Tania||
I should have been shocked looking at an alien reflection in the mirror, but I didn't. I should have been surprised seeing the face of the man I thought was a whore with a doctor's coat in front of me but Instead, all I could think of was the opportunities this new face in the mirror posed. I was a totally different person, I thought to myself as I turned my head from side to side, inspecting my face. My face was still sore, and there were stitches in some places, but apart from those, my new face looked okay. I still had some tell tale looks of who I used to be; my striking green eyes and my distinct cupids bow which gave my lips the sensual curve it had, but apart from those, I was practically unrecognizable to anyone who used to know me. "How long have I been here for?" I asked, my voice sounding foreign in my own ears. "You have been in a coma for six weeks now." He replied so gently as if he was scared his voice would hurt me. His voice sounded like warm honey. Like a cure for a bad flu or cancer. "Your wounds were pretty bad. It is honestly a miracle you recuperated this fast, and your brain was undamaged." The doctor continued. This time, when he spoke, I could sense some guilt in his voice, and I couldn't blame him. It must have been shocking to see the drunk woman he had a one night stand with as his patient. But all that didn't matter. There was no point even talking about it. I was as good as dead, but before I died, I would try my best to save my sister from my ex-husband. I had always been a strong person. I had no choice but to be. When both my parents had died tragically on the same day, I had not shed a tear —Well, not in public. I had been strong not for myself but for my little sister. I had not taken any time to grieve as I had to resume work as the head of the company my father had left in my care. I had fought strong businessmen as a young, naive business owner and won, and I did all of these on my own. This time wouldn't be different. I would fight Nicholas, and I would win. "Can I be discharged today?" I asked, and the doctor stared at me in shock. "No. You can't. We still have to check on your vitals and see how it improves—" "How long will this take?" I asked, interrupting his explanation. He blinked twice before moving to the tab in his hands. "Everything should take at least another six weeks—" "Six weeks?" I cried out. "I don't have that much time!" Panic seeped into my head as I began to calculate how long I had been in the hospital already. I already spent more than one month, staying for another six weeks meant I wouldn't get the chance to take my revenge before I died. I sat up straighter and began pulling at the IVs connected to my arms. But before I could take the first one out, he rushed towards me and held back my hands. "Tania, what are you doing?" "I can't stay here. It is very important that I leave. There are things I need to do, and if I waste time, I wouldn't—" "But you are sick. We can't let you just leave like this. Whatever it is you have to do, it can wait. But your life can not." "You don't understand. I am dying!" I yelled as tears filled my eyes, the pain that had become my companion filling my bones. "I am dying, doctor... And if I don't get out of here now, my sister will be in big trouble." His brows scrunched in confusion, and his deep blue eyes seemed to be boring a hole into me. "Tania, you are not dying..." He whispered with worry filling his eyes. It was touching to see a man I barely knew feel this much pain for me, but this was my life. I blinked away the tears threatening to stream down my face and looked into his eyes. "I was diagnosed with stage four cancer some weeks before my accident and was given three months to live." His worried expression slowly changed, but before he could speak, I continued. "I have less than that six weeks to save my sister. Please, you have to discharge me." I concluded. He shook his head as if trying to disprove something to himself. "No, you do not have cancer!" He countered with such seriousness, my heart froze, and for the first time, a glimmer of hope filled me up. "When I brought you in, we did all kinds of tests on you. There is no way you would have had cancer, and it would have gone unnoticed. Especially at the stage you say it's in." He explained. It was now my turn to blink multiple times as I took in the information he was giving to me. "But I do have cancer..." I whispered with less confidence. Could my diagnosis have been a mistake? "Tania, if you had cancer, it would have posed a major problem for us as we operated you, and you wouldn't have been here right now." He moved to the far end of the room where a shelf sat and pulled out a file before returning to me. "Here are your results. You can look at them again. It contains everything in your body and its state," he said, handing me the file. As my eyes moved over the papers, a cloud of confusion filled me. "Can you please redo the test, please..." I whispered, my voice too shaken up to go louder. "Of course..." He moved to the table at the corner again and returned with a test box. He took a sample of my blood before calling a nurse to run for a cancer test. My mind was lost at that moment, and I couldn't tell how much time had passed before the nurse returned with the results. "Dr. Ivan, the test is negative. There are no cancerous tissues in her system..." As her response filled the air, my brain exploded with a thick blend of pain and anger. It suddenly became clear what had truly happened. It was all a game controlled by Nicholas. Doctor Philip had lied. They wanted me to think I was dying so that I would hand over the company to Nicholas. When I gave it to my sister instead, he