Chapter 6

Chloe Montclair

"I'm... I'm sorry." I hurriedly apologized to her. I didn't mean to be rude or say hurtful things to her it's just that, she was doing too much. 

"It's fine! I guess you're right. I'm taking advantage of the situation. I will just inform her not to prepare anything anymore. I was only hungry, I had no idea I did wrong by wanting to eat." Before I could reply to her or move, she had left. 

"Tiana wait! Can you at least wait and listen to me?." I said as I ran after her.  "Allow me to explain myself ple-" I said after her as I open the door but stopped in my mid-sentence when my face hit a broad chest. 

"Ouch!" I almost fell but a big warm hand wrapped around my waist tightly preventing me from falling. 

"Easy there." He said and right there, I knew it was him. 

I pushed him away from me and gives some space between us. "What are you doing here?." I asked him in a cold tone. 

He uses his right leg to shut the door firmly. I shivered but refrain myself. "Well..." He trails off as he walks toward me. "Can I say, I couldn't control my anger when a lady who isn't even up to my standard called me a dork?." He asked me as he raise his eyebrow. 

"H... Huh?!." 

"You thought, I wouldn't know that you did?."

"But how... How did you know I called you that?."

"My eyes are everywhere."

"Don't tell me you've been spying on me?!!"

"Well, I've been spying on you for the past 2 years so, I'm not going to lie on that part."

"W... Wh...what?!!! Are you crazy?!" 

"Should I show you what I'm capable of doing when I'm crazy?." He said arrogantly. 

This guy is unbelievable!

"Kenneth, what are you doing here? I still have 3 more days left." I reminded him. 

"Does that mean, you're considering my offer already?."

"You're not asking my question?."

"I told you, sweetheart, you have no right to question me in this game... Only I have the right to do that. I asked you questions and you answer." 

"Now, can we get back to business? About my offer, what do you think about it?." 

"I'm not interested. Find someone else to do that for you." I said.

"Interesting." He said, walked over to the couch, and made himself so comfortable like he owned the place. 

Okay, what was I saying? Of course, he might own the whole place. 

"Why?." He asked his gaze fixed on me. 

"Must I have a reason to reject your offer? I'm not interested and that's it! Do not force me into doing what I do not wish to."

"Are you shitting me right now? I'm trying to help you here! Why are you refusing me?." 

"I just told you, I have no reason to refuse you. I'm not just interested."

"Your sister, don't you want to know how she's living? I believe, she's been living a good life ever since you've been here... I mean, a good life with that motherfucker that deceived you." 

"What are you talking about?." 

"What I'm talking about is that your sister is married to that loser!" He burst angrily. 

Okay, this man just made me laugh. I can't control it and burst into heavy laughter. "You're joking, right? Why would my sister be married to Sebastian? She hates him. She hates the sight of him right when I was dating him. And, when she learned that I did all of that because of him, she hated him more for it. She told me she will never forgive me for what I've done, she hates the fact that I gave everything my Dad has worked so hard for to a man, and now, you're telling me she's married to him?! This must be a joke to you, right?." 

"Why don't you look at this before flaring up for no reason?." He threw an envelope at me and I catch it. 

I opened it slowly with my heart pounding so fast then, slipping my hand inside it, bringing out the first picture... I saw them both together, lock in each other's arms, same outfit, and smiling at each other like some lovers. 

No, maybe he's wrong. I brought out another picture, I think they were trying to get something in a shopping mall or something, holding each other's arms and looking at each other with so much love in their eyes. The last one made me completely down. I almost fell all thanks to Kenneth. He was quick to hold me tight in his arm before I slump to the floor.

How did he get so closer all of a sudden? I had no idea.

My sister and Seb were... He just pecked her lip and they look so happy together. Tears welled up in my eyes. My head hurts right now, I can't think straight. I don't want to believe this but... This is clear evidence right in front of me. 

I brought everything out of the envelope and saw so many pictures of them together. Not only that, but their wedding certificate is also here too... The pictures they took with Sebastian's family are also here. 

I looked at Kenneth. "How did you get these? Where did you get all these pictures from?." 

