Chapter 3

I arrived home with much struggle. Luckily for me, the maid and security helped me to the bedroom upstairs, as I was still too weak and needed to recover.

I spent days in bed before I regained my strength. I made up my mind once I was on my feet to leave this charade of a marriage. If it's Chrissy, Kason wants as much as it hurts; he can have her, they're both horrible monsters who deserve each other.

But first things first, I needed concrete evidence of what Kason had paid those men to do to me, also of his affair with my sister.

They were going to pay ever so dearly.

Spotting Kason’s laptop, I unlocked it using my birthday, but it didn't work. I tried his, but it also didn't work. Almost givingp up I typed Chrissy's birthday and it opened.

The wallpaper was of him and Chrissy having I romantic dinner, it looked months old. I logged into his social media account, and I saw Chrissy's chat pinned and also another chat when I opened the profile picture.

My heart skipped a beat, tears stung the corners of my eyes, and I trembled. It was the leader of the men who had humiliated me and made indecent videos of me, I can never forget his face.

I pushed myself despite the trauma to open the chat and saw they had made arrangements to do it again to me, so he could use the embarrassment as a reason for the divorce.

I had to get out of here before this happens to me again.

My hands shook as I hooked the laptop to the printer and printed out the messages. Mustering my courage, I opened Chrissy's own and read the disgusting sexual messages they had sent to each other, including nude pictures.

Unable to take anymore of it, I cleared the history and shut down the laptop. I download divorce papers and print them too, I sign both copies and leave one for Kason in his drawer.

Just as I do that, the door opens suddenly and I freeze in fear.

“What are you doing in my drawer?” Kason says suspiciously.

I turned to him, “Nothing. I was looking for a pen to write something down.” I say slightly stuttering.

He furrows his eyebrows at me in amusement, “To write what down exactly?”

I calmly explain, “Nothing, it's just that I'm planning our first anniversary together early, you know we missed the six-month mark.” He relaxed visibly.

“That's sweet of you. I'm sorry I had to travel impromptu, but you should be happy. I took your sister on a vacation to make her feel better, you know her pregnancy is still early and is affecting her.”

“Of course,” I say dryly, remembering how he had stolen the experience from me and caused me to have a miscarriage.

I felt a repulsive dislike for him for what he did.

Unconsciously, my hand went to my belly; my baby was once there.

Kason noticed, “We'll have another one, the baby didn't survive the accident. And I wonder why you never told me about it.” He said, shrugging his shoulders nonchalantly.

If looks could kill, mine would have set him ablaze. He was lying to my face about what happened; he didn't know I was awake at the time and heard it all.

“Stop looking at me like that. And you look terrible, by the way. Are you sure you've recovered properly?” He asked, faking sweet concern.

“I'm fine.” I lie through my teeth.

“Good, cause your mother has set up a small celebratory dinner for your sister's pregnancy. It's happening this evening, you've been graciously invited. Make yourself look decent for it, I won't be able to take you as I want to bring Chrissy. You know she's still very fragile and sensitive due to the pregnancy.”

I swallow back my tears.

“I'll make it.” I almost whisper my voice hoarse with emotion, but Kason doesn't even give me a second look.

He drags his suitcase to the closet and comes out dressed in a fresh set of clothes.

He gives me a cheeky smile, “See you this evening. I'll send a cab to get you, make sure you take your medications.”

He turns to leave and bangs the door shut, not even waiting for my response; he clearly can't wait to be reunited with Chrissy.

In the evening, I dressed up and waited for the cab, but it didn't come. Kason sends me a text ‘Get there yourself, plans changed. I'm too busy to look for a cab for you.”

Resolved, I ordered a cab and went, knowing in my heart this is the last family event I'm ever going to attend. They wouldn't know this, but this is my goodbye to them.

Chapter 4

By the time I arrived, I noticed the so-called small celebratory dinner was packed, there were important guests and even movie stars at the dinner.

Everyone was too busy to notice I had come in, they were too busy taking pictures of Chrissy and Kason, who stood together like the happy married couple announcing their pregnancy.

They all applauded, their eyes filled with admiration. My heart lurched in pain.

It dawned on me suddenly, I was the only one in the dark about this affair. After the champagne was popped and cheers, my mother clicked a glass with a spoon to get everyone's attention.

When the crowd went silent, she cleared her throat softly. “We'll, as you all know. I've retired, and I have decided to give the company completely over to my lovely daughter, who has brought the family no embarrassment, Chrissy.”

The crowd went wild with applause and approval. I wiped the stray tears from my cheeks.

Chrissy and Kason embraced tightly, acting like they had just won the lottery. I guess they have what they want now.

My mother's eyes searched the crowd till they found mine, and she looked at me coldly as if I wasn't hers. She continued, “And also, although my eldest daughter Amara has caused my family nothing but loss and embarrassment. I have decided to give her half of her inheritance settlement graciously, I'll give the remaining half to Chrissy's baby.”

Chrissy yelped and hugged my mother, thanking her. Everyone's eyes were on me, looking at me with disdain and disgust. I could hear their whispering and sneers.

“She's the one in that indecent video. What a shame. Her Dad died of a heart attack due to the shame she brought him.”

“I heard she drank so much and lost her pregnancy. What a silly, careless mother.”

My mother rolled her eyes in irritation, “Are you also an ingrate? Come here and thank me. Also, congratulate your sister, don't be jealous for once in your life.”

I swallowed the sobs that were threatening to come out and kept my head high as I walked to the head of the table. “Thank you, mother, for your graciousness, and also congratulations, Chrissy, but I must add you have failed to show us who the father is.”

