Chapter 3 3

Kayla Jackson

"Je... Jeol! Are you okay? What happened to you? Why are you in a pool of blood?" She bombards him with questions in a worried tone.

"I'm fine, Mom. It's just a minor cut, I will be fine" he said as a small smile crept at the corner of his lip.

"What do you mean, you're fine? Who did this to you?"

"She did" he answered curtly pointing his index finger at me.

"What?!!!!" She fumed and turned to face me, anger laced on her face. By now, I was already quivering in fear and shedding tears at the same time. No words coming out from me. I tried opening my mouth to talk but, I couldn't.

"Bitch!" She marches forward and slaps me hard across my face.

I winced from the pain.

"What did you do to my son?!"

"I did nothing to him!" I finally said looking her straight in the eyes. This is the first time in my 5 years of staying with her I decided to summon the courage to stand up for myself.

Enough of the pain and cheating!

"What do you mean, nothing? I only came to call her as you asked but she turned wild out of the blue. She said something like; 'she's never going to forgive you for selling her out to someone' " he said with a straight face.

"W.. what? No! No, no. I... I never said that" I said, shaking my head vigorously and tears won't stop flowing down my cheeks freely.

"You said that?"

"No, I did not-" Before I could complete my sentence, she slapped me hard, cutting me off.

I turned my head to look at Jeol who was standing right behind her and passing me a devilish smirk.

Just before she could bounce on me again, we heard a knock. "Who's there?" She asked in a pissed tone.

"Becca, ma'am"

Becca is our maid.

"Come in"

She walked in, saw the scene going on, and passed me a pitiful look.

"What? Are you going to stand there looking around or tell me what brought you here?"

"Sorry ma'am. They're... I mean, your visitors are here" she announced and my heart stopped beating for a second.

What if he's an old man? What if he's a drug dealer, an addict, or even a woman beater just like Aunt Capella? Should I run away from here?

Even if I want to, how will I do that? We only have one exit and that's through the main door in the living room.

The way she suddenly grabbed my hair tightly in her hands brought me out of my thoughts. I winced in pain as I looked into her eyes.

I was wrong earlier when I said I'm going to stand up for myself. I can never do that. I'm a weakling and will always be!

"Stay right here in this room and never go out. I will come and get you when it's time, understood?" She said, grabbing my hair really hard this time around.

"Yes, yes" I answered hoping she would just let go of my hair. It's really painful.

"Good" She pushed me out of her way roughly and walked out of my room. Becca follows right after her leaving behind Jeol and me.

"How was the little drama? Did you enjoy it?" He asked, his lip twitching into a sneer.

"You bastard! You lied!"

"That's what you get for turning me down, princess" he winked and laughed wickedly before walking out of my room also.

I began to get cold, I slumped on the floor and curled in but, it didn't help to get rid of the cold. Tears freely stream down my cheeks too and now I feel nothing but pain all over my body.

This is not the life I had prayed for. I never wished for any of this to happen to me.

Ten Minutes later, my room door burst open again and Aunt Capella walks in. "Bitch! Why are you still on the floor, crying? Get up! It's time to meet your husband and his family" she said, dragging me up from the floor.

She sat me down on the chair and began to comb my hair neatly. She made it look neat once again after destroying it earlier. Someone walked in again and this time around it was Becca. She has a makeup kit in her hand.

Aunt Capella asked her to apply the makeup on my face and after a few minutes, she was done. I look at myself through the mirror as sadness and worrisome overwhelm my body.

All my pains have been hidden behind the makeup on my face.

"You can leave" She ordered Becca.

"Now listen to me you crazy girl" She said, turning me roughly to face her. "This meeting means a lot to me. Do not ruin it for me. Always make sure your response to them is Yes, understood? No matter what they ask you, make sure your response is nothing but positive... Is that clear?"

I only nod my head afraid of speaking. It's all pointless if I decide to go against her.

"Now, do me a favor and put a smile on your pretty face"

We both walk downstairs where I met a beautiful, classy, and elegant lady in her mid-50s sitting on one of the couches. Everything about her screams nothing but wealth.

Just as she saw me, she jumped up from her seat and engulfed me in a tight hug. Not only am I surprised but Aunt Capella and Joel also are.

"My goodness! I can't... I can't believe you grew up to become a beautiful lady" she commented and spun me a little.

"Yo... You know me?" I asked softly.

I can't remember ever seeing her face from anywhere.

"Of course, I do! I know you can't possibly remember me but I knew your Dad very well. He was a good man" she said again.

"I told you, you'll like her" Aunt Capella said with a fake smile on her face.

"I already loved her before coming here to see her. I can't wait to have you as my daughter-in-law" she squealed, excitedly.

"Yo... Your son?" I'm still confused about the whole thing.

I thought Aunt Capella sold me to an old rich man. And why does this woman seem so happy to see me?- I thought confusedly. A lot of questions running through my mind right now.

"Yes. Actually, he was here a while ago. He had to receive an important call and that's why he excused himself" she explained, smiling at me.

"Oh! There he is" she announced again and I turned my head to see who she's been talking about but I ended up getting the biggest worst shock of my life.

My heart stopped beating as I widened my eyes in horror.

Raymond Locason?!!!!!