Abigail’s POV
The next morning, I was in severe pain throughout my body, particularly in my lower body. I winced and slowly sat up, blinking my eyes open.My eyes darted around the room. I felt a warm breath on my back and I spun around to see where it was coming from.I caught sight of a man sleeping soundly in the bed with the sheets pulled up over his face. I gulped in fear and my heart began to race.Where was I?It didn’t take long for me to realize that I was naked under the sheets. Knowing what I had done, I began to weep.What would my father think of me? And most especially my boyfriend, Ethan.They would all call me a slut because I had sex with a stranger.If anyone found out about this, then my life would be miserable and useless.I was terrified of what people would think of me if they knew what had happened. They would probably see me as a promiscuous lady.If my family learned about this, then I would be in serious trouble.I bit my lip. “No one must know about this. I can’t tell anyone.” I had already made my decision, and that was to never step foot in the city again.I got down from the bed, conscious of my naked body, before picking up my gown from the floor and putting it on.***In the late afternoon, I sobbed in my room. I had attempted to cover my red-rimmed eyes with make-up, but the tears streaming down my cheeks had smeared it.My mascara ran in black streaks down my already puffy face. I tried to calm myself, to force myself to stop crying, but the tears kept coming.My existence felt like a curse, and I wished for the ground to open and swallow me. I was no longer fit to stay in this home anymore.“There is no point in staying here anymore,” I told myself as I wiped away my tears. “No one will see me in this city ever again.” I tried to steady my breathing, to regain some sense of control over my emotions.“This is what my life has become” I bit my lip hard till I felt the metallic taste of blood. I hated myself at that moment and behaved myself like I was some trash.I took all I needed, including my passport and some important documents that I would need at the airport, putting them inside my bag with some few clothes.I sighed and took one last look at my room, before forcing open the door.“Lovely sister…where are you going? We looked all over for you. We were so disappointed that you didn’t show up at your own birthday party. What happened to your face?” Lana, my stepsister questioned me with a sly smile on her face as she passed by.Lana made her way to the chair and plopped her butt down on my soft fluffy bed.Before I could respond, Lana continued, “Your evening must have been quite eventful. I’m sure you had a great time last night.” Her tone was mocking, her words dripping with sarcasm. I knew she was trying to provoke me, to get a reaction out of me. But I refused to give in to her games. But then, she said something that made my heart shook dangerously. What did Lana mean by last night? Did she find out about it?“What are you talking about?” I pretended not to understand what she was talking about and feigned confusion.“Oh really? Then what are those bags for?” Lana pointed to my bags, and I rolled my eyes in return.“Stay out of my business, “I warned before turning to leave for the exit, but I halted when I saw my stepmother at the entrance.“Mom is here,” Lana said the moment she saw her mom, who looked to be in a great mood.“You are a disgrace to our family! What are you still doing here? I expected you to have killed yourself. If it were me, I would drink poison and watch myself die slowly.” My stepmother shot me an icy glare, and I blinked back my tears.“After engaging in such a disgraceful act, you still have the guts to show your face in this house. It’s a good thing my lovely daughter thought of a plan. I have been meaning to kick you out since the day you were born.”Her words directed at me. I stared back at her. She was like a mother to me. I loved my stepmother even more than i loved my mother who was in the grave.Though my biological mother was dead, I had come to love my stepmother just as much as I loved my father. And in my heart, I knew that she was the closest thing to a mother that I would ever have.“Mother” in anguish, my words flowed freely from my mouth. I had never for once thought that my stepmother would say such words to me. The pain i felt was too much for me to bear.“I am not your mother and I never will be,” my stepmother said coldly, her voice filled with contempt. “Your mother is dead and gone, and I could never love someone like you. You’re nothing but a disgrace. You’re just like her - a horrible, immoral woman.” I felt my heart sink as her words cut me to the core.I sobbed as i realized that i had been betrayed by the people i loved wholeheartedly, “what have I done to deserve this? What have I done to you both?”