spat out, her face heavily caked with make-up and a bright red lipstick. “I already regret being a stepmother to an ingrate like you! Look at what you've done! See how you've disgraced this family and stained our names!”

“But…"

“Shut up!” She shouted at once, making me flinch. “From today, your father and I have cut all forms of ties with you. You are no longer needed. All you do is bring shame to this family."

I watched as my father nodded in agreement with her, and a tear slipped down my eyes. My father was not psychologically okay, and my stepmother wouldn't use the money to treat him or take him to the hospital, but she would spend it on useless things just to brag to her group of superficial friends.

A sleek black car drove up beside her, and she turned to me with a smirk on her face.

“I'm glad that poor Connor saw through your shady tricks and went for someone better.” She said slowly and calmly, helping my drunk father into the car. “I always knew that Isabel was meant for greatness and good things. And as for you?” She paused, sizing me up and down, “I can't say anything good about your future. It's as bleak as your mother's own was.”

The words she spoke were like knives digging into my heart. My grip on my bag tightened as I watched the car speed off. That was Isabel's car, something in me clicked. Did Isabel put her up to this? I glanced up at the rows of houses at either side of the wide lane. My neighbors had started retreating from their balconies and going inside, stowing away their phones.

My legs suddenly felt heavy as I trudged towards my house. As I approached, my eyes flew wide with surprise, my heart pounding against my ribcage. Why was the gate open? I rushed my steps to see what was happening, and my heart dropped when I saw a van parked outside the house.

“Are you Mrs. Elara Winterfell?” A man who spotted me asked as he walked towards me, a clipboard and pen in hand.

“I am.” I replied in a small voice.

“Our client has requested that we move your things out as the house will be refurbished into something better.”

I glanced over him while nodding. They had already forced their way into the house, and my things looked like they were being thrown out.

“Okay.” I replied.

“Also,” The man said, “We have been directed to ask you to select the things that are yours from the things that our client got for you. We have the receipts here with us. So, can we start?”

“Huh?” I was dumbfounded at that. What did I really have that didn't belong to Connor?

He had literally bought everything for me. Even when I wanted to get them with my money, he convinced me not to. He always told me he would feel like less of a man if I ever bought things for myself with my money.

An hour later, I was left standing on the road with a small handbag on my shoulder containing two night gowns I had always had when I was still in school. I stood under the sun, confused about where I would go next.

My parents didn't want me coming back to their house. The only best friend I had just betrayed me, and I had just lost my means of survival. The only money I had in my account wasn't going to last me for a week as I had invested the last bit of it in Connor's company, and I was sure I wasn't going to get any returns back from it.