Chapter 1

The monitor was beeping steadily, Ruth Sinclair sat beside the bed where her unconscious daughter lay. It’s been five years since the tragic incident at Selene’s wedding, five years in comatose.

Selene’s lashes fluttered, and her hand moved; Ruth noticed the body movement and moved closer to Selene, whispering to her with hope.

Ruth has never been the same after Selene went into a coma, she withdrew to sleeping in the hospital, praying fervently for her recovery.

Selene’s eyes slowly opened and shut again as sharp rays of light radiated into her eyes. She adjusted to the light and opened her eyes again.

“Selene! My God.” Ruth clasped her hands together and muttered a short prayer of thanks. She hugged Selene tightly, burying her teary-eyed face into the feathery pillow. When she released Selene, she sighed in relief, holding tight to her hand. Selene gapped at her mother in awe. Was this her mother? Her blonde lustrous hair was gone, her lips were parched, and the radiating happiness that never disappeared from her immersing grey orbs was gone; it was replaced by a distant, unfathomable emptiness.

“Honey, how are you feeling?” Ruth smiled lightly. A smile that had failed to cross her face for the past five years.

“What am I doing here?” Selene asked, she remembered lying in a pool of her blood before falling into a deep sleep.

“You’ve been in a coma for five years.” Selene was distended. She had slept for five years?

“I’m so happy that you are back!”

The door burst open and Doreen trudged into the ward with Timothy and Victoria trailing after him. He stopped in his tracks in shock when he saw Selene awake.

“Selene!” he gasped and they rushed to her side.

“My baby,” Doreen kissed her pale hand, happiness glistening in his eyes. Doreen didn’t look better than Ruth.

Selene glanced at the four of them; her mother, her father, Victoria, and Timothy. Someone was missing.

“Marion?” She whispered. The smile on her mother’s face faded away, the sparkle in her father’s eyes vanished, Victoria scoffed loudly, and Timothy frowned in disappointment.

“You still ask of Marion after everything he did to you?” Victoria blurted out.

“I don’t ever want to hear that bastard’s name again!” Doreen threatened.

“Did he ever visit me, or any of you concerning me?” she asked.

“No, I’ve not set my eyes on me since that… day,” Doreen swallowed, his throat bulging in anger. Selene took in a sharp breath, her heart churned in pain. She felt like giving up on life. Why did he do this to her?

She thought he would come back to his senses and apologize to everyone he had hurt, most especially her. But she was wrong, he never came.

“Forget about him, honey, he doesn’t deserve an atom of your love.” Ruth pressed her thumb and forefinger together.

“Why, what did I ever do wrong?” Selene muttered as tears slipped out of her eyes. She recalled the moments she spent with him before their wedding. He never seemed to have a problem with her, he always wanted to make sure that she was happy. Something was wrong, she could sense it.

“Timothy never left your side throughout the painful years of unconsciousness,” Doreen said.

Selene glanced at Timothy; aside from Marion, he was another friend who had stuck to her since her childhood days. She lived most of her life with Timothy than she did with Marion, she remembered how Timothy used to fight off bullies for her in college.

“Just like your mom said, he doesn’t deserve your love,” Timothy muttered.

Then who does? Selene thought as she watched her father agree with Timothy, smiling proudly at him.

A few days later, Selene's wish was granted. She was discharged from the hospital. Her parents urged her to stay with them until she had recovered mentally, but Selene, being a stubborn and relentless lady, bluntly declined. She preferred to stay alone in her apartment.

The chauffeur pulled up in front of the building and she came down. She inhaled slowly as she clutched her bag tightly. She got into the elevator, rode to her floor, and unlocked the door before sliding into the cold empty house.

She climbed up to her room and unlocked the door. She exhaled sadly as she stared at the fully packed luggage on the bed. She and Marion planned to spend their wedding night in her house before going for their honeymoon vacation in Paris.

She sank into the bed, zipped open the luggage then started digging out her clothes from it. Angry tears streamed down her face as she tore them out.

“I promise never to leave you alone, Selene. I will hold you in my heart till I can hold you in my arms.” That was the promise Marion made to her on the starless night of their wedding eve.

The ringing doorbell penetrated her conscience and she stopped what she was doing. She stood up and walked to the door.

“Victoria,” she groaned as she looked into the peephole.

Victoria shoved into the room before Selene opened the door widely.

“I can’t take any chances, you might shut the door to my face.” Victoria laughed.

“I told you earlier that I wanted to be left alone,” Selene frowned.

“I know that!” Victoria threw her hands in the air.

“I’ll hate myself forever if you should commit suicide,” Victoria muttered in a low tone.

“Vicky!” Selene widened her eyes and shook her head. Victoria walked into her room fully and shrieked in disgust.

“What?” Selene shouted from the living room.

“What the hell have you been doing? Your room looks like a total mess.”

