Chapter one
As I stood in front of the ajar door in the shadows, my heart pounded inside my chest as it slowly shattered and I physically felt like vomiting, how could Jeremiah do this to me? There in the cold dim room with a romantic setting and roses spilled all over the floor were my cousin Lisa and my dear fiance Jerimiah, the very one that I was supposed to be getting married to in a month. They were both on the king-size bed, already halfway naked and locked in an intimate embrace moaning out loud the names of each other. Once again, a knot formed in my stomach. I was filled with a mixture of anger, surprise, and a strange detachment from the entire issue. The betrayal of Jerimiah who I always saw as a friend cut through my bones, and the very image of him and Lisa took away the gentle image I had of him in my head. Contrary to what I thought I would do in such a situation, I whipped out my phone, tapped on my camera, and pressed the record button, in hopes of getting evidence of their wrongdoing to me. Although I was not lucky in love, I was lucky in other aspects, because almost immediately after I whipped out my phone, they paused in their actions due to Lisa pulling away with a look of dissatisfaction on her face. I moved a little to the side to get a clear view of both their faces and I saw Jerimiah gently caress her face like she was a fragile doll while she pouted in dissatisfaction, I could only inwardly sigh at their interaction. “Lisa baby what's wrong,” Jeremiah said in a love-struck voice which made me cringe. “Jerry baby, why are you prolonging this? You and Eliza will literally be getting married in a month. Why have you not put a stop to this”, Lisa said while crossing her arms in a disgruntled manner, while my ears perked up when I heard her mention my name. “I know, Lisa. I have tried every possible way to convince her to sign the full rights of the company away to your father, but she just never budges. Sometimes she does not even let me bring it up”. He told Lisa while hugging her from behind, in a bid to comfort her while I gagged at his actions. So all this while, he was just scheming against me along with my bitchy cousin, even if there was no love in our relationship I already expected his respect and loyalty.I was also happy that I did not let myself be deceived. Indeed, he did bring up the topic of me signing away my rights to my uncle as a sign of gratitude for raising me all these years and giving me familial love, but I knew that my uncle and aunt never gave me any form of love, and their bad attitude towards me robbed their spoilt daughters. Seeing me always reminded them of their humble past, so they never treated me well, perhaps seeing me struggle also gave them a sense of superiority. Eliza who was once treated like a princess was now begging for their mercy, that is what they wanted. “ That stupid bitch, she has always been so stubborn, my dad has always been nice to her and she cannot even let go of the company, is that too much to ask for, it’s not like she knows how to run it anyways, plus we treat her pretty well,” She said while flaying her hands frustratedly. I looked at her through the door incredulously, the fact that she felt so badly entitled to the things my parents worked so hard for.And yes it was too much to ask, that company was what my parents left for me before they passed away along with the few properties they left in my name, but they had put my uncle in charge of it until I reached a certain age or I got married.When the company landed in the hands of my uncle, it faced a slow decline as the years went by and he never let me have a say in the company matters, but I was going to put a stop to it now that I found out about their betrayal, I would get my revenge. “ I know, the only plausible option now is to marry her, that way she would have to give me and even if she doesn't when we divorce, she will have no choice but to give me as part of the divorce process,” he said causing me to quietly gasp, I started thanking my lucky stars that I found out about his betrayal, what if I did, in fact, end up marrying him, my life would have ended up in ruins, I would have lost everything. “No that's too long, Dad already knows about our relationship and he is very enthusiastic to get us engaged, but I want to give him the company as the engagement suprise, let us do it like this..” she started and I was already to hear her new plan, but she was interrupted by a phone call. “Yes Dad” she answered with an annoyed look. “Who is there?” He asked as Lisa kept on talking with her dad I immediately went into an empty room by the side and hid in a corner, while she came out of the room with his footsteps resounding in the quiet house, I placed my hands over my mouth to cover up any sound I might mistakenly make. “What's wrong baby?” Lisa said as I saw her shadow approach Jerimia’s. “I thought I saw somebody by the door” I heard him say and I leaned back on the wall