CHAPTER 008

NINA.

"Shh, darling, it's alright," Drew said in a soothing tone as he rubbed my frail back. That sweet voice from Drew calmed my terror-laden thoughts, and comfort filled me.

As night fell, a nurse entered the ward , she took a look around the ward and eventually set her eyes on Drew. "Good afternoon, sir," she said cheerily, "This form declares you to be a discharged patient; you may leave now."

She turned over to me, still sprawled on the bed, its own soft look turned toward me. "I do hope you're doing well, ma?" she crooned.

I offered a weak smile barely over a whisper. "Yeah, gradually." The nurse nodded while handing discharge papers to Drew, and he helped me sit up, offering his support as I swung my legs off the bed.

Taking my time with Drew's help, I stood up with a shaky feeling. Drew then placed an arm around me, "This is just to get you home and rest."

He accompanied me and comforted me and cradled me in his arms, while others stood about silently; perhaps, jobs have become more difficult, and friendships could be fostered; the atmosphere had become too powerful.We were finally going home.

The nurse left the ward, and after Drew stood me up, I leaned on him. I still felt a little weak, so we walked from there out of the hospital, where I found our little son, Morel, waiting in the car. Drew drove us home while I was unable to shake off that feeling of unfamiliarity; Why did that road look so narrow? I thought to myself but dared not ask Drew. I didn't have any information about this place and our lives, and I didn't want to raise any suspicions.

The house really took me in. It was very quiet around and the green flowers were just perfecting the view. Such beauty mesmerized me into a momentary daze before Morel spoke. "Mummy, you look like you've forgotten home," he said, peering into my face with inquisitive eyes. I smiled weakly and said simply, "Okay, Morel."

Drew took my hand and led me to the house. "Come, let me take you to our room, honey," he said. It was a really beautiful room with big furniture and elegant decor. In that room, I passed through a myriad of emotions-comfort and confusion-who are these people, and why did I feel like an outsider?

Staring at the TV while the news rolled, I lay down on the bed. "I'm coming, my love. Let me get you something to eat," Drew said, standing from where he sat and going toward the kitchen.

On his leave, I turned my phone but something beyond all else on TV caught my attention. Her words stunned me into silence: "It has been confirmed that Mrs. Nina Daniel Davies lost her life in a fatal accident."

I felt my heart sink; circumstance made me gloriously aware of the effort to continue breathing. Forcing the towel into acting, I dismissed the tears from my face to pronounce, "Oh my God, Laurel couldn't pull through."

The camera pans away from the anchor and into the sad scenery, where he says, "We will be right back after this break.” As the flicker of the TV screen announced that they were going into a commercial break, the program went on.

Taking a deep breath, I attempted to put things together in my head." I have to be strong," I told myself in hushed tones. "RIP Laurel," I murmured, the tears still flowing.

When the news program returned to the TV, the headline read: "The family of Nina Daniel Davies mourns her loss." And it was into the mourning crowd gathered around a coffin that the screen showed feet.

Watching this was like a scene from my very own life, and the pain was real.

I stayed there, fixed on the television. The headlines soon changed to read "The speech of the family members for their loss." Then I saw, among the group of people presented by the camera, my heart skipped a beat as I saw Susan, my step-sister. She was standing beside Bryan, holding his hand.

"My fiancé and I are so speechless for what has befallen us," came the quivering voice of Susan. "She paused for a moment to breathe deep and lower her chin; after which, she snuffled," continued the report.

"Everything will be all right now, baby," Bryan whispered gently, opening his arm to embrace her and brush the tears from their cheeks.

After saying that, Susan broke down and finished her last words: "RIP Nina." Finally, she walked from the camera with Bryan leading the way.

I felt as if I had just been punched right in the tummy. Susan was calling Bryan her fiancé? My head spun as I tried to process what I was seeing. What was that? Has something gone wrong somewhere? The questions were endless, but one thing was clear - my life had just turned upside-down.

“Was Bryan and Susan dating right under my nose?”

I sat in stunned silence, gazing at the television for the news. The headline was "Family Scandal: Uncle Sean's Secret Affair with Niece's Stepmom Exposed.".

And all of that appeared in my mind as my jaws dropped open when I saw the footage of my Uncle Sean and my stepmom Carla all lovey-dovey, holding hands, whispering. The disgust and betrayals welling up within me were immeasurable.

"According to sources, Mr Sean, the uncle of Nina and younger brother of Mr Daniel has been in a secret affair with his brother's wife Carla.”

It simply seemed impossible for me to see my uncle, one of the most unlucky men ever, have had a scandalous relationship with my stepmom. It is some terrible nightmare.

As the camera zoomed in on their faces, I couldn't help but frown .

How on earth could he do this? And what on earth made them broadcast it on television? My whole world has turned upside down.

“I'm so sorry Dad, I'm sorry the people you call family didn't really love you, they were just around you for your money”, I cried.

“I'm sorry Dad, I don't listen to you , I regret my actions, I regret not listening to you”, I screamed tears rolling like water.

As I lay there crying , I received the most shocking news of my life,

“D'Atelier COMPANY HAS BEEN AUCTION FOR SALE”.