activated his second game plan. "That bastard!" I hissed, covering my face with my hands as rage bubbled through me. Nicholas thought he was so smart, yet he had failed. The heavens had given me a second chance, and now, I was going to make sure that he paid dearly for all his crimes. "Would you like to call anyone?" I turned my eyes to him, my mind processing how I could hit Nicholas hard. I was going to mention calling Marcus, but before I could say the word, the door to my ward opened, and an older woman stepped in with a large smile on her face. "Grandmother, you shouldn't be here!" Ivan hissed, moving towards her. "Oh, why not?" She moved away from him and came to sit on the corner of my bed. "My daughter-in-law is awake. I should be taking care of her..." She beamed with such excitement, I was struck by confusion. Was she referring to me?Tania||"How are you doing today honey?" The old woman who was Ivan's grandmother cooed to me like I was a baby as she stroked my forehead gently.My confused eyes moved from her face, to Ivan's and back to hers and then Ivan again. His eyes were full of panic and what looked like shame."When did she wake up?" I watched as Ivan's grandmother asked him. "Erm..." I watched Ivan stutter as he rubbed his beautiful forehead with his thumb and forefinger.He looked so tense and he was intentionally refusing to meet my eyes. I really wanted him to look at me. I needed answers to what was going on."About an hour ago I think." Ivan finally answered. "Oh, honey! How do you feel?" The old woman's attention was back on me.I looked at her and my eyes were met with beautiful blue eyes that were so identical to the ones Ivan had. Hers were just wiser and full of motherly love and I wanted to drown in their gentleness.This time when she spoke, she looked like she warranted an answer from me but
Ivan||My heart skipped a couple of beats as I waited for her answer.The room felt so hot all of a sudden and I was finding it so difficult to breathe. She was silent. I tried to read her thoughts in her eyes but they were like two cold green slots with no emotion. I knew I had made a mistake and it was worse that I did not know how to sort myself out of it.After a couple of minutes, I gave up. I was going to cut the whole thing off. I would find another way to please Grandma."Fine. I'll do it." Tania's voice interrupted my thoughts."What?!" I asked, disbelieving what I just heard."I would go through with your silly plan but on one condition." She said.I waited for her to state her condition. My body was jittery with excitement. No matter what she requested, I was going to give it to her. Hell, I would give her a kidney if she wanted it."You have to declare me dead and sign a death certificate," She finally said. I paused alongside all the excitement I was feeling as I trie
Ivan||"You really don't have to do much honestly. Just enough to keep my grandma's suspicion at bay," I said to Tania who was reclining in the passenger seat next to me in my black Brabus.It was the same car I had hit her with a couple of weeks ago. I wondered what it felt like sitting in the same car that had almost killed you and next to the man who had almost killed you.It had been two days since we had made our plan to help each other's deceitful plans and even though I had intended to let her stay in the hospital for a couple more days for further observation, my grandma had insisted that she be discharged.I could not help but admire the beauty that was sitting next to me. I would consider my work on her face to be my best reconstruction.I had indeed taken my time to ensure she did not have any scars or imperfections mostly out of guilt for having destroyed the masterpiece that had originally been her face. However, I had ensured I kept some features of her old face. Tania
Tania||"What do you think?" Ivan asked me.I moved my head from side to side as I examined my face in the mirror."Perfect." I respond.He had just taken out the last remaining stitches on my face. There was still a little reddening and swelling around where the stitches had been taken out, but apart from that, everything was flawless."It's safe to say Nana's idea of bringing you back home for a quicker recovery really worked," Ivan said with a smile.It had been six days since I stepped into Ivan's home. Six days of spending the night in the same room with him, and I would have to say it had been worth it.Nana had spent all her time dotting over me and turning me into an adult spoiled brat. I would not lie. It felt so good to have someone care for you, and I made sure I enjoyed every bit of it. I was so comfortable in the house, but Ivan didn't seem to be enjoying it as much as I was. He seem
Tania||As her question sank through my head, the pasta passed into my windpipe, choking me out of my thoughts.I coughed out the food and Ivan got up immediately to help me.He patted my back while I continued coughing with one hand and with the other hand, he held a napkin to my mouth."Nan see what you have caused!" Ivan chastised her."What did I do?" She whined, oblivious to the murder she almost committed."I told you to stop saying things like that, Nana!" Ivan hissed and she pursed her lips sadly.When I recovered, Ivan went back to his seat and grandmother cleared her throat."I'm sorry honey. I didn't mean to rile you up...""It's okay Nana." I replied forcing a smile. "I was not expecting such a question, that's all.""But you should." She insisted and from the corner of my eyes, I saw Liam roll his eyes in exasperation."You both are obviously in love so there is no re
