Secrets

All heads were turned to the direction of the advancing new voice. It didn't take more than a second for Ryella to determine the owner of the voice 'That fool dares come here, he really doesn't have any shame at all. It takes two to tangle but in this case, two can play this game.' she unknowingly licked her taut pink lips at the thought of making someone lose money. In her past life, that has been her weakness and now it hasn't changed, not for one bit.

  Dexter had come with hopes of boosting Susan's morale and probably currying favors from the judges but who knew that he'll overhear Ryella publicly exposing some of the secrets he has tried to keep in the dark. Come to think of it, what exactly was she doing here, didn't she refuse to help her sister out but how come she came here, I guess there are some things that we'll never find out.

  Ryella smirked, its time to up her game. She fake gasps loudly "How can you say that I'm slandering my own sister, if we go through the footages, you'll notice that there's a big difference durning the audition and film shooting".

  Dexter had to cover the whole thing up quickly, Susan took that chance to run towards him, tears pooled around her eyes "Big brother Dexter...my sister is being mean to me. She's falsey accusing me. Big brother". He pulled her closer, patting her before everyone, giving an outward display of sisterly affection towards her.

  Everyone sneered at them.

  "Ryella apologize to your sister this instant" he ordered, receiving a death glare from her in return but before she could retort, JW spoke.

  "And why should she? She hasn't done anything wrong, just exposing dirty secrets" he turned back to the judges "what are your conclusions?".

  For the first time Mrs Carol spoke up "I've concluded, there's nothing more to say, Miss Ryella would play the female lead role for my book and if anyone has a problem with that..."she glares at Me Max, Dexter and Susan. "Just shut up, I'm not interested in listening to any of your lousy complaints, I've made up my mind" she walked towards Ryella, slowly helped her from the stage before handing her a business card. "Contact me as soon as you decide which company to sign up with. Everyone! There would be a public announcement on when the opening party and film shooting would start, I'm expectant that I'll meet you all in the grounds. Good luck and I'm out, Dominique we have a lot of preparations to make, come along" she elegantly picks up her purse and walks out with Dominique by her side.

  Everyone cheered, no one knew how a bottle of champagne and glasses got into the hall but everyone was celebrating excluding Dexter and Susan who were glaring heatedly at Ryella.

  "So, my female lead, would you be interested in signing with my company, I promise it would be the best choice you'll ever get! With me backing you, you wouldn't have any problems in the entertainment industry" JW explained, pulling his manager with him towards her (Ryella). Susan bit the button of her lips, drawing blood in the process and she tried to prevent herself from crying out in pain. Dexter was so mad, his face darkened, he kept clenching and unclenching his fist, he had a lots of questions racing around in his head. 'How did she become so so beautiful? She has completely changed, where is her shy attitude?. Staring deeply at her, he felt a different form of emotion that isn't disgust towards her, even the sparkle in her mascara darkened eyes were mesmerizing. That's strange.

  She rolled her eyes "No I'm not interested".

  JW gawked at her "you must be joking right?"

  She smirked in return "I don't think I look like I'm joking. I don't think so" she starts walking off.

  "Wont you be joining the celebrations?" JW asked.

  She stopped and turned around slowly "I afraid i won't, I've got a other important matters to deal with" she glanced at Susan and Dexter for a brief second "far more important than this short celebration, the real party would begin anytime soon and I suppose you'll be fine there to celebrate with me". She turns to leave not before glancing that the dark corner where is believed someone was, watching her every move but to her suprise no one was there, it seemed whoever it was got bored and left.

  She made various stops at some roadside stores before she finally got home, she wasn't stalling because she was scared infact she was fully ready for the trouble that she caused and the more trouble that is brewing in private.

  As she was about to open the front door, she heard Susan wailing loudly to her father complaining about how Ryella stolen her role and her father being a typical dad that supports his lovely daughter couldn't help but try to convince her Susan on how he was gonna massively deal with Ryella when she gets back.

  Ryella strolled in with a bunch of shopping bags and says cheerfully "Hey family, I hope you're all doing great cause I'm having a great day" she walked past her father and Dexter who was still consoling the red eyed Susan.

  "GET BACK HERE THIS INSTANT, YOUNG LADY!!" Fred, their father bellowed at the top of his voice infuriated by the fact that she had walked past him without any hint of acknowledgement.

  She stopped and slowly turned, she retorted calmly with a chilly expression "what have I done this time. Besides you should be careful of how you yell around, you aren't getting any younger".

  Fred Kress was stunned seeing how beautiful she had become, if put side by side with Susan, Susan would only look like a dull ornament while this daughter in front of him is a peerless beauty that can topple nations and cause an uproar in the entertainment industry. What kind of change has occurred.