praying that he would not find me. “ What are you talking about are you that drunk” Lisa laughed. “ I guess so” he laughed along before they went back to their making out and entered the room, but he did not forget to lock the door this time. I slowly tip-toed my way out of his fancy apartment and made my way to my car. I decided to call Alexandra, my friend as I started to drive off from that disgusting man's house. “Alex,” I said once she picked up. Her name was Alexandra but I loved to call her Alex while she called me Liza. “What's up girl” she said. “ I need to see you,” I told her in a shaky voice. “ does it have to be now, I am about to catch some sleep,” she said tiredly over the phone. “I need to see you now,” I told her once again. “Girl, what's wrong?” She asked in a worried tone. “ I cannot tell you over the phone,” I said as I sped off thinking of where I should meet Alex. “Okay, where should we meet?” She asked. “Don't worry about that, I will soon arrive at your house” I told her while I made a turn. That was when the sadness suddenly hit me, ever since I was five years old, I got engaged to Jerimiah Taleson who was from a high-class family and so were we.Our family had a very close bond and they wanted to become one big family so they agreed on our engagement ever since then my mother always made sure I knew that I was engaged to Jerimiah. We were forced to go on several dates and to look after each other in school, it was draining but I always accepted the fact that I would get married to him, so I tried to make it work.We both knew that we did not have that many feelings for each other but we agreed on respect, we became pretty good friends and his warm gentle smile always warmed up my day, but I guess it was only a one-sided friendship, the only reason he had not ended the engagement was because of my parents entertainment agency and other properties. I was not surprised about Lisa’s betrayal, she has always been a bitch to me and she had always been jealous of me. she always coveted my stuff and my uncle who doted on her always obliged to her request leaving me with nothing, but I could not do anything about it as I was an orphan. His wife was even worse, treating me like a sore in her eyes, I guess it was because I reminded her that all the wealth that belonged to their family was not really theirs but borrowed. And ever since I could afford it, when I had the chance, I moved out of their toxic house, which was technically mine which they hijacked. I pulled up in front of Alex’s house and pressed my horn to indicate my arrival and after a few minutes, she came out of the house in her nightgown, she was rubbing her hands over her eyes while yawning as she walked towards me at a normal pace. “ Liza what's up” she said as she entered the passenger seat and gave me a firm hug. “ I don't know how to say this” I started trying to block out the image of the nude Lisa and Jerimiah off my head, but I could not, the image was still very vivid in my mind. “ Girl, just calm down, and say it,” She said in a warm voice while slowly rubbing my shoulder. “ Jerimiah cheated on me,” I told her, and when I said it for real, the waterworks came gushing down my eyes, i could not believe someone who I had always regarded as a friend would do that to me, especially with Lisa. “What!” Alex shouted in shock. “That's not possible, he is always affectionate to you, why would he do such a thing?” She said with shock very evident on her face and I was not surprised by her reaction, I thought he was loyal too because of his gentle and easy-going character, who knew that he was a snake, secretly plotting to steal what belonged to me. “ Yes Alex, I just saw them with, my perfect two eyes” I defended. “Him and who?” She asked. “Lisa,” I sighed. “Lisa?Really?” She asked in shock. “Yes,” I answered. “That bitch I am gonna kill her!” Alex shouted in an angry tone. “ Not now, let me tell you what happened first”, I started while holding her back. “ Go on,” She said while trying to calm herself down, but she could not stop the veins threatening to pop out of her forehead due to anger. “ I and Jerimiah were supposed to meet tonight for a date his mum prepared for both of us, but he canceled at the last minute claiming to be sick. I asked him if I should come and he said no, that it was not that serious and that it was just the flu.” “Without his permission, I decided to go anyway because I was worried. I got to his house and everywhere was dark except for his room, where I heard noises and the door was slightly ajar. I saw him and Lisa, literally having s*x. Turns out the only reason why he has not canceled our engagement, is because he wants to help my uncle get my dad's company from me officially. I heard them say they were in the middle of their nonsense”, I cried, while Alex patted my back with an angry look on her face. “Gosh Liza, your uncle is in on this too?” She asked angrily while I just nodded with tears streaming