“Because everyone loves you and thinks you are the better sister. I also deserve to be loved. Father loves you more than he loves us… and guess what, I did this just to ruin your relationship with Ethan. I hate you, Abigail!” Lana spat viciously in my face and she felt happy to see me in pain.I stared back at her in extreme shock. Even my stepsister was against me. Why did life have to be so cruel to me?It felt like my energy had been drained from my body. I could only whisper softly. “It was never my fault that father loved me more. If you had always listened to him then he would love you too, Farewell, you both will pay for your sins.”“Stop!” Lana stood up and went in front of me.My eyes were already bloodshot red. “Get out of my way”But Lana didn’t listen to my words. She hissed and then said," You can’t leave this house unless you make a brief confession on camera, telling the camera about your plans of never returning to the city."“I am not going to do that!” I yelled, while trying to get past Lana, but she pulled me back forcefully.“If you don’t do it, then we will leak your video. Do what we say or your dumb action will cost you a lot,” Lana warned, her statement breaking my heart.Why were they bent on ruining my life? Releasing the video will cause my father to get a heart attack and it will ruin my father’s reputation.I collapsed on the floor, i didn’t want to be the reason for my father’s downfall. Though the world was cruel to me, but i was unable to treat my father with such cruelty.I slowly got back on my feet and wiped away the tears from my cheeks, then i stated firmly. “Start the camera”Lana and my stepmother were delighted to hear my words. They quickly set the camera and started to record.This was my last day in my home. After saying all they coerced me into saying, I permanently left my home and swore to never return.Five years later,Abigail’s POV ***“Audrey, please be a good boy and stay close to me,” I said, trying to keep my voice calm and steady. “I’m worried that you’ll get lost in the airport if you wander off. You know how important it is for us to stay together.” He was only four years old, and I knew he could be quite stubborn, but he was also the most adorable child I had ever seen. Despite his occasional tantrums, he had my heart completely wrapped around his little finger.“Mom, I’m not a baby anymore! I’m a big boy, and I can take care of myself. I should be the one protecting you, not the other way around,” Audrey protested, his little cheeks puffed up with indignation. He was definitely an intelligent child, with a strong will and a determined spirit. But he was still so young, and I couldn’t help but worry about him.I giggled lightly, “Your aunt, Joyce, will be here soon, let us sit down and wait for her.” Audrey’s eyes lit up when he heard his aunt’s name. I had told him so m
Abigail's POV *** I stepped through the door of my childhood home, taking in my surroundings. Nothing had changed in the five years I'd been away. It was as if time had stopped in this place, and it was still stuck in the past. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart and my shaking legs.My heart pounded in my chest, thudding loudly as I walked down the hall. It felt like it was going to burst out of my chest. My body was still trembling, my hands shaked uncontrollably.I only needed to see my father, and after that, i would leave the house.I trudged up the stairs, wiping the sweat from my brow. I had lived in this house for twenty years, and I knew its layout like the back of my hand. I could easily find my way to my father's room, but just as I was about to climb the next step, I heard a familiar voice call out my name."Welcome back, sister. " I turned back only to see Lana and Ethan standing a few steps away, their hands intertwined. My heart sank, and I felt a wave
Abigail's POV *** "Father," I whispered, as I crept into the room, careful not to make a sound. I closed the door behind me, then approached him slowly.When I reached the bedside, I noticed how gaunt my father had become. His once-strong frame was now frail, his breathing shallow and labored. I felt a pang of sadness as I took in his appearance.I sat down on the edge of the bed, taking care not to jostle the mattress and disturb his rest. I was careful not to make a sound, hoping that he would remain asleep.As I studied my father's face, I noticed that his hair had turned almost completely gray. The silvery strands were twice as numerous as the last time I saw him.Tears rolled down my cheek and I quickly brushed it away, not wanting to be caught crying. I didn't want to worry my father, especially not now.My father had always been so kind and generous, always putting others before himself. He had done so much good in the world, and yet here he was, suffering. It didn't seem fair