"Do I have to tell you? I hate explaining myself when people are supposed to explain themselves to me." He hissed. 

"Please tell me, Kenneth! I'm dying right now." 

"If you want to take revenge on them, I can help you. That's why I'm offering you a job. Be my fake girlfriend and I will help you take revenge on that idiot." 

"She's my sister!" I shouted at him. 

"Sister my foot! Your sister and yet, she ended up with the liar?!."

"You can't blame her. Maybe, you're wrong. Maybe, she fell in love with him after what happened and decide to give love a chance. Janet has never been in love, you can't blame her for loving him. Who knows, he might have a reason for not showing up at the hearing day in court years back. I shouldn't be quick to judge him, right?." 

"I thought, you're smart? I never knew you're this stupid." He hissed and look at me with an irritated look on his face. 

"He has been seeing your sister right before you met him. She planned everything with him and made you fall in love with him. She planned to take everything from you and ran off with him with everything that you had."

"W... wh... What?!" 

"You heard everything I had just said." He hissed again. He told me all that I needed to know, how Janet made me stay in this hell and made sure I never come out from it. She knew, that once I'm out, I will find out the truth about her and Seb. He also told me how good Sebastian's company has been going well for him. They're both living a happy life while I'm here stuck up living a miserable life for the crime I've never committed.

I really hate myself more right now. I wanted to slap myself so hard for betraying my mom. I can't believe my sister set me up and ruined my life. I've always loved her, cherish her, and wanted nothing other than to make her happy but, why did she betray me? Why did she hurt me this badly? What have I done to deserve so much hatred from her?

My heart is hurting right now. In fact, it's bleeding badly. I have a lot of things I want to do right now but do not know how to go about it. I can't believe I was betrayed by my sister. I can't believe she made a fool out of me. 

"What do I need to do?." I asked him as I wipe off my tears. 

"You know what to do already. If you're ready to do that... Here, you can give me a call, and let's strike the deal." He said as he stretch out a phone to me. I took it from him, it's the latest iPhone. 

"My number and everything you need is in there. You have 3 more days left to think about the whole thing and get back to me."

"But, I just agreed to it." 

"No. I need to be sure you're ready for this. Initially, I gave you 7 days and this is the fourth day... You have three more days left." He said and tried to leave but stopped and face me. 

"Call me a dork's face and you won't like the outcome. Watch what you talk to your friend about me." He warned. 

"How did you know about-"

"I have eyes everywhere. You should be happy a handsome good-looking guy like me is giving you the privilege to be my woman for the time being. You know how many girls are dying for this look?." He said arrogantly.  "I'm watching you." He said and left the room.

I slumped lazily on the sofa. I look at the pictures right in front of me with so much hatred in me. I can't believe my sister did this to me. 

Despite all the love I've shown her. 

"Hey! Did he say anything bad to you again?." Tiana asked as she walked in and sit beside me. 

"Tell me, this is not true, Tiana."

"What are you talking about?." 

"I can't believe my very sister could betray me. Does she hate me that much?."

"Can you be clear to me? What are you talking about? And, what are all these in your hands? Who are these people?." She questioned me. 

"My sister and my fiance." 

"What?!! They're married?."

"According to these pictures right here in front of you, they're. Apparently, it was all a planned work by my sister and him. They planned to make me fall in love with him so, I could give all of Dad's wealth to him and she'll get married to him at the end."

"What?!!!"

"Yes. But, I was too stupid. I was too stupid to drag my mom into this. I was never a good daughter to her. I disappointed her." 

"Can you stop blaming yourself? You've done no wrong, Chloe. So please, stop blaming yourself. What you ought to be thinking of now is how to take everything back from that useless boy called Sebastian. Who knows, maybe your sister was influenced by him. According to all you've told me, there's nothing that guy can't do. He can go the extra mile to get what he wants. Just take a look at when you were with him, he kept on manipulating you and you had no idea about it... He can be doing the same thing with your sister."

"That doesn't still change the fact she planned everything with him to ruin me. She brought me here too so, I won't come out from this hell of a place. I had no idea, she hated me this much. I've always loved her!"