down my face. “ I don't think he knows, Lisa said she wanted to surprise him with it on her engagement. How pathetic” “Why am I even crying, he is not worth my tears,” I said, trying to stop the tears, but they could not stop. “Girl cry all you want, you were literally cheated on,” Alex said while I rested my head on her shoulders. “ I told you to stop having mercy on your uncle's stupid family. Before your parents passed, they always praised the ground you walked on, and ever since they had access to your parents' property, they have been treating you like shit. Eliza, you have to keep in mind that the property, everything belongs to you girl, just take it from them and you can teach that slutty ass bitch a lesson”, Alex said with venom dripping from her words. “ I can't, according to my parents' annoying rule. I have to reach thirty years old before I can acquire it, or if I get married”. I sighed with frustration. “Your parents messed up with that rule,” Alex said, disappointed, while I nodded. She was right, my father trusted his brother too much and I was the one suffering for it. I really wish they were still alive, but no, that car accident took them away. “Can I sleep here for the night?” I asked her even though I knew that she would say yes. “Girl, why would you ask me that? You know you can sleep here anytime” Alex said, suddenly becoming excited. “Thanks so much, Alex…” I started but she interrupted me. “Not so fast, Liza, I was not done. You are free to sleep over anytime, only if you come to the club with me tonight” she said, and I looked up and sighed frustratedly. “Alex, I don't want to go to the club,” I said. “You have to, Lisa, maybe when you meet a good man and, you know, he will help you let off some steam” she suggested. “ Alex, I am not going to have sex with a random man at the club,” I told her with a deadpan face. “Okay okay, no sex then, but at least you can let off some steam. Come on girl, let's get drunk tonight” She clapped happily while I reluctantly nodded.Chapt 2 The pounding music, flashing lights, and rhythmic pulse of the club's energy washed over me as I danced with reckless abandon. It was a perfect escape from the betrayal of who I thought always had my back. I sighed in relief as I was happy that I dodged a bullet. What if I got married to Jerimiah, and he used me just like that? As the beats reverberated through my body, I could not help but feel a momentary sense of liberation. All my life I had been told what to do, I did not even have the privilege of planning my entire life as my uncle did that for me. I always wanted to be an actress, but Lisa also wanted to be an actress, so my uncle made me step down for her and supported her all the way and her fans knew her as the daughter of the owner of Egreene agency. They thought that she was a rich heiress, not knowing that all her wealth was borrowed. I wanted to have it back, and in that moment of drunkness, I decided to take everything they took from me back, the company, the
Chapter 3 I was already for the gathering when Jeremiah arrived in his sleek black car and decided to wait in front of Alexandra’s house. I slowly walked out of the house, dreading the time I would have to spend with him and as I entered his car, I could not help but have a nagging feeling that something was wrong, but I just pushed it to the back of my mind.I wanted to dress a little bit causal, so I decided to put on a black corset top and a blue denim skirt and I packed my full brunette hair up in a half ponytail. “Hey Liza” Jeremiah greeted me as I entered his car and I just nodded at him, trying to avoid his gaze. I was really happy that Jeremiah did not try to make conversation, unless I would have lost my temper on him.The host gathering wanted it to be posh, so the gathering was held at a posh five-star hotel uptown owned by one of the most prestigious families in the world, the Blaqk family. It was a hotel and partially a meeting joints where friends could meet up and ho
“Who are you?” He asked confusedly with his veins looking as if they were about to pop out of his head. My body raced at the sight of a man, a very handsome man for that matter, so I did what I would never do in a million years. I slowly stepped out of the ice-filled bathtub, causing a lot of water to drip on the cold tiles, which soothed me a little. “I am going to ask again, who are you? Is it Regan that sent you here, that bastard?” He said. Angrily, but that aphrodisiac gave me courage, it messed up with my train of thoughts. I jumped on top of him and began to feel his chest and when he was about to react, I kissed him on his soft lips, and I felt a little bit relieved all over, but I wanted more, so I deepened the kiss. His self- control was lost as he took me out of the bathroom, and threw me on the plush queen-sized bed with a dangerous look on his face. Fear washed over me, but the pleasure that came along with his sudden hot kiss and his warm touch on my body faded the f