Abigail's POV *** My fury was beyond words, and all I could do was clench my jaw and bite back the urge to rip into the witch's neck. I knew that violence wouldn't solve anything, but it was hard to keep my emotions in check.Though I would have preferred to look away but i forced myself to turn and face her. I caught sight of the tray in her hands, trying to ignore the smell of fresh, warm food."Ah, it's wonderful to see your daughter here, isn't it? I'm glad we've moved past our differences. It was quite a difficult time, but we've come out stronger." She flashed a feigned surprise and approached me with an angelic smile.Her smile was so sickeningly sweet, it made me want to gag. Despite the cheerful expression on her face, I could see the malice and hatred behind her eyes. It was clear that she despised us, and we felt the same way about her. The act she was putting on was so transparent, it was almost laughable. This woman, with her saccharine smile and forced kindness, was t
Abigail's POV *** I had many schools to choose from in my neighborhood, but one caught my attention. It was close to my apartment, just a short walk away. That was an important factor, as I didn't want to waste time commuting. Plus, the school seemed like a good fit for my son. I carefully reviewed all the details about the school, and I was convinced it was the right choice for my son. So I clicked the "Apply" button and uploaded a photo of my son, Audrey. The payment process was straightforward - I just had to enter my credit card information into a secure online form. I appreciated the convenience of paying online, as it saved me the hassle of writing a check or mailing a money order. Once I completed the payment, I was able to move on to the next step. I tried to keep my eyes open, but they felt heavy and began to droop. Satisfied that I had successfully enrolled my son in the school, I shut down my computer and headed to bed. I lay down, my body feeling heavy and my eyes g
Third POVA middle-aged woman, with her gracefully aging features, offered a friendly wave to a young girl. Her stunning red gown complemented her equally radiant lipstick and the makeup she wore concealed the natural signs of age, transforming her into a youthful woman who could have passed for someone in her thirties.Kate slowly lowered her hand as she watched her daughter disappear from view, her shoulders relaxing as she exhaled a contented sigh. A fan as exquisite as a work of art was produced from her purse, and she waved it with a flourish, as though she were royalty.Kate walked with an air of poise and confidence, her hips swaying with the kind of effortless grace that can only come from years of self-assurance. Her body was a work of art, even in her maturity, and one could sense the allure that must have drawn people to her in her youth.The sleek silhouette of her Bugatti Veyron stood out among the other vehicles in the parking lot, and she strode towards it with a sense
Third POV "Father?" Kate called out, her voice echoing through the vast emptiness of the living room. The room was impeccably clean, with not a speck of dust to be seen, but there was no sign of her father. Only the servants were there, busying themselves with their chores. Exhaustion washed over her, and she sank down onto the plush velvet couch, leaning back into the soft cushions. "Get me an iced water, now!" Kate snapped, the frustration clear in her tone. She felt the heat rising within her, and she needed something to cool her down.A maid quickly scurried off to get the iced water, her footsteps echoing on the marble floor. She soon returned, carrying a tall glass filled with ice and cool, refreshing water. She placed it on the table in front of Kate, who reached for it gratefully. The maid stood motionless, waiting for Kate to dismiss her. She was trained never to leave the room until she was explicitly told to do so. She watched as Kate gestured for her to go, and she bow
Abigail's POV ***I approached the door to the office, and as I drew near, it slid open effortlessly, almost as if it was beckoning me inside. The door was clearly high-tech, a marvel of modern engineering. Its smooth, gleaming surface reflected the fluorescent lights above. "Welcome, Abigail," the woman said warmly, gesturing to the chair across from her. "My name is Elena, and I'll be reviewing your application documents today." The room was well-lit and inviting, and Elena's smile put me at ease.With a quick, curt nod, I took my seat, the smile still plastered on my face."It's nice to meet you, Ms. Elena," I said, extending my hand for a handshake. She took it in hers.I took in the crisp, perfectly-ironed blue shirt she was wearing, and noticed the carefully applied makeup on her face. Her hair was immaculately styled, and every detail of her appearance was flawless as if she'd just stepped out of a fashion magazine. Ms. Elena adjusted the rim of her glasses and leafed through