The atmosphere's protective shield exuded a radiant aura, as sunlight danced through its layers and kissed the Earth's surface, causing a slight scorching sensation. The sun, traversing from the horizon to the highest point in the sky, punctured through the atmosphere with its crystalline rays, casting an eerie glow upon the faces of those below, leaving them squinting and with a glimmering demeanor. The birds soared with an unparalleled fervor, their zest and enthusiasm capable of inspiring even the most downtrodden, encouraging them to seek a brighter future. The scent of roses wafted through the air, transporting her to fleeting memories of summers past, evoking a sense of nostalgia.
In the midst of this idyllic day, she stood, gracefully balancing a champagne glass in one hand and a cigarette in the other. The outskirts of town buzzed with the vibrant celebration of nature's beauty. Her sunglasses, exuding an air of opulence, evoked envy among the entire family gathering. Almost everyone had forgotten to bring their own, turning the outdoor gathering into a daunting ordeal for most.
"There can be nothing more pleasant to the senses than the sunrise"As Elena deftly veered to the left, a brilliant vision of her grandmother's radiant smile greeted her. In response, Elena's face blossomed into a reciprocal smile, as she swiftly nodded in agreement to her grandmother's spoken words.
"Ah, what an invigorating experience! How I've longed for the gentle embrace of floral scents that entice even the graceful deer, and the delightfully sticky, ambrosial honey produced by those pungent honeybees. Spring is undeniably on its way, Nonna.!" Elena exclaimed, relishing every breath. Her smile widened with each passing second, eliciting a chuckle from her ever-amusing grandmother, Cindy Creed.
As she approached and gently brushed her lips against Elena's hair, she couldn't help but remark, "What a truly exquisite way to convey your longing for my presence." Elena's face lit up with a bright smile, touched by the sincerity behind the affectionate gesture.
As Elena gazed into her Nonna's eyes, she couldn't contain her joy in being present on her 79th birthday. The overwhelming feeling of luck washed over her, acknowledging the precious years she had been blessed to have alongside her beloved grandmother.
"I truly lament the infrequency of your visits to my farm, only once or twice a year! It is far from satisfactory, my dear, as your presence brings a radiant glow to my humble abode," she replied wistfully.
"Nonna, if you could truly understand the immense workload that awaits me at home... you would understand why my visits have become so infrequent". Elena expressed, deftly guiding the cigarette towards her lips, inhaling the hazardous fumes into her lungs. Nonna's face contorted with a mixture of repulsion and concern as she observed her granddaughter openly indulging in smoking before her.
"What on earth is happening to you? When did you start smoking? Hand that over!" Nonna grumbled, swiftly snatching the cigarette from Elena's grasp. Elena's face displayed a mixture of astonishment and confusion as she observed her nonna's unexpected reaction.
"Nonna?! What have you done?" Elena exclaimed, her voice filled with astonishment. However, the expressions adorning nonna's face were far from pleasant, sending a chill down Elena's spine.
"Elena, you're intoxicating yourself with this filth! What on earth is happening inside that mind of yours?" Nonna reproached, her gaze filled with disappointment as she observed her granddaughter. Nevertheless, Elena's response took her by surprise. Without warning, a burst of laughter erupted from her.
"Nonna, you've got to be kidding me, right?" Elena's voice dripped with disbelief as she removed her sunglasses. Her eyes revealed a mixture of anger and disappointment that immediately caught Nonna's full attention.
"Axel has been puffing away for the past seven years, and not a single person in this family says a word to him! In fact, everyone seems to worship and accept everything he does, but when it comes to me, it's a whole different story!"
"Elena, as a woman, as a lady, you should know better...women your age simply do not engage in such behavior, for it reflects poorly on our manners.!" Nonna exclaimed, her eyes filled with concern. Elena couldn't help but chuckle, feeling a profound sense of incredulity. The women in her family had become utterly unbearable.
"Really, Nonna? You too? Are you going to pass judgment on me too? It's absurd to even ask, considering you're my own mother's mother!" Elena's lips collided with the glass as she hastily finished the remaining champagne. Nonna was utterly taken aback by her granddaughter's abrupt shift in demeanor.
"What has happened to you, my dear child? This is not the person I know!" Nonna's heart sank as she gazed upon her bruised and battered granddaughter. Elena left silently, leaving Nonna to talk to herself in despair. Fear and frustration etched deep lines on Nonna's face, evident in her every move. Elena walked hurriedly, oblivious to her family's presence, as if on the verge of losing control. Suddenly, her eyes locked with her mother's, a painful and disgusting reminder of the incident at the house. Without looking back, she continued her stride, determined to reach the extravagant veranda where drinks were being served. Elena quickly grabbed another glass of champagne and disappeared into the distance.