Everyone gasped in shock, realizing what I had just said, and you could hear the sound of a pin drop.

What I didn't expect was a hot slap from Chrissy, I held my cheek hurt.

“You're just a jealous bitch. I'm not yet ready to disclose who the father of my baby is to the world yet because he is going through a divorce with his stupid wife, who killed her father.”

She was referring to me. I looked around, hoping anyone would support me, but I was met with everyone's cold stares.

Kason held Chrissy, “Are you okay, Amara? I think that truck must have rattled your brain. Why are you being so wicked and vindictive to Chrissy? It's not her fault you carelessly lost our baby, you can't do anything right.”

I was so hurt, my voice left me. My mother turned her back on me and clapped her hand, “Security, get this disgrace out of here, we don't need her bad energy here.”

Two huge security men lifted me off the floor. I struggled with their hold, but it was futile. They threw me out on the bar, the cold concrete. I could hear everyone cheer and applaud, the party popper was gone.

Outside, I saw some men approaching me, and they looked dangerous. I immediately sit up and stand to my feet to walk away, but one grabs me. He wore a dark hoodie. I could barely make out his facial features.

“Well, well, isn’t this the woman from that viral videotape? I think we should have our fun with her as those men had.”

My blood felt like it froze at his words, No, I can’t be a victim again. Since the video had come out, it has been shared several times on different social media platforms.

A lot had been deleted from public space, but people had access to it privately. I had to hide even in public places so I wouldn’t become a target.

His tobacco breath made me want to throw up. I shuddered in disgust as he brought his lips closer to mine.

I kicked him in the groin, which made him release me, and I ran as fast as I could with them hot on my trail.

I hastily flagged down a cab and got in. Driving me away from those terrible men.

Could they have been the men Kason sent to humiliate me and make a video one more time, so he could divorce me?

Chills ran up my spine, and when I got home, I was still shaking in fear. I take out my cellphone and quickly book a trip for tomorrow to a foreign country.

I needed to disappear, but first I’ll wipe out all my information from the system, so they’ll never be able to find me again.

Chapter 5

Amara’s POV

Kason didn’t come back home that night, and for the first time in my life, I was relieved at his absence. I don’t want him anywhere near me anymore.

I got numerous social media notifications showing them all having a good time. Taking pictures and looking like the perfect little family.

I ignore the hurt in my chest and go to the government office to clear all my information. I was going to get a new name and everything.

At the office, the attendant gave me a worried look, “Ma’am, I don’t think this is advisable.”

I gave a bitter laugh, “It’s okay. I don’t want to be Amara Richard anymore, but Stacy Brown.”

By the way, I wouldn’t be missed. I would restart my life all over again; there was a little secret my father and I had.

My Dad was the secret CEO of Green-tech Incorporated, a multi-billionaire company that produced green energy inventions. A week after his death, his lawyer had called me, giving me full control of everything.

I had kept it a secret, planning to reveal this to my family at Christmas. But that wasn’t going to happen anymore.

My request to erase my identity would take fourteen days, I left the office feeling relieved. Now I could travel without a care tomorrow.

Just as I was reaching my home, two huge men got out of a black van and grabbed me. I tried to struggle and one placed a white towel soaked in chloroform over my nose, I was knocked out unconscious.

I woke up to the sound of hospital machines beeping and I felt extremely weak.

Kason sat beside me legs crossed casually reading a newspaper. I looked to see my arm was connected to a needle to draw out blood. That was why I feeling so weak.

“Why!” I said weakly and he turned to me. Although I knew why he didn’t need me anymore, Chrissy had got the company. He doesn’t even need to pretend to be nice or care about me again.

The jig was up.

“I saw the divorce papers you left me. I don’t care if you leave me but I need pints of your blood for Chrissy. You have the same rare blood type RH- negative blood and her pregnancy is high risk, just incase she needs blood when she’s due.”

I was too weak to say much but I managed to whisper in detest. “Damn you bastard.”

He laughed wickedly in my face as a response, then stood up.

“You know what, I don’t think I’ll let you divorce me just yet, cause you may leave. I’ll keep you as a blood bank for Chrissy. I married you out of pity anyway, I don’t care about you.” He walked away, my vision blurred with tears.

I had just lost a lot of blood from the induced miscarriage and was still recovering, but here was my supposed husband using me as a blood bank for my sister’s pregnancy, which isn’t even due.

The doctor came in hurriedly, he panicked when he saw how pale I looked.

“Stop this immediately, she can’t give any more blood today.” He said to the nurse.

“Thank you,” I managed to whisper before drifting off to sleep in exhaustion.

I woke up the next day, feeling a bit better. I wasn’t going to waste this strength. I had to get out of this country before Kason and Chrissy held me hostage for good.

I couldn’t trust anyone, so I braced myself and removed the IV bag of drip from my arm. I knew I looked like a mental patient escaping the hospital dressed in nothing but a hospital dress, but I did it.

Luckily, I got a cab back home and paid him with money I had stolen from the hospital. I made him park a small distance from the house, I didn’t want anyone to know I was back.

I stood hiding behind a tree for five hours till I saw Kason’s car pass. My legs were aching and sore, but I walked home.

Quickly dressing up and packing a few things. I found my phone that was taken from me when I was kidnapped in Kason’s drawer.

Checking my flight details, I had just an hour to get there. I ordered a cab and ran out of the house.

I had to beg the airport manager to allow me to get on the flight at the last minute, and he accepted.

I didn’t breathe in relief till the plane took off from the ground. Tears of hurt and happiness filled my eyes. I was free, but I promise this is the beginning of their nightmare.