"Sometimes, we get hurt by the people we least expected from. That's part of life, Chloe. So, what do you intend to do now?." 

"I don't know, I'm confused. I don't want to believe any of this but at the same time, with all this evidence right in front of me... I feel like getting out of here and strangling Farhan to death. He deserves nothing but death." 

"At least, you can talk to me. Are you taking Mr. stranger's offer, now that you know the whole truth?."

"Nothing is going to change my mind. I've made up my mind, Tiana. I'm going to be his girlfriend and ruin them for good. I need to get out of this place." I said. 

"What?!!!" She exclaimed. 

I looked at her strangely. "Is everything okay with you?."

"Are you seriously asking me that question? How could everything be okay when you're planning on leaving me here alone all to myself?."

"But I thought... I thought you told me to take the offer by Ken?."

"Silly girl." Again, she just smack my arm. "Tell me, when I asked you to put your hand into a fire, you're going to do that!. You think, I meant it when I told you to leave here and go to him?." 

What?! Is this girl okay at all? 

Chloe Montclair

"But, you asked me to leave, right?."

"That's because I had to say that to you not that, I meant it." 

"So, I shouldn't leave?."

"Yes, stay here with me." 

"Well, I change my mind already. I'm leaving and that's the period." 

"Chloe, you wouldn't want me to kill you right? I'm going to kill you- No! I'm going to roast you alive, eat you and then, I can be sent to another year of imprisonment."

"You're crazy!" I looked at her unbelievable. 

"Yes, I'm crazy." She chimed in with me and laugh. "To be frank with you, I was only kidding a while ago. You just follow your heart and do what's right. I will always support you no matter what." 

"Yes, I know that." 

"So, he came here to show you this? I thought he ought to be here in 3 days after now. Why is he here today?."

"Well, how do I know that? That crazy man knows that I called him a dork's face!" I hissed in a frustrating time. 

"What?! How did he know that? No one was here when you called him that." Before I could reply to her, the phone he gave me earlier started to ring. 

I pick it up from the couch and widened my eyes in shock. 

You can't believe what he just save his contact with? 

"Who's that? And, where did you get a phone from?." Tiana asked me. I showed her who was calling and she burst out laughing. 

"Prince charming?." She said laughing again. 

Prince charming my foot! 

I slide to the green side and pick up the call. "what?." I asked him immediately after I picked up the call. 

"You did not just call me crazy? Saying I have a dork's face isn't enough for you and now, I'm crazy? Don't test my patience Chloe. You do not want to see the demon side of me, right? I knew you were fierce right from the very first day I set my eyes on you but, do not disrespect me." He said in a very cold tone. The same tone he used on the very first day he came here to meet me. 

"But how-" before I could finish what I was about to say, he hung up the call on me. 

I opened my mouth in awe. "What's it? What happened? I know, it's Mr. Stranger that just called you, what did he say?."

"He heard me calling him crazy and also a dork's face." I replied. 

"What?! But how?." 

"I... I don't know." I'm still in shock. It's not like there's any CCTV in here... Is it?

"Is there any CCTV in here? How does he know that we talked about him? Or, is he a ghost or something?." Tiana asked in a confused tone.

"You- silly girl." I said and this time around, it was I who smacked her. I made sure to smack her arm so hard to reset her memory for her. "How could he be a ghost? He's a big man and you know that."

"But, he's listening to our conversation! Wait a minute, I need to check if there's any CCTV in here." She said and started to roam about the whole room. 

Still on there when my phone rang again. It's still him 'prince charming' I read the name and hissed before rolling my eyes. 

"What?." I said again as I picked up the call. This time, I made sure to put the phone on speaker. 

"Tell your beautiful friend to stop searching the whole place. She can't find anything. Plus, don't forget what I told you... Think about it thoroughly and there's no going back after that." He said and hang up the call. 

Both Tiana and I opened our mouths in awe. There's no doubt, there's something about this room we do not know of. He can see and hear anything we do. 

