KALIA
"How dare you talk back to my daughter in that manner? You have some nerves trying to be someone that you're not. We brought you into this house and took care of you like you were our very own and this is how you repay our kindness?" She yelled at me.
"Kindness?" I chuckled. The more I thought about that word, the more absurd it sounded to my ears.
"What kindness have I not repaid? Every single moment I spent in this house, I was mocked, ridiculed and humiliated by all of you."
"I tried so hard to be a good child but what did I ever get in return?" I retorted, my voice sounding more fierce and angrier than I had anticipated.
"What wrong have I ever committed to all of you?" I fired back. "What did I ever do to justify all your wicked actions towards me?"
"You even went as far as supporting your daughter by letting her go after my fiance. Or did you think I didn't know that you were sleeping with Callum?" I asked and their faces went pale.
"All I wanted was for the people I claimed as my family to love and be by my side but you all did nothing." I broke down in heartbreaking tears as I spoke but still I didn't stop.
I aggressively wiped the tears off my face and continued. "Celyn was having an affair with my fiance under my nose and as if it wasn't enough, I get to find out that I was never a part of this family and you call this act of yours kindness that should be repaid?"
"H-How did you know about that?"
"I don't care how she knew. It doesn't matter anyway." My stepmother snapped.
"No one would even take your words seriously or believe whatever nonsense you have to say especially not after all the mess you've created for this family as well as Callum's."
"It's good that you know that you don't belong here. You were never a part of this family and it's not our fault if no one wanted nothing to do with a bastard child like you so don't pin your misfortune on us. Blame your existence instead." She ranted on.
I nodded my head. "I have already blamed myself quite enough stepmother and I won't continue doing that anymore."
Taking a few steps closer to her, I bridged the gap between us so that we were only inches apart.
"You wanted me to repay your kindness right stepmother? Fine, I will repay every single kindness that you have shown me up until this moment, with the same coin. Mark my words."
Her jaw dropped to the ground but before I could let her a chance to make a comeback, I walked out of their presence and made my way into my bedroom before shutting the door behind me.
Once I was settled, I made a resolution to myself. If Celyn wants to marry an Alexander so badly then I'll make sure that she ends up marrying the wrong one just like I did.
No one except me knows what happened in my past life. And now that the tables have turned, instead of an innocent, unsuspecting girl like me that was deceived into marrying Callum, I will do everything in my power to put Celyn their place as his wife instead.
She will marry Callum and experience the life I had lived in ten folds. I won't let her get her claws on Darren. I just need to find a way to connect the dots properly.
After pacing in my room and thinking for a while, I picked up my cellphone and scrolled through my contacts.
I saw Kate which I had saved as my best friend but her number was blocked. Why did I block her number? Whatever happened between us?
I forced myself to think and a memory came to mind. I remember Kate meeting up with me two days after Callum had proposed to warn me about him because she didn't trust him.
She had seen him with Celyn leaving a hotel and showed me proof to investigate into the matter but I didn't believe her.
When I confronted Callum, he told me that he was planning a surprise for me and enlisted Celyn's help but they lost track of time and ended up staying at the hotel in different rooms and I believed him. He even showed me proof.
After that, I had an altercation with Kate and she vowed not to have anything to do with me if I decide to go through with the marriage and hurt myself. I remember snapping at her and accusing her of trying to ruin my marriage.
I called her a bad friend that was jealous of me and my relationship. I remember her being so hurt by my words that she called off our friendship and I, in turn, blocked her number on my phone.
I can't believe that I trusted Callum to the point of throwing my friendship away but not anymore. I will fix everything.
Dialing her number with shaky hands, I placed it to my ears as it rang, my heart in my throat. What if she doesn't pick up? Was she still angry at me? Was she busy?
Kate was a financial advisor and works for Callum's family. She was an integral part of their company and knew them better than anyone but still, I didn't believe her when she told me about Callum.
"Kalia? Is that you?" The voice called out to me after the beep. Tears stung my eyes in that moment. I have missed her so much.
"Kate I am so sorry." I apologized, tears streaming down my cheeks uncontrollably but she didn't respond.
"Please, forgive me Kate. I didn't mean any of those things I said I'm so sorry. I will apologize as many times as possible if you want me to but please, forgive me."
"What is it? Why did you call so late? Are you okay?" She sniveled. She was trying to sound brave but I could hear the sadness in her voice.
"I'm not, I know that it's late and on such short notice but I really need your help, Kate." I spoke into the phone. She went quiet for a while before responding.
"Is it about your fiance?" She asked knowingly but I didn't respond. "There are rumours flying around that you called off the marriage. Is that true?"
I'm not surprised that Kate had caught a whiff of the news. Things like these, especially when it involves a prominent family in society doesn't take time to circulate across the borders. I was quite certain that everyone must've heard about it already.
"Since you're not trying to deny or defend him at the moment then I guess it's the truth, right?" She persisted.
"Yes, but I don't have time to wallow in sadness and self pity anymore." I replied, wiping the tears off my face. "I need your help with something else and it's very important."
"What do you need my help with?" She inquired softly and somehow, I felt a flicker of hope bubbling inside me.
I glanced at the door to make sure that no one was anywhere near my room so that they don't eavesdrop even by accident.
I took a deep breath and then, "I need you to link me up with Callum's stepbrother, Darren. I have a proposition for him to consider before he leaves the country."