Chapter 5

Kenna

I wake up and feel slightly disoriented, the walls are different, they are a pale peach instead of a dark green, where am I? Then it registers I was brought back home to my mother and stepfather’s house. I groan, it’s really the last place I want to be. I don’t want to have to deal with my mother’s speech that no doubt I will hear. 

My mother is always full of opinions, it sometimes seems to me that I cannot do right in her eyes. For a start she never wanted me to marry Xander. Sure, Xander Staniopolis has an empire of hotels across America, Europe and looking to expand into Asia. All luxury hotels that celebrities go to and also it is known that mafia people go there too. Probably why my mother was not best pleased when I announced I would be marrying him. 

Maybe my mother already knew that Xander had an agenda, she never took to him. In fact, it was my mother who said he couldn’t be trusted. Not that Xander has ever done anything for me to mistrust him. He’s never had affairs, he has stopped being seen out at events with those model like women on his arm. 

Naturally, I had kept the agreement of my marriage a secret from my mother and my stepfather. I didn’t want her to talk me out of it. I needed the money, how was I supposed to know that three years later when I returned like I did, that my mother would announce I was to be the Bodega heir to all his wineries across the world? 

I mean after all, my mother, Eliza, has married a very rich man. My stepfather, Isaac Bodega owns vineyards across America and Europe. Wine has been in his business since his great grandparents. 

It feels late, maybe I needed to catch up on a lot of sleep after all my body has been through lately. It’s getting dusky outside as I open the curtain in the bedroom. Still groggy from the long sleep, I rub my eyes and wish my brain to wake up some. From the floor to ceiling windows, I can see across the beautiful gardens of the property. It’s palatial, and reminds me of the gardens of Versailles. One day all of this will be mine. That will show Xander for sure. 

When I finally get up and change into jeans and a cream, off the shoulder jumper I head straight down into the kitchen. My mother sits at the granite island that dominates the large space. Our housemaid, Elena is with my mother, it looks as if they are going over menus. Their heads are bowed in deep conversation. 

My mother looks up and smiles, I smile back. Her brown hair with golden highlights looks elegant as always, cut into a sharp bob falling to her shoulders. We have the same emerald eyes, hers are soft as she looks at me under her dark lashes. 

“Come sit with me. Elena, that is all for now. Let’s catch up later.” She dismisses Elena who leaves us both alone in the kitchen. It smells of baking, making my stomach rumble. God, I’m hungry not recalling when I actually ate a proper meal last with the divorce, the hospital and everything else. 

“Did you sleep well?” My mother asks as I take a seat next to her. She pours me some coffee from the machine. 

“Yes, thanks. I was out for longer than I thought I’d be. Sorry if I slept too long.”

“Nonsense, things must have taken their toll on you.” She pauses and moves a lock of my hair and tucks it behind my ear. “So, let’s talk.” She begins and I wonder where this is all going to go. 

“Three years have passed, and Xander hasn't fallen in love with you. You lost, and you're back to be the heir of our family. We'll find a time to announce at a celebration dinner that our heir is back,” my mother says. Taking me by surprise, I didn’t think she would make me heir of the family. 

To be announced heir of this empire is something only dreams are made of. 

 I merely nod, I mean I’m not going to complain. It’s an honor to be the heir of the Bodega family. 

Aside from Dante my stepbrother, I have a stepsister, Harlee. She is a few years younger than me and has made it perfectly clear she does not want to be heir. Dante has already many years ago when I still lived at home explained that he does not want to be heir one day. He will at some point branch out on his own, so I am the only one left to be the heir and even though I am Isaac Bodega’s stepdaughter, he loves my mother entirely and is happy for me to be the heir. 

I hear someone coming in and glance up, it is Harlee, my stepsister who is younger than me by a few years, and also my best friend looks at me with tender concern in her hazel eyes. She explained it was Dante who brought me back home. I sigh out of relief. We hug each other, it’s so good to see her again after all this time. She has grown up now, I mean I’m twenty three so that makes her twenty now. When I left she was still in high school. She has become a beautiful young woman, taking completely after her father, Isaac. 

“You don't know how horrified Dante looked when he came back. He stayed up all night watching over you before going to work in the morning,” she tells me. 

“I will thank him when he returns from work,” I say softly. 

At dinner, Harlee sits next to me. My mother is frowning since she has an iPad by her side and is scrolling. Mom’s lips are pursed in a fine line. My stepfather says nothing, Harlee is his angel. Harlee grapes the iPad and lets out an audible gasp.  “Check your social. Even after your divorce, they haven't forgotten to stab you in the back. They're saying you stole something and you have to return it by tomorrow. You can either do it or they'll report you to the police, and it'll be your fault if they do. The internet is blowing up!”

Wait, what the hell is she saying. I snatch the iPad from her, my heart racing. I can see that #Xander XX's ex-wife was indeed trending. Oh. My. God. How can that even be? And worst of all, his company's official statement accused me of stealing valuable jewelry after the divorce.

“Valuable? How dare you show off a necklace worth only a million? Haven't you seen any money before?” Harlee angrily scolded, her eyes are blazing. I stare at the image of a ruby necklace that I am supposed to have stolen. I wore it only once. On my wedding day and then Xander had locked it in his large, black safe in his austere office. I don’t have the code to his safe, and I never asked for it. Why would I? 

I feel like crying with all the insults across my social media inbox, it hurts that they would even suggest that I stole the ruby necklace. I’m not a thief, all I wanted was the divorce and to be out of the situation that I was in. A loveless marriage to a man who only wanted me for donating blood. Even now my stomach feels sick to the core. 

And now everyone thinks that I divorced by Xander and that he kicked me out of the house, it even says due to despicable behavior. They have got to be kidding, right? How can they put out such lies like this, don’t they know it’s wrong to slander someone. I won’t let this lie. I will find a way to get back at Xander and his precious family. Nobody says things like this about me. 

Does Xander think I will put up with this shit? Does he honestly think that by slandering me, I will let him get away with it? If he does, then he doesn’t know me very well. I will show him.  Harlee’s eyes are wide, I give her a wry grin. My mother keeps glaring at me but I ignore her. 

I let my fingers glide over the iPad as I begin to tweet. 

This necklace has GPS and is currently at his young lady’s house. Congratulations to the happy couple (GPS location). 

To add to this, I attach the selfie that Violet took of her laying in Xander’s arms.