Cassandra’s nightmare
Looking for a way into the party hall through the back door, Betty bumped into Lisa carrying Tommy in her arms. David had left her in the car after warning her not to join the party for her safety which she agreed to only to put him off.
“Where is Melissa?” She asked, taking Tommy from her to calm him down.
“She is coming. I left her talking to Mark back there. We have to get to the car.” Lisa responded, proceeding her to the car.
“Is she okay? Calm down.” Betty asked, kissing terrified Tommy on the cheek.
“She asked me to wait in the car.” Lisa stopped at the doorway as she glanced back.
“I have to look for her. Don’t cry honey, I’ll go get your mum. Stay with aunt Lisa okay.” Betty handed Tommy back to Lisa and went into the building calling out to her. “Melissa, Melissa.” Worried she may get hurt, Betty ran along the corridor opening all the doors shouting her name.
“Betty!” When she heard her name, she closed the third door she had opened and turned to look at the men behind her.
“Richard! So it’s true?” She asked before collapsing and losing consciousness.
“Aunt! What did you do my aunt?” Melissa ran over to find Mr. Richard holding her aunt on the floor.
“Betty, I thought you died. How come you’re here? All these years Betty, I thought you were gone.” Mr. Richard held her in his arms supporting her head as his tears fell on her cheeks not minding who was watching them.
“Richard it’s you, you’re alive, our son what happened to Mathew?” Opening her eyes, she asked, touching his wet cheeks.
“He is here, our son Matthew is here.” He said looking at Robert who walked towards them.
“She is my mother? How come? We have met so many times and I didn’t realize it?” Robert knelt beside Betty and helped her up.
“What is going on here?” Rushing from the house, Cassandra stopped before them, glancing from Richard to Betty. “You, what are you doing here? You are supposed to be dead.”
“Aunt, are you okay? Did they hurt you?” Melissa asked, checking her aunt’s body ignoring everyone.
“I’m okay Melissa. I’m not hurt.” She responded looking from Richard to Cassandra who was clinging onto him.
“Let’s go aunt, we have to leave now.” Melissa held her aunt’s hand directing her to the exit.
“But I have to talk to….”
“No aunt we are leaving. Get her to the car and grandfather too.” Melissa commanded the security team who had joined them leaving everyone speechless.
“Melissa, what are you doing?” Mark called to her, stopping her from leaving.
“What does it look like I’m doing?” She walked back and looked him eye to eye. “I won’t let your family hurt any of my family members anymore.” She told him.
“I did all this so our two families would talk. So your aunt would see her husband and son and be with them again. The party was to bring you here Melissa, all of you.” Mark tried to explain.
“I almost lost my mind when they took you and Tommy away but I told myself when you wake up you will come back to me. What did I get? You sent your lover to bring me divorce papers, Mark. I didn’t want to believe the times I saw you kissing and making out with Sasha.” She closed her eyes briefly. “I was such a fool to believe in love yet I was just a project to you. You got me from the province. I’m grateful for that but you deceived me many times. Now I want nothing to do with you or your family.” Not giving him a chance to speak, she walked to the car.
“Melissa it’s not what you think…”
“That’s enough, let her go.” David stopped Mark from going after Melissa.This belongs © NôvelDra/ma.Org.
“Who are you to stop me? That’s my wife.” Mark looked at him clenching his fist ready to punch him.
“She is my sister. I won’t let you hurt her anymore.” David stood between him and Melissa protectively.
“Let go David. Don’t waste your breath talking to them.” Melissa called him into the car leaving behind chagrined Mark and his family.
“Dad, Mark, what’s going on? Can someone please tell me what just happened? Is it true Melissa’s aunt is my mother? Come on, talk to me?” Robert asked with his hands on his head as he watched them drive away.
“I too don’t understand, son.” Mr. Richard said, looking as confused as Robert was.
Once all the guests had left, the whole family sat to talk about what had happened.
Biting her finger nails Cassandra sat beside Richard hoping he wouldn’t leave her. She never thought a day would come when she had to fight for her position as his wife again. Betty was supposed to be dead. “How is it she is still alive?” She kept asking herself.
“Cassandra, did you hear me?” Richard questioned staring at her.
“What?”
“You took me to the graveyard and showed me where my wife was buried. How come she is alive? Have you been lying to me?” He asked, getting more agitated.
“No Richard, at the office they told me she killed herself after your accident and they took us to her grave. I’m as surprised as you are.” She tried to explain.
“Mark, you knew my mother was Melissa’s aunt all this time and you didn’t tell me? You of all people know how much I wished to see my mother.” Robert looked at Mark feeling betrayed.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner but I only found out a few days ago so I thought bringing them here was the right thing. That’s why I planned this party. It was the only way but I didn’t expect Melissa to hate me more.” He sighed, taking a glass of water.
“Thanks to your plan son I was able to talk with Edward. Now I see how selfish I’ve been, forcing you to marry someone as deceitful as Sasha. Edward also informed me that Cassandra told Betty that Richard and Robert died in the accident. All these years she has been grieving.” Mr. Johnson said as everyone looked at Cassandra.
“What? Why did you lie to my wife?” Richard asked.
“I.. I.. I’m sorry, I was furious she didn’t look for you after the accident so when I found her at the office I told her you died just to hurt her. Later they told me she killed herself before I could bring her to the hospital.” She tried to explain. “Richard, please believe me, I was not thinking.” She touched his arm but he moved away.
“I have to get my wife back.” He looked at her then got up to leave.
“No, Richard, wait. I’m your wife, we have been married for years. You can’t do this to me Richard please.” She begged running after him. “Richard.” Cassandra watched as Richard got in his car and drove off. “I can’t believe this is happening to me?” She placed her palm on her forehead as his car disappeared.
She had paid so much money to convince Richard that Betty was no more. ‘I should have killed you when I had the chance.’ She thought to herself.
“Robert, Robert please hear me out.” She ran to Robert when he walked out but he too wanted nothing to do with her.
“Not now, mother. I need time alone to think. We will talk later.” He got in his car and drove off as well.
“I see your world is scrambling around you, Cassandra. Just let them be. Come home with us and once everyone has cooled off you can talk to Richard.” Her sister embraced her and wiped her teary face.
“Are you mocking me?” Cassandra pushed her hand away. “You are happy now aren’t you.” She said, stepping away from her.
“I’m your sister and I love you so much, Cassandra. Why would I be happy when you’re suffering? I’m only trying to offer my support. Please come home with us.” Sasha’s mother insisted.
“Mum is right, aunt let’s go home. Right now they will only look at you as the bad guy. Please come with us.” Sasha opened the car door urging her to get in.
Cassandra knew what Richard was going to do to her once he found out what she did so she left with her sister praying that with time she could win him back again.