Selene smiled wryly and walked into her room. Clothes were scattered around the entire place.

“Oh no. Don’t tell me it’s because of Marion?” Victoria frowned. Selene plopped into the bed, agitated.

“I gave up everything for him!”

“I know, sweetie, you have to let him go.” Victoria waved her hands across her face.

Selene’s eyes caught the diamond ring on Victoria’s middle finger.

“Are you getting married?” She asked, surprised.

Victoria smiled smugly.

“I wanted you to fish it out yourself,” she grinned, waving her hand at Selene’s face.

“Daniel proposed a year after your wedding.”

Selene frowned at her statement.

“Vicky, can you stop saying 'my marriage.'”

Victoria slapped her lips and apologized.

“You should have rushed it up!”

“How do you expect me to get married without my best friend by my side? I can’t do that; besides, you will be my chief bridesmaid.”

Selene grinned and held Victoria’s hand, she envied the sparkling ring on her best friend’s hand. “I can’t wait!” She squealed.

“Have you had anything to eat?” Victoria asked and picked up the remote control, heading to the television.

“No.”

“Alright then. I’ll shuffle up some sandwich,” she mumbled.

“Add coffee to it,” Selene muttered and Victoria winked before trudging off.

Minutes later, they sat by a cracking fire playing chess, plates of sandwiches, and cups of coffee set before them.

They jumped as a shrill sound pierced through the quiet room.

“It’s the telephone. I’ll get it,” Victoria sighed and sprinted to the telephone. She picked up the receiver and placed it to her ear.

“Hello? Yeah, she’s in,” she replied to the speaker, peering at Selene.

Clouds of grief darted across her pupils and her jaws dropped.

“What?” She shrieked and plunged the receiver carelessly.

She faced Selene with eyes wide as saucers.

“What’s wrong?” Alarm laced in Selene’s voice as she asked.

“Your dad…”

Selene didn't wait for Victoria to complete her sentence before dashing out of the house with her keys.

She jumped into her car and roughly drove to the Villa. Different thoughts ran through her distorted mind throughout the ride.

When she ran up to Doreen's room and shakily reached for the knob. The door opened and she slammed her head on a hard chest.

"Ouch!" Selene groaned and looked up. Timothy's blank eyes stared down at her.

"Hi," he slowly muttered.

Selene unintentionally ignored his greeting and slid past him to the room.

Ruth sat beside him, constantly dabbing the tears that streaked down her face.

“Is he going to be alright?” she asked. Ruth hid the handkerchief and faked a smile.

“Yes, it was just a mild heart attack,” Timothy spoke up behind her. Selene exhaled in relief and sank into the divan. She reached out and engulfed Doreen’s pale hands into her palm, caressing it slowly.

“I was so scared, I thought I was going to lose him,” Ruth said in a whisper.

"I have to leave, Mrs Sinclair," Timothy said, glancing at his wristwatch to avoid Selene's eyes.

"Thank you so much for coming," Ruth replied as he made for the door.

Timothy cocked his head in Selene's direction and their eyes locked. He smiled at her but she returned it with a cold stare and looked away.

“He’s overworking himself because of the company,” Ruth said when Timothy left.

“But Mom, the company has been pulled to great heights.”

“And his health is paying the price,” Ruth mumbled, her eyes becoming teary again.

“He should hand over the company to someone else, someone capable," Ruth said as she dried her face with a handkerchief.

Selene snapped her head in Ruth’s direction. Ruth was right, her father should step down from being the CEO, but who is capable of moving the company?

“Dad!” The door swung open and Lauren flounced into the room. “Oh, daddy.” Lauren ignored the presence of Ruth and Selene, she focused on showering blissful kisses on Doreen’s face.

“Stop that, Lauren!” Ruth snapped. Lauren stopped her childish act and rolled her eyes contemptuously.

“You have finally realized that you have a home, right?” Ruth pursed.

Lauren waved manicured fingers at Ruth and faced Selene, a large smirk displayed on her face.

“I couldn’t attend your wedding because I knew that it would turn out to be a disaster. Why will Marion stoop down to be with you?” she snickered. Selene’s face turned crimson and she balled her fist in anger. She made to lash out at Lauren but Ruth forbore her.

“Lauren, do you realize that you’re talking to your elder sister?” Ruth snapped.

“I’m not dumb, Mom!” Lauren snapped back and swerved her attention to Doreen.

“Daddy wouldn’t dare hand over his company to an incapable bride,” Lauren muttered, loud enough for Ruth and Selene to hear.

Selene sighed, grabbed her keys, and straightened up.

“If Dad wakes up let me know,” she said to Ruth and kissed her lightly on the cheeks.

She strolled out of the Villa after directing a hateful glare at Lauren.

She and Lauren have never been close ever since their childhood days. Fortunately, Lauren has found a reason to taunt her nonstop.