Meanwhile, Axel was captivatingly engaged in conversation with his father and uncles. The exchange appeared to be both intense and animated, with laughter and beaming expressions visible even from a distance. Elena's countenance grew stern as she observed her father joyfully embracing Axel while conversing with the rest of the family. A solitary tear escaped her eye, highlighting the painful contrast in treatment and favoritism between her brother and herself. Despite her family's prominence in the realms of technology and business, their adherence to outdated family values was dishearteningly at odds with the progressive ideals of modern society.
Elena moved forward deliberately, each step measured and cautious, as if piercing her brother and father with her contemptuous and jealous stare. Marta observed this with a heavy heart, pain washing over her as she witnessed her daughter's isolation. In the blink of an eye, Marta's eyes widened, capturing the moment when Elena averted her gaze, their eyes meeting briefly. The air grew heavy with a corrupted silence as Elena continued on her path towards her father. The sadness reflected in her eyes served as a mirror to her wounded soul, a poignant reflection of the pain she carried within.
With great enthusiasm, James proclaimed, "The decision is made! This remarkable individual standing before you will be the torchbearer of my legacy!" His cousins and brothers were captivated by his words and raised their glasses in celebration. A radiant smile adorned Axel's face as he basked in his father's vote of confidence. Finally, it was official that all of his extensive investments, ambitious projects, and valuable capital would be entrusted to Axel. Suddenly, a gasp echoed through the air, followed by the sound of a shattered glass hitting the ground. All eyes turned to Elena, whose composure shattered along with the glass. James felt a lump forming in his throat as he witnessed his daughter crumbling before their eyes.
"Is....is...is this t...true??! Axel? You picked Axel?" Elena's voice quivered, tears cascading down her cheeks. James felt his muscles tense up, caught off guard by Elena's intense emotional reaction. He never anticipated that she would take the news so hard.
"El?...I was going to tell you!" James exclaimed, desperately attempting to bridge the gap between him and his daughter. Elena's response was a solemn shake of her head, as she locked eyes with her father, silently rejecting whatever he had to say.
"EL!!...ELL......young lady!! we need to talk," James urgently called after his daughter, racing to catch up as she hurried into the house. Marta let out a weary sigh, her expression etched with the weight of the terrible moment that had just unfolded before their entire family. Elena's heart longed for escape, her desperation urging her to swiftly retrieve the car keys and vanish. Yet, as she darted inside the house, her father's grip abruptly jerked her arm to the side.
"Elena, what was that all about? Making a scene like that in front of everyone!" James grumbled, his grip tightening around her arms. Elena's tears flowed uncontrollably down her cheeks, a testament to the immense effort she had put in over the years.
"I've dedicated countless years of my life to this family, tirelessly upholding your reputation and doing everything in my power to prove my competence in running your empire. I did all of this because I wanted to show you how capable I am, but it seems that I was never your choice!" Elena's words pierced through the air, laden with the weight of her pent-up emotions and long-held feelings. James stood there, frozen in shock, as he absorbed the strength and determination in his daughter's voice, realizing that this was the first time she had ever addressed him so adamantly and boldly.
"Why do you underestimate my abilities just because I am a woman? Why are you so reluctant to admit that I could be even better than your beloved son? Why can't you just accept the truth?" Elena's voice rang with frustration as she confronted her father. However, her passionate outburst abruptly stopped as her face was abruptly turned in another direction by his large hand.
"You have always exceeded my expectations, and I could not be more proud of the remarkable woman you have grown into," James murmured, tightening his grip around her. "Having two intelligent and stunning children like you and Axel has made me question the sheer good fortune that has blessed my life. But you know how unforgiving I can be when it comes to dishonesty and deceit." Elena's wide eyes reflected her fear as her father's words sank in, leaving a mixture of confusion and curiosity on her face.
"I waited for you to confess! I waited patiently for you to put an end to your wicked ways, but you persisted, knowing full well how much I detested this family!" He snarled through clenched teeth. Elena's breath grew shallow, her father's revelations choking her. As she tried to back away, a chilling smolder crept across his face, sending shivers down her spine.
"Did you think I was unaware of your rendezvous with the Callaway boy?" Elena's body went into a state of disarray, her legs shaking uncontrollably as fear coursed through her veins.
"You've been keeping a clandestine affair with Carlton Callaway, the very son of my sworn rival! And now, you have the audacity to believe that I would appoint you to oversee my empire?" James scolded, swiftly trapping his daughter against the unyielding wall.
"Sir.....ah....sir....I...I..." Elena felt a wave of disconnection wash over her as she watched her father unleash his fury, her sense of terror intensifying with each passing moment.
"Don't you dare defy me, not now, not ever... and especially not in front of others! DO YOU UNDERSTAND?!" James roared, his eyes burning with rage. Elena's entire being was consumed by a mixture of fear and sadness as she realized that the person who had once felt like the essence of home had become a stranger in her life.
There are no secrets that time does not reveal😓😓
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