CHAPTER 3 BETRAYAL
Emily stood watching the drama unfold, a satisfied smile playing on her lips. "Just a few hours till Allison becomes mine,"" she murmured under her breath, rolling her eyes at Leah.
Emily had always been jealous of her sister, Leah. To discover Leah was still a virgin, while she had slept with many men, fueled her envy. Determined to destroy Leah's life and take everything that belonged to her, she orchestrated the entire plan with her mother and Leah's husband Allison.
"Please, let me explain, "Leah began, but her husband, Alex , cut her off, forbidding her to speak. Without another word, Leah walked to her room, tears streaming down her face. She fell to the ground, wishing the earth would swallow her whole, curling up in agony.
Even if given the chance, where would Leah start? Her virginity had been taken by an unknown man, and she wore another man's clothes home. Who would believe her?
While Leah lay in her room, trying to muster the courage to explain what happened, her family mocked her in the other room.
The sitting room, furnished with soft, lush couches and colorful pillows, had a cozy blue rug sprawled across the floor. Fresh flowers near the window received sunlights and the framed photographs of the Allison family adorned the walls. It was a room of cherished memories, but now the backdrop of betrayal.
Alex, Mary(Leahs stepmother), and Emily sat in the room, celebrating their success.
"Mother-in-law, I think I can divorce her now. Our plan worked perfectly. Finally, after a year of planning, I can marry the true love of my life, my one and only Emily,' Alex said, smiling broadly.
"You don't know how joyful I feel right now. I am the happiest woman in the world," Mary responded.
Emily hugged Alex tightly, relief evident on her face.
"But there's a problem," Alex said.
"Although there's proof Leah lost her innocence, the people I hired did not succeed. So who did it? I don't feel good about this".
"It must have been some random guy on the street, someone desperate for a hole to fill. He probably doesn't even have a roof over his head," Emily replied scornfully.
"Karma is on our side. At least the people we sent did not succeed, so its not entirely our fault," Mary added.
"And she must have enjoyed the sexcapade so much, since she's hiding it from us," Emily said.
Leah, who had gathered the courage to explain what happened, was shocked as she overheard their conversation. Pushing the door open slightly, she listened in horror.
'Alex!" Leah shouted. "How could you do this to me? How could you be so wicked and cruel? If I had known you didn't want me, I would have divorced you a long time ago. You didn't have to go this far!".
Alex stood with a stern face, feigning ignorance.
"Do you really have to go this far to destroy me and my reputation?" Leah asked, teras streaming down her cheeks.
"What reputation? Mary sneered, "you don't have any, so please shut it'.
"You forced me to marry this man for your own greed and happiness. Seeing me in tears has been your ultimate goal? Marrying off your own daughter to this man, who never cared about me for once. So this was your plan? What was I to you all this time?" Leah demanded, trembling with emotions.
"You meant nothing to me all along, you are just the daughter of a slut mother who never got married. And don't call Allison your husband anymore. You never consummated the marriage", Mary replied coldly.
Leah's emotions were on edge as she heard all Mary had in mind for her.
"I took vows on the altar, so he is my legally and lawfully wedded husband, know it or not! You know what? I regret ever calling you mother from the onset". Leah shouted.
"And you, Alex, All I did was love, cherish, and obey you. I yearned for the love a husband shows his wife, but what did I get in return? Betrayal! Humiliations! From you, my sister, and stepmother. You used me as your personal maid for all this years while fucking my sister behind my back. How could you?
Leah's heart pounded with anger, anxiety and fear.
"Yes, weve been fucking behind your back. Alex needed a pro, not a novice like you. And he's madly in love with me", Emily replied smugly.
"Wow, wow, wow" Leah said, her anger bubbling. "Can you listen to yourself? You're the biggest fool I've ever met"
"No,you're a fool. How could you be married and your husband never touched you? You failed as a woman and a wife, Emily retorted.
"Emily, you're a total disappointment. You think fucking a married man means youve made it in life? You drugged me and linked me up with rapists. I know it was you all doing". Leah said.
"You, your mother, Mary and the useless husband she made me marry are the biggest nightmare in my life. You can have him for all I care. I'm happy someone else broke me because if it was him, I'd never forgive myself," Leah said.
Alex slapped Leah hard, causing her nose to bleed. Emily pulled her hair, and a fight ensued. Alex tried to separate them.
"You child of a whore, you are no different from your mother. Cheap slut! Emily screamed, dragging Leahs hair.
"Who's the whore and cheap slut between the both of us? Leah barked back.
"You should be ashamed of yourself, not bringing your stupid ass back to this house" Emily retorted.
I should leave my husband's house for you? This is my house," Leah argued.
"This house has always been for Alex and Emily from the Onset. Your momentary enjoyment is over. By the way, you were never meant to stay here. I wanted you divorced so no one would marry you", Mary revealed.
Leah felt her heart bleed.
"You thought I'd marry you off to a wealthy man and leave my daughter single? Snap out of your dreams darling" Mary added.
"Sign the divorce papers and save yourself the trouble. Otherwise, you'll regret ever stepping back into this house. I'll make your life miserable until you wish for your death," Alex threatened.
As Alex dragged Leah away from Emily, she fell and hit her head on the floor. Leah collapsed, unconscious, her world shattering around her.