  "You see! You see! That's how she behaves now, she is very disrespectful" Vikky, Susan's mother and Ryella's stepmother interfared from the kitchen, stomping out with a glass of water, her face caked with make up making her look less attractive in front of everyone. "She talks back at you, her father. I've tried everything to make her understand that everyone cares about her but she thinks of us as her enemies. She knew how Susan has worked for the female lead role but she specifically targeted her and bribed the judges, she probably seduced one of them. She is a slut just like her mot-"

  Something snapped within Ryella, even though this body's mother has nothing to do with her for she was just a resident soul, the former soul cared about her mother and she has inherited all the feelings of the former soul. "Know you place Aunt!" She said coldly.

  Dexter blinked twice, there is something knew about her, something strange has occurred resulting to a drastic change in her beauty and temperament, she didn't look weak anymore. Something was stirring inside of him, a need to claim her as his but looking at Susan's sad expression, the admiration for Ryella disappeared, so what if she's beautiful now, she can't be compared with Susan who is intelligent and a genius. After all what was beauty without brains. He quickly pulled Susan to his side and kissed her forehead.

  "How dare you refer to her as Aunt, she's my wife! Your mother!" Fred was itching to hit her like he always does.

  She continued, staring coldly at everyone in the room, her aura was so suppressive cause the others to feel like ants that can be squashed at any moment. "That's where you're mistakened , she's your mistress, your illegitimate wife and a step mother to me but I choose to refer to her as Aunt. Let she and her daughter know their rightful place in this house! How dare the illegitimate step daughter fight for something with the legitimate daughter of the family. How dare an outsider interfare in discussions that is between family members. Their rights are limited around here, you have one wife and that was my mother who was murdered in cold blood. Nothing changes!".

  Everyone knew that she was saying the truth, no one had anything to refute her claims. Vikky's mind was in chaos, she was doomed, no one was supposed to find out, she looked at Fred with hopes that he'll side her. Fred was outraged, he went forward raising his hand to hit her, everyone stared, anticipating a resounding slap that might shut Ryella up but that didn't come.

  Ryella held onto her father's hand tightly, his face whitened and beads of sweat formed on his forehead as he was face to face with a devilish smile on her face, she had no kind look on her, she looked like the devil in person. With disgust laced in her tone. "You have no right to hit me anymore, I'm no longer a kid" she leaned closer and whispered in a dark scary time to only his hearing. "I'm not the old Ryella, that Ryella is dead. Know your place around her, control those outsiders if you don't want to lose your position as the chairman of Kress Enterprise. I hope you understand what I mean. Now act sensible".

  Fred was scared, he could only do as she says, for now. "Ryella is right, Susan, you should have worked harder to impress the judges"

  "WHAT! Father how can you say that? Father why? I worked harder for that role! Mother, mother tell him. Dexter believe me" Susan could not lose the goddess praise she had in a blink of an her, she could only weep like she was wronged.

  Amidst all the tears, Ryella had dialed a number on her phone and the voice of Mrs Carol was put on speaker.

  "Hello Ryella, is anything the issue?"

  "No Mrs Carol,I just called to confirm if you are really positive on making me the female lead, some people feel wronged right now and I'm so worried" she said calmly and even sniffed as if she had been crying.

  What! Their jaw dropped, she's acting all calm and gently as if she hasn't been acting like a devil a few minutes ago. She even threatened them, how's she looking like she's been wronged instead.

  "That's not supposed to be so!, I am so positive that you'll be excellent, the news should have reached the press soon, everyone would soon find out about it so you should be prepared for whatever that's gonna happen. Your reputation, your movement, your behavior and attitude would be monitored heavily by the public. Your private life might not be so private anymore. I advise you to be careful. Have you chosen a company to sign with yet?".

  "No ma'am, I'm still working on it"

  "You have twenty four hours to decide. Call me once you've decided". She ended the call.

  "I've got things to plan family"she started walking away but stopped a bit "Dexter, the relationship between us is over, I don't want anything to do with you. I already made it public. The relationship between us is done"

  "I don't care, there are bigger fishes in the ocean".

  "I hope you don't catch the wrong one then" she chuckled and glanced at Susan for a bit before exiting the room.

  "Mr Kress, Mrs Kress, we need to talk, sweetheart, freshen up" said Dexter .

  "Come on son" Fred was slightly happy that Dexter was interested in one of his daughters, the alliance with his family was something every leading family in the country wanted. So what if Ryella got a lead role, Susan hasn't failed in any way too.

  As they all went to Mr Kress study room, the incident all forgotten, no one noticed the twisted, frenzied and maniacal expression on Susan's face. Her mind was made up, she was going to ruin Ryella's reputation by hook or by crook. No matter what price she had to pay, everything must be hers.