Tania||"Tania?!" Marcus' replied.The sleep seemed to have cleared from his eyes."Yes, Marcus! It's me!" My voice cracked as I spoke to him but I didn't care. It felt so good to speak to my friend again, after so long.If there was one person I trusted, then it was Marcus."How?" He whispered. "You're dead!"I could hear the shock and disbelief in his voice. But all I could do was chuckle."Seems I must have resurrected then." I joked."If this is a prank I advise that you stop it immediately or I call the police." Marcus hissed sternly."Marcus is me, Tania. It's not a prank." I tell him. "Oh Tania! My sweet girl." Marcus cooed joyfully. "I have missed you so much.""I have missed you too." I replied as my excitement opened my tear glands."Where are you? What happened to you? I looked for you everywhere. I went to the police and went to every hospital. You were nowhe
Ivan||Tania always looked so gloomy, like an approaching storm but today, I could almost see the cackles of lightning around her.The newspaper article from yesterday had really messed with her feelings and I was the one on the receiving end of it.She had not replied to my greetings this morning even though I could tell she had been awake by the rise and fall of her blanket as she breathed.And when it was time for me to leave for work, she had only left me a grunt as a reply to my goodbye without even casting me a glance. It was as if I was an annoying bug she wished she could swat away.I hated seeing her this way not because it made her grumpy and ignore me but because her hurt was my hurt...As crazy as that seemed.It was strange and difficult to admit but for the first time in my life, I was concerned about the feelings of a woman. All my life, women have been more like playthings to me. Fancy little toys I got bored of and discarded, moving onto another.Yet with Tania it wa
Ivan||But there was no way I was going to let that happen. No way I was going to let her slip out of my grasp.We both kept silent as we waited for the tension between us to subside."Tania," I called her softly after a while as I reached for her hands.She tried to pull them away but I held them firmly in my hands."What exactly do you want? What would make you happy? Tell me and I will do it." I whispered, my voice determined.Slowly, she lifted her eyes to look into mine.She took a lot of time not saying a word and looking into my eyes and that drove me crazy with fear. "I want a job," she finally said.I exhaled a long sigh of relief as she continued. "I cannot keep on staying locked up here. I will run mad. I am already running mad."As much as I was relieved that her request had not been to leave the house, her request about a job didn't leave me ecstatic either."Is
Ivan|| The hospital room was filled with the soft beeping of machines and the gentle hum of fluorescent lights. It had been three days since the incident that had happened but it felt very fresh in my memory. The television that was mounted to the side, was showing news about what had happened. The caption read, "Family Feud: A tale of love, deceit and betrayal." I had been disgusted at the various titles news reporters had been using just to trend with this story. It would have been funny to me if I had not been involved and my loved ones nearly killed in the process. Tania lay unconscious, giant tubes running in and out of various parts of her body. Her sister was in the adjoining room. She had also suffered a bullet wound, but hers was not as fatal as Tania's, and she was already awake and doing fine. We were lucky the ambulance came in time she would have been lost. I remembered how shocked the medics were when we brought her to her state. How did it even happen? How
Tania|| "Well, well, well. If it isn't the two loves of my life. My sister wives, literally." He mocked us sarcastically as he approached. He clapped loudly as if he had just won the lottery. Eyeing me, he said, "I can't believe you are Tania! You look nothing like before." He scanned me up and down. "I should have known it was you when you gave me that sloppy kiss. You know you were never a good kisser. Unlike my lovely second wife here." He addressed Eloise. The fear in the room from the three of us was so palpable, filling the room. I bet we even stank of fear. "Get away from her!" He commanded, but we did not move. "I said get away from her, or else her brain matter would decorate your bodies in a second!" He shouted. Not needing another graphic threat, Eloise and I jumped away from Nana. "Good girls." He complimented us with a leery smile, and I felt like throwing up. "Let her go! You said you would let her go if we came!" I yelled at him. He chuckled. "What do you t
Tania|| The siren of a police car trailed behind us as we sped to the location Eloise had discovered. Eloise sat at the back of the car. She had insisted on following us even though we had begged her to stay behind. "This would be traumatizing for you. Moreover, your body needs rest to fully recover." I had tried to reason with her. "I can't keep running from Nicholas. I need to face him and face my fear and if he goes down today, I want to be there to witness the moment." She had insisted. "I will not let you!" I stood my ground. "Then I won't tell you where the place is." She said cockily. "Good luck finding where the penthouse is, and even if you are lucky, it would be too late then," She said, folding her hands. Ivan wasn't too pleased with her. With fallen shoulders, he conceded. "She is coming with us!" Ivan had declared and she smiled triumphantly. She had played on Ivan's fear of running out of time and losing his grandma and had won. As we waited for Eloise to g
