Victim of Circumstance | UNDER RIGOROUS EDITING

Chapter 11 - Not Ever & Again

"Am I still what?"

"Do I have to spell out the word for you?" She sighs irritatedly. "I'm asking if you still pregnant Valeria?" I close my eyes, touching my belly unconsciously.

The bump is still practically non-existent but it's there. The floodgates open as the tears start running down my cheeks—softly. The pain wounds open with newfound explicitness. The pregnancy... God.

"Hey, hey, I'm sorry Valeria. I'm really sorry." She takes a sit next to my bed, taking hold of my hands immediately. "I didn't mean to upset you." I don't reply.

That's the question that has been in everyone's mind. Am I still pregnant? What answer do I give them? Ignore. Only three people know (Ndeshi and her parents) besides the attending doctor and nurses.

"You and Pius? Are you... like an item or... something?" Chantel asks out of nowhere. That makes me blush crimson. I cover it up with a quick non-chalant cough because I don't  want to think about Pius and in that way either. No. So instead, I throw her one of my intense glares, silently letting her know that I'm tiring of her distract-to-divert tactic.

"Are we going to beat around the bull the whole day or what? If you have something to say, say or forever hold your piece." I said, cocking my head to the side.

That did it.

"I'm sorry." She says softly, totally resigned. "That's all I wanted to say. I regret—"

"Oh, it's a good thing regrets always come late, because when it does come, it stings like a bitch and that's the only thing I wish for you." I sneer with so much venom.

"Val please—"

"No. Don't you dare call me that?" I warned. "That name was only meant for my best friend. My sister. Someone I thought would always have my back no matter. Not you. Not ever." A tear runs down the left cheek.

"All I can say is, I'm sorry. I'm sorry for not believing you." Chantel closes her eyes, glowing in unshed tears.

"I think it's a little bit too late for that." I start. "If you did that then, I wouldn't have went through all the shit I did. Do..." I trail off, swallowing the tears. "Do you know what I went through? Do you have any idea? You obviously don't because you were just stuck up there on your Ivory Tower. But let me tell you. I lived on the streets for months, I ate garbage food, begging people to spare me something. Everywhere I went people looked at me like I was the most nauseating thing ever. And for what? For something I didn't do. I slept in rain. I went days without water and food. I learnt life 101, the hard way. So don't come here with your empty, apologies, because you are not getting it."

"Valeria you not getting it."

I burst into a scornful laughter with no humor. "I'm not getting it? She's kidding, right?" I ask myself. "What don't I get Chantel? What? You think I don't get how I was humiliated and kicked aside without even a backside glance. You believed my aunt over me and..."

"I had to."

"Oh, you had to. Wow. Okay. You done?"

"No. Are you? Because I'm not." She deadpans.

I take in a deep breathe to compose myself. I might as well let her talk.

I nod my head "Go ahead."

She doesn't start immediately. "Uhm, do you remember the day I texted you about your parents laundering money?" She  asks. I nod my head yes tentatively.

"Well, the thing is, that's not the whole truth Valeria. I... was forced to..." she blurts out.

"What?"

"Nothing like that never happened. Okay, it happened, but they weren't the ones that were involve."

"You better be shitting me. You..." I close my eyes, silently calming myself. "I argued with my parents for something they didn't do. Do you have any idea the things I said to them? Do you..." I shut my eyes and wipe away the tears. "They died, thinking I didn't love them. Thank you so much for ruining my life. I'll never get the chance to tell them otherwise. Do you have any idea of how much damage you have done?"

"Oh, I have. You have no idea, how big and beyond these whole thing goes."

I scoff at her dramatic remark.

"Who forced you to tell me those fabricated lies?" I question her.

"I can't tell you." She responds.

"You can't or you won't"

"I won't tell you because I can't. It's better if you don't know."

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why did those people go through all these trouble just to get to my parents?"

"You don't get it do you? Your parents weren't just any business people. They were the business moguls. I know you were too busy being rebellious to notice anything but they were beyond loaded, rich, copious, whichever way you like to put it. They were admired, envied and had enemies at every corner. The fact that you were rebellious didn't boat well for your parents because you were just adding to their troubles. Do you remember that time we were told not to leave the house but we still did because... Geesh, we were us?"

I nod my head, yes.

"They didn't tell you that just as a wash over. Someone placed a price on their heads, but they survived, I don't know how. People have been working around the clock behind the scenes ever since to bring them down and take over their empire. They lived a simple life and that's what astounded everyone. Why live like that while you have all the money in the world, was the most asked question. Them, dying—"

"...wasn't an accident." I finish softly.

"No it wasn't. It was a meticulously planned out murder staged as a car accident." She states matter-of-factly. I look up at the ceiling, willing the tears to go back.

"But that's not the only reason I came to see you today Valeria." Chantel says. I frown. "There is more to the story. I'm here to tell... no warn you, to prepare yourself, and prepare yourself well, both emotionally, and physically, because there is a war coming. A brutal one. They want you gone Valeria..."

"They?" I don't like the sound of this.

"The Secret society, Hoards or whatever they call themselves. I don't know. All I know is that, they want you gone but there is someone protecting you from behind closed doors. Their every attempt either comes out unsuccessful or it backfires. Its pissing the Hoards off. So be prepared. And I'm sorry. I really am. For playing part in everything you went through. I hope you find it in your heart to forgive me one day. Until then, don't trust no one. Only trust yourself. Your gut. You will always be my small sister Valeria. Nothing will ever change that and I'll protect you with my dear life." And with that she retrieves her handbag from the lounge and leaves the room, after waving me good bye with a sad smile.

Don't trust no one.

She didn't have to repeat that statement twice because that's one thing I promised myself never to. No matter what, because trust means heart break, and I'll not make that mistake...

Not ever and again.

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A/N: Just as I promised, this another update. Thank you so much for reading. Means everything to me. Hope you enjoyed it.

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Until 2017

- Stephen