Chapter 5I slowly walked into my work place with my head down, trying to avoid the curious gaze of my co workers, I usually had a reputation of being the most punctual employee, but Lisa and Jeremiah just had to ruin my streak. I walked into my office and took a seat, I did not even care to pull the blinds up, I was a having a banging headache because of the stupid drug, Lisa used on me. I sighed as I opened my files and got straight to work. I was a journalist for a very reputable media comapany, The news Co, and I was not the best at my job but I was still managable,I remeber one time when I slapped a client who I was interviewing in the face because she was such a bitch, but I ended up sleeping in jail for the night, luckily she did not press charges, or the time a client said something innapropriate and I mistakenly published the article without cutting it out. I should have been fired, but my boss let me off because he had some relations to the Taleson family. With all that had
Chapter 6 I walked into the bustling venue of Jerimiah and Lisa’s engagement party. At first, I did not want to grace Lisa with my presence, but then I thought, if I could not play the disgusting video of Jeremiah and Lisa at our wedding since it got cancelled, then I could play it at their engagement. That way, I would get the satisfaction of revenge by ruining their special day, and get the guest to feel sorry for me, and I would also use it as an opportunity to get back my parents' company from my uncle. I strutted with my head held high as I walked in, I ignored the murmurs about me from the guests. Just as I was about to take a seat in a very un-noticeable corner, I was approached by Mrs Taleson, who was none other than Jeremiah’s mother. Growing up, she was always kind to me and treated me like her daughter. She was the last person I thought would betray me. “Liza darling, I did not expect to see you here”, she said nervously while trying to avoid eye contact. “Oh, well, you
It was finally the day of the wedding of the century. The wedding was between Ryan Blaqk, the youngest multibillionaire and CEO of the Blaqk industry, and Angela Dalton, the heiress of the Dalton family, who was also a famous socialite. These two families joining together would be so powerful, but it was the Dalton family that was going to benefit the most, as the Blaqk family was already united in whatever they did. I wore a royal blue sequin gown that dazzled in the sun. The gown ran below my ankle, but I was still able to showcase my beautiful legs and my heels because of the slit that started just below my knees. I did quite a simple make-up look as I did not want to draw any attention to myself, and also, I was not even a proper guest at the wedding. I just came to work. I parked in the parking lot of the hotel, as I did not want to draw any attention by parking while the red carpet was taking place. Before I came down from my car, I grabbed my bag that had all the things I need
Chapter 8 “What ?” I asked angrily. How dare they pull me into their family drama? They actually wanted me to be fool Ryan Blaqk and get married in the place of their daughter. If I actually agreed, I would not even know how I passed away. “You have to do it,” Mrs. Dalton said condescendingly. “I won't. I am sorry, but I will not marry Mr. Blaqk at your daughter's place. It is not my freaking fault your daughter decided to run away, so why do I have to suffer for it?" I screamed. Yes, I was scared of the two bigshot families, the Dalton’s and the Blaqks, but I was even more afraid of the Blaqks. “Whether you like it or not, you are already involved in this matter; you have no choice but to do what we say, unless we make you wish you were dead. I will ruin your career, your family, and everything."Mrs. Dalton threatened, but the rest looked like they agreed with her method. “I am sorry, but do whatever you want to do to me; I will not suffer for the crimes of your family. Yes, I am
I sat in the car, trying my best to block out the event that had just taken place, the shocked places of the the guest when they found out that I was the bride and not Angela, how I met plenty both shots who I never even dreamt of meeting them, but they all showed me respect, as Ryan's wife. I literally got married to Ryan Blaqk, the Ryan Blaqk, but I did not feel good about it, even after all the respect I was getting, I was used as collateral damage for the mistake that Angela made, and I hated the Dalton family so much because of that. Too bad I now had to act like their lovely goddaughter from then on in public. The Blaqk family made Mr Dalton give a speech during our wedding reception, and in that speech, he addressed me as his goddaughter, which cleared the air of doubt for the guests. I could only watch helplessly as the event that determined my happiness took place without my consent. I wanted to lift up my dress and run away, just like Angela did. But I knew that after the