Lana’s POV The house was still the same way I remembered it. The chairs, the arm stool, and the and the settees All of the arrangements were still the same, and it struck a chord of familiarity within me. I settled into the plush armchair and watched Andre move towards the bar, his demeanour calm and composed. It was hard to reconcile this composed man with the man I had known years ago. Andre returned with a glass of red wine, just the way I liked it. He handed it to me, then sat across from me. “Have you come to a conclusion regarding what we discussed?” I crossed my legs, one above the other, and stared blankly at him. “Regarding what exactly? The only thing I remember that we have yet to talk about are the kids and how we’ll split their days between us. Other than that, I don't think we have any unfinished business. Except you are talking about signing the documents, which would see me as the new CEO of Ranhold.” Andre heaved a long sigh and rubbed his temples. Was he beginnin
Andre’s POV Two Years LaterMy mother was upset that I had gone behind her back to sabotage her. To sell her company to that little brat—that is what she refers to Lana as now—who knew nothing about business, but I did not have to tell her that it was either that or see her remanded in prison. To watch everything I had and everyone I loved taken away from me. I did not need to tell her that we were lucky we had a choice. The poor girl had no choice back then and had to take life as it was handed to her. My mother would live—abort sourly—but at least she would still live. We could build back the company even if it took a long time. Thankfully, all she had back then was a minor heart attack. As for the little brat, Lana, she and Cameron got married two years ago and have spent the last two years of their marriage touring the world.I was envious of the love they found. The comfort they gave each other, the strength in their numbers, but as time went on, I too was beginning to live wi
This was the expiration of our loveless marriage. A single document that clawed at my insides, prickled my intestines and made me feel like I would throw up my breakfast.I couldn’t believe five years had passed already since we were seated like this – Andre and I – before a lawyer, signing a prenuptial and then marriage certificates. At least Andre had been forthcoming then, he had smiled at me warmly, an action which made my heart flutter and convinced me we were doing the right thing, the best thing for me. He had pretended to be interested. Sending me flowers after flowers while he was at work, asking about my emotional and physical well being while he was at home. Making love to me like it was all he lived for. Those moments for me, had been the best moments of our marriage before he decided he was cheating on the memory of his first love by being with me. It had sounded ridiculous then as it did now, but it was the reality of my situation.Now, Andre could barely look me in t
The bus did not arrive early and I decided to walk home and clear my head on the way. Soon, I was in front of the mansion and I felt that familiar yet uncomfortable pull in my chest. Home was not a place of peace for me, I should be happy I was leaving. “Lana!” I heard a voice and turned towards it. It was Hermione and beside her was my luggage. She held a wide smile on her face and if a stranger watched the scene, they would think she was too happy to see me and not the other way around. I frowned. “Why – my luggage.” I stammered, walking up to meet her. “Cat got your tongue?” Hermione laughed. Her laugh was creaky, like there was something stuck in her throat and it choked her. I hated it and I usually found myself hoping she actually choked. “Why is my luggage out here?” I demanded, throwing arrows at her with my eyes. She seemed unfazed. “You’re over! You and my brother are over. It’s time for you to leave.”The news was here already? I thought. Typical. I was going to reply
Stepping into the house gives me an eerie feeling of déjà vu. Not much had changed since the last time I was here. Photos of Sanders and his wife in their younger years still hung on the wall just above the fireplace, beside a photo of their adopted daughter. I noticed a new photo on the wall. It must have been taken some months ago because it still looked so new; Sanders was lying in what I presumed to be a hospital bed and his wife sat beside him, smiling for the camera. I did not know Sanders had been sick so I looked to his wife and caught her wiping a tear from her eyes herself. “Make yourself at home.” She croaked and dashed into the kitchen. I did as she asked, settling into the settee that was before me. Mrs. Sanders was out in less than a minute and placed a cup of steaming coffee on the small table by my side. I picked the cup gingerly and brought it to my lips, basking in the scent of cocoa seeds. Once the coffee was into my system and I felt my head was clearer, I tu
Early the next morning I was on the morning train leaving for a new city to begin a new life. Mrs. Sanders had driven me to the train station where we found a copier and made copies of all the documents. Mrs. Sanders insisted we both have copies of everything just for the sake of it. After that, she gave me more words of encouragement and advice. Promised to keep in touch and bade me farewell. I couldn’t deny the fact that I was anxious as to what this new life held and meant for me. But I looked forward to trying it out. Mrs. Sanders said it would not be easy but I would get by. I had gone through five years in hell. What was another five? Maybe ten? Probably forever? I couldn’t think that way, I told myself. I should think of the future of my child and make sure it is bright. The train stopped in “Hastvin” about six hours later and I made my way off it almost immediately. Hastvin was a bustling city, known for being the largest commercial city in our country and home to the mos
The call with Mrs. Sanders was short and curt. She informed me of the plans she had put in action for the rest of the assets Sander had been able to salvage for me, made promises to call often to check in on me and more motivational words. She was going to hire an investigator to look into Andre and his family and once there was news, she was going to let me know.All I had to do was survive and made sure that I prepared myself for the battle which was ahead. I had not prepared for this life. Yes, I had been aware that all the time I had with Andre was five years but I had hoped that I could make a change. And yet, when I saw that the change was not coming why had I not prepared at least? Why had I not made myself mentally, emotionally and financially ready to face my new life?I scoffed at myself. I was pathetic. I was a loser and a sore one. I saw myself in this empty apartment, in the most backward neighborhood in this city and I could feel no empathy, no pity. I brought this up on
The next twelve months proved to be the most trying months of my life. I had taken two jobs to help me raise money, pay the bills and also take care of myself and the children. I had gone into labor five months ago and the experience had been the worst. I had been at work in my day job at the restaurant when I felt the spasms of pain ricochet through me. My boss – an elderly woman in her late fifties – had been the first one to notice the signs. She had pulled me into her office and closed the door behind us, then sat us down on a hand-me-down couch and made me take deep breaths in and out while she called an ambulance. The ambulance arrived moments later and together with the woman, they had moved me to the hospital where I gave birth to twins; a boy and a girl. Now, as I stared down at the kids as they slept in their cot, a sense of pride washed over me. It had been five months since I brought them into this world and although I was nowhere at making things better for them, I se