Ivan||I grunted awake, my hand heading straight to the throbbing pain at the back of my head. "Ouch!" I cried out as a sharp pain shot through my head when my hand touched the wound.My hands felt wet, and I brought my hand to my eyes to inspect it, and I saw blood.Struggling to my feet, I tried to remember what had happened but when my eyes fell on the chair in the middle of the room, it flashed in my mind instantly. Nana had been kidnapped and Tania and Eloise were the ransom to get her back.This realization sent a surge of energy through me and I regained a tremendous amount of strength. There was also a tinge of fear developing deep within me. A paper on the floor caught my attention and I picked it up.YOU HAVE UNTIL 8.00 P.M TODAY OR ELSE SHE DIES, the note read.I squeezed the note in my hand as anger overcame me.From recent events, I knew not to take Nicholas' threats lightly.Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out my phone and checked the time.It was 8.00 am.This mean
Ivan|| I could feel the exhaustion in my bones as I drove home from the hospital in the pitch-black darkness. It took a great deal of effort to keep my eyes open as I drove. It had been quite some time since I had a good night's rest ever since this entire situation had escalated. I was driving home alone; Tania had insisted on spending the night with her sister, and I had left them consoling themselves and planning their wrath on Nicholas, whom Tania had just found out had been the cause of her parents' death. That one was a big eye-opener; I never even saw that coming. I knew surprises were coming, but damn. I knew Nicholas was ruthless but I had never thought it was as bad as this was. He had killed and would have continued killing till he had wiped their family off the face of the earth until he was the only one left alive so he could take the company. I had never seen such callousness before in a man except my father. Nicholas reminded me a lot about my father. They could
Tania|| I held Eloise's hands tight in mine as I ran alongside the stretcher that was rolling her into the hospital. After she had collapsed by the roadside, we put her in the car and drove back to the hospital. I sat with her in the back of the car, her head resting on my thighs and my hands clasping hers as Ivan raced to the hospital. It was thanks to Ivan's connection that a team was already waiting for us when we arrived at the hospital. "Ma'am you need to let go now. We are taking her in to run some tests." A male nurse held my arm, holding me back from following the stretcher. "No! I can't leave her!" I cried out. "Madam, you have to allow us to do our jobs properly. Please calm down." His words were strong, but his expression was very soft. He was acting very professional. "Please, I won't disturb you. I will just stand in a corner, she needs me now more than ever!" I begged. My hands stretched out reaching for her hand that was retreating fast from me as she was p
Eloise|| I was shocked to hear my name, more so coming from the lady standing in front of me. My trembling reduced, and I raised my head. She had come out from the car that had almost taken my life alongside the handsome and gentle man who was leading me back to the car with them. I continued to stare at her as I tried to get my wits together after nearly facing death. It was as if I had been predestined to die with the way I was having a lot of experiences that brought me close to death. The situation was starting to get weird as her excitement of seeing me grew, and she started to jump and cry in one place. She acted as if she was very familiar with me. Who was she? How did I know her? And then it clicked in my head. I did know this lady. My eyes furrowed, and a deep rage started to brew inside my belly as my mind brought back the pain of the past. "You!" I spat out, pointing at her, my brown eyes heavy with hate. Nicholas whore! I had once threatened to kill her, and
Tania|| "The result will be put in five days." The doctor who had drawn my blood for the DNA testing said. "Five days is too far! Can't it be done tomorrow?" I could not wait five days to be able to take my inheritance back. "A day is not feasible, especially since your records do not exist to compare it to. We would have to search through the database to track your father's DNA." He explained. "Five days is too much, Sir!" I refused to give up. Figuring there was no way to continue arguing with me with any prospect of winning, he conceded. "Fine. I'll try to get it ready in two days. That's the best I can." He said. "Two days is fine. I can work for two days." I agreed, and the doctor looked visibly relieved. Ivan and I had headed straight to Ivan's hospital for the DNA test the board members had asked for to prove to them I was Tania White–Angel. I had suggested we go today as I could not wait another day. Today had been the best day of my life, and I could not hi
Eloise|| My eyes flickered open, and I was greeted by a bright light. It was hard for my swollen eyes to adjust to the light but I tried my best. I lay on the floor, my body aching all over. I looked at my body but I could not find my night dress on me, instead the shreds of what used to be my night dress were scattered on the floor. Hugging my naked breasts, I slowly sat up, wincing as pain shot through every part of my body. I assessed my surroundings. The room was quiet, and Nicholas was nowhere to be seen. Knowing that was a relief to me but I knew that I needed to act fast. Nicholas would be coming back to inflict more pain on me. I pushed myself up, trying to get on my feet but I ended up just stumbling back to the ground and hurting my injured body. I was weak, my body suffering from Nicholas' attacks, thirst, and lack of food. I could barely move an inch, but I knew if I lay there, I would die, and I did not want to die, especially in the hands of the devil spawn