She slowly walk closer and whispered in my ear. "He surely is a ghost... There's no doubt."

"You think so?." I whispered back.

"I know so." She affirmed. I smack her back. 

"Ouch! What was that for? You and no idea your hand is painful, right?."

"Well, yours is more painful than mine. So, what do we do now?." I whispered again"

"Nothing. After all, we haven't done anything wrong. So, where do we start from? And, where's Juliana? The food should be ready by now?." She said. the last part in an irritated tone.

"Wait, what?! I thought... I thought you went out to stop her from making you any meals?." I'm confused right now. 

"You thought, I was going to listen to you? Look, Chloe. You and I are two different people... I need to eat because I'm famished. You can't change that."

"But, I just told you it's not th-" I was still trying to put some senses into this woman's head when the door burst open and Juliana walked in. 

"Ladies, here comes your meal." She exclaimed in an excited tone. She's changed towards me ever since the day Ken showed up here. She also told me she has something important to discuss with me and, I'm going to talk to her about that later on... Maybe, in the evening. 

But, all that isn't the problem now... What I'm seeing right in front of me isn't funny and looks suspicious. I fixed my gaze at my friend and she refused to look at me. 

"What's going on here? Are we having a feast or something? much so, food?." I asked. 

"We're not having a feast but, a send-forth party."

"Send forth party? For who?." 

"You, of course! You see, Chloe. Mr. Domanco made it clear to me that you're going to leave this place in the next three days. I know, I've been bad and mean towards you but, this is the least I could do. I'm inviting your friends over to your room now so, you can have some special time with them. Now, I will excuse you two." She said and tried to leave but I stopped her. 

"Erm... Please wait." Before I could say anything... The room burst open again and our friends walked in one after the other. I can't believe this is happening. 

Is this a planned work between my friend and Juliana? Because I can't seem to understand what's going on right now. They all walked in and hug me one after the other. I guess, they're missing me already even before I leave. 

I had no idea I was surrounded by people like this who cherish me this much not until today. They all sit and were ready to start eating when Juliana walked out. I ran out fastly after her and stopped her before she could leave. 

"Erm, Juliana..." She turned around and smiled a little bit at me. 

"Hey! What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be with your friends?." She asked me. 

"I will but first, I will like to talk to you. Didn't you tell me, you have something to talk to me about?." 

"Yes."

"Can we talk about it now? I mean, if you're okay with it."

"Of course, I am. Can we go to my office instead?." 

"Sure. Right after you." I followed right behind her and we both walked into her office. I shut the door behind me and took a sit across from her. 

I looked at the woman sitting right across from me and mentally smiled. She has changed entirely towards me ever since the day Ken showed up here. 

She asked to have a peaceful conversation with me and here I am. 

"Firstly, I would like to apologize to you Chloe for all the bad deeds I've done to you. I know, I've hurt you a lot in the past, I've done a lot of terrible things to you... I would not want to remind you of the past again because it's just like an old wound that shouldn't be touched."

"You have never offended me but, I was so mean towards you. It wasn't entirely my fault. The truth is, both your sister and her husband came to me. She told me, you've always been bad to her ever since you both were kids. She told me, you were also not the biological daughter of your parents but yet, they treated you nicely. It took your mom a long time to conceive and she decided to adopt you but, you've always treated her who's the biological daughter badly."

"What?!!"

"Yes, that was what she told me about you. She also confirms to me that, there are a lot of several marks on her body given by you. You, secretly assault her. You also wanted to kill her because you found out you're not the biological daughter of your parents and also the fact that, you wanted to seduce her husband and take everything that rightfully belongs to her including your parent's wealth. She told me you succeeded though in taking everything but that boyfriend of yours run along with everything and left you behind."

"She was in so much pain and cried a lot when she told me about the whole story and I had no idea it was all a lie not until days back when Mr. Domanco showed up. He confronted me after having a conversation with you. I told him the truth but, he told me what the real truth is."

"I had no idea I've been fooled all these years and hurt you in the process. I hope, you can forgive me. I know, I was wrong. For believing her but at that time, I had no reason not to believe her. She was so real, every word that came out of her mouth looked so real too. And her husband, he was chiming in with her also and then... The news about you killing your mom was everywhere. The only thing I could think at that moment was to make you pay for all the bad deeds you've done to her family. I had no idea, I was hurting the innocent one all this while."

"Look, Chloe... I know it will be hard for you but please, find it in your heart to forgive me. Just forgive me and I will be okay." She said as she took hold of my two hands in hers. 

Why, am I not surprised by everything she had just said?

Chloe Montclair

Of course, Ken told me everything already and now, everything makes sense to me. When I was first brought into this place, I was treated like a piece of trash. The way Juliana has always treated me, the hatred from her, and how she made life miserable for me.

Janet didn't stop at that but, also gave her money to make life miserable for me in here. I thought she was the only one left for me. I thought, she loved me as her sister. What have I done to deserve all these horrible things from her? I've always loved her and cherished her so, why me? 

I'm mentally boiling in anger right now and I do not want to burst out. Not in presence of Juliana. She might think I'm like this because of her. 

"Hey, are you even listening to me at all?." I heard her say as her hand touch my arm which brought me out of my thought. 

"Of course, I'm listening to you. Look, Juliana. I've forgiven you, and I'm aware that all you did was out of lies said to you. It's your choice and you choose to believe her but, that still doesn't mean I'm going to blame you for that. The news was everywhere that, I killed my mom. Not only do you, everyone in this country hate me for that so, but I'm also not blaming you one bit for it. So, it's fine." I said the last part with a little smile on my face. 

"You know, it's hard to get people like you these days. I had no idea you could easily forgive me despite all the despicable things I've done to you in the past. Thank you so much."

"As I had said, I have no right to blame you. You're probably just doing your job that, you also hated me in the process."

"I'm sorry, Chloe. I'm truly sorry." I might have forgiven her but still won't stop the fact that she tortured me a lot. 

"Erm, can I leave now? I mean, we're done with our discussion right?." 

"Yes you can, but before that... You need to sign some papers. Everything is ready, you just have to sign them."

"Papers?." I asked confused.

"Mr. Domanco made the arrangements already. I'm talking about your freedom now but first, you have to do some important papers... So, just give me a minute." She said, got up, and brought a few papers with her. 

"So, you have to sign here and here." She said as she showed me where and where to sign. I did as I was told, and got up to leave but she stopped me again. 

What does this woman want from me again?

"Can I at least, get a hug from you?." I looked at her shocked. Did she just ask for a hug? Is she trying to be on my good books now because I'm about to be free from here and the fact that, I'm now connected to the president's son? 

No! You're getting crazy again, Chloe. Of course, her face says it all. She meant all that she had said. 

I moved closer to her and hug her briefly but, she pulled me back and hug me tightly. 

Okay.., I swear, this woman is acting strange. 

"Okay, I need to go now." I tried to break the hug but the door burst open. I rolled my eyes when I saw who it was. My crazy best friend. 

"Oh, wow! What a nice view I'm seeing right now." 

"What are you doing here, Tiana?." I asked in an irritated tone. 

Why am I being this way? Maybe, it's because of what I'm going through right now. I'm really hurt and truly wanted to break down but, I just can't do that. I've made a promise to myself not to break down anymore. 

I have to be strong no matter what the circumstances might be but again, not like this. This is too much for me to handle. 

Betrayed by my very own sister, my blood sister betrayed me with the man I fell in love with. 

She went extreme and lied against me. That wasn't enough, she brought me to hell just so I won't escape from here. 

Is there a sister who can go to any extreme just for wealth? She did all of this to me all because of our father's wealth. All she could have said was a few words to me. 'i want everything all to myself and, I would have need to her request. I'm not that desperate for the wealth or the company itself. 

"Don't tell me now that you're planning on leaving, you choose Juliana as your friend and now trying to cast me aside. You betrayal!! I've been there for you all these years and now, you find every little opportunity to yell and scream at me!!" She glared and hissed at me. 

She wasn't lying. I easily feel irritated by things she does now but, it wasn't my fault. 

"I'm... I'm sorry." I sighed and apologise to her. "It's not what you think." I said. 

"Then, how it's?." She asked as she placed her two hands on her side waists. Right now, she looks like a mom scolding her daughter. 

Maybe, Juliana did see what I saw and we both burst out laughing at the same time. "Okay girls, you two can go settle your issues in your room. I need to attend to some important matters ASAP." She said to us. 

"Sure, Juliana. Sorry for disturbing you." Tiana said sweetly to her and drag me out of her office before I could say anything. 

"Hey! Will you calm down? My hand might cut, hope you know that?."

"It won't. You're a strong girl." She said and stopped walking before facing me. "Now tell me, what have you been hiding from me?." 

"What do you mean? You literarily know about everything going on in my life so, what could I possibly be hiding from you?." 

"What did you go in there to do in her office? And, why have you been acting strange towards me? You're not cutting me some slacks at all!" She complained in a frustrated tone. 

I mentally roll my eyes. This girl is a total drama queen. 

"She told me to sign some papers and all that. And secondly, I apologize to you already haven't I? I didn't mean to act towards you in such a way... I'm just... I was only frustrated by the whole thing. I can't believe Janet could stoop so low and do such horrible things. I loved her! I cherish her so much! All she could have done was asked for everything! Everything and I would have gladly given it to her! I never wanted any of the responsibility bestowed on me anyways, I've always made complaints to my mom, told her to make her in charge of everything but she told me, that's what my Dad wanted besides, I'm the first daughter and my dad has put so much trust in me. I had no other choice... I really loved her so much!" I break down in tears. This is hurting me badly... My heart hurts!

"Hey! It's fine. I'm here for you, right? I've always been there for you and would continue to do that. Stop stressing yourself over things that don't worth it. Look, I know, she's still your sister no matter what but, she's chosen her path, allow her, and I promise to be always there for you. Your kind heart has favored you, Chloe. Are you the only girl in the whole world? Thousands of girls are out there which Mr. Stranger can choose from them but then, he chooses you instead. He shed more light on this and even made Juliana realize she has wronged you. You should be happy and grateful, don't you think?."

"But it's hard to let go of the pain, Tiana. Never in my wildest dreams will I think my own sister could betray me."

"And she did. The only thing you can do right now is to make your parents proud once again. Go out there, fight for what rightfully belongs to you, confront your sister, and hear her out. No matter what, she's still your sister and you can't change that fact."

I wipe off my tears, looked at her, and scoff. "You want me to sit and talk to someone who made my life this way? You think I will be able to control myself when I see her?!" I burst angrily at her. 

"Then, what do you intend to do? At least, you can't kill her, she's still your sister no matter what. It's advisable to take revenge on that monster who uses you and your sister at the same time but Safeeyah, you can't do her anything."

"Actually, I have a lot to do to her. She and Sebastian will pay for what they've both done to me. I will make them pay!"

"Chloe, calm down. You're taking this too far. I'm going to support you in whatever decision you make but, not hurting your sister. She's still your blood for goodness sake! Look, don't do anything stupid. You know I won't be out there with you to look after you so please, caution yourself as much as you could." She warned me in a strict tone. 

All this she's saying isn't making any sense to me. I've made up my mind. I will make them both pay for what they've done. She cease to be my sister the day she lay a trap for me and made a fool out of me. She cease to be the wonderful, innocent sister I so much adore the day she made me a murderer in presence of the whole world. No, I will never forgive her for this. 

She called for war and she's going to get it! 

"Christiana, are you supporting me in this or not?." 

"Of course, I will but yo-"

"There's no any but. You're going to be there for me right?."

"I just said I will and please, do not cut me off while talking. How are you going to take your revenge with this identity of yours? Your face... Everyone knows who you're. Don't you think, this is kinda risky for you to do? Why don't we tell Mr. Stranger to find someone else for the job." 

I looked at her unbelievable and burst into laughter. "Don't tell me, you're scared already?."

"Of course, I am! I cared about you."

"I will be fine, girl. Besides, Ken is there to protect me." I assured her.