Third person's pov
Is it possible to feel rage on behalf of someone else? Meera didn't know how she should feel. Conflicted? Stupid? Or angry? Did she even deserve to feel these emotions? She has of her free will partnered with Evelyn to destroy Elijah. And the one who has hurt Elijah the most is also part of the so-called revenge game. One thing she was sure of; was to end all the drama and mess she has one way or other created and will not let Elijah get hurt.
So when the boiling lava in her blood was ready to erupt, she didn't stop it instead let it out willingly. She was utterly hurt imagining what her Eli has gone through because of the snake happily smiling along with Evelyn in front of her. Standing up, Meera walked and stopped in front of Evelyn and Mark who looked at her confused. Smiling, Meera forwarded her hand to Mark who first looked skeptical then understood and shook hands with Meera.
"Glad to finally meet you, Mark Alfonso"
With that being said, Meera threw a tight slap on his face. The sound was loud that it reverberated in the quiet lounge and the impact had her palm burning. The fire in her heart though was still alight. Her eyes were lit in fury. The slap was nothing compared to his wrongdoings. Never will.
Evelyn gasped in shock, covering her mouth with both hands. Seeing her boyfriend backhanded by Meera was unexpected and so sudden that she didn't know how to react. But when Meera slapped him again and again that she came to reality and pushed her away.
"Meera! Have you gone mad? What are you doing? Stop! "
Evelyn's yelling didn't faze Meera instead she got angrier that this snake has Evelyn brainwashed and under his control. Gaining the balance back of her body, she stood straight and glared at Mark who was looking head-on at her, standing behind Evelyn.
"It's you who has gone mad! Can't you see the true face of this snake Evelyn? Are you blind? "
"Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! Not a word against Mark Meera. I am warning you. Not. A. Word. "
Evelyn fumed in anger and gritted out through clenched teeth. Meera understood that Evelyn had no idea of Mark's truth. He has her fooled. And because of her foolishness, Meera can't let Elijah get hurt. It's not acceptable. She will do anything to prevent it.
"Why? Does it hit home? You too know how he is Evelyn. It's not Elijah, it's him who killed his baby. Open your eyes and see the truth!"
"You know nothing! Elijah lied to you. He planned everything to separate me from Mark and used Angelina"
Meera saw Evelyn won't listen to a single word against Mark. Her attempts are futile. She has to do something else. But before she could proceed, the click of the door opening interrupted her and followed by the clicking of heels against the tiled floor. The person who entered the lounge had her double take. What was Evelyn doing? Turning to Evelyn Meera voiced out,
"What is the meaning of this Evelyn? What is she doing here? "
"What do you mean by what? She lives with us. We three are in a relationship"
Meera couldn't believe what she heard. To think Evelyn is her Eli's sister. Why was this so messed up? God! Meera wanted to beat the stupidity out of the brat that Evelyn is.
"Are you serious? You love the two people who hurt your brother the most. How can you look at them, Evelyn? Don't you feel disgusted? "
"Don't you feel disgusted to stay with Elijah after everything he did? "
Evelyn fired back equally angrier as Meera. She couldn't believe Meera had the audacity to hit her boyfriend and top of that questioned her judgementt. After finding love with the two people who stood by her side even after the things Elijah put them through, it was a wonder that they are still with her romantically.
"Rather than disgusted I am disappointed. In myself and you. We couldn't understand your brother then. But now I do. And I regret my wrongdoings. I hope one day you do too leaving behind these snakes. Elijah doesn't deserve this and also you"
Meera sighed heavily, anger still buzzing in her head. The ache in her heart was too much to bear. Thinking about what her Eli will feel after finding out about Evelyn and her indirectly helping Mark and Angelina hurt her. It pained too much.
"What do you know? I am surprised Eli told you about his past and the pathetic and unforgivable deeds he committed. Now that you know, do you understand why I hate him so much? "
Scoffed Evelyn, crossing her arms across the chest. Narrowing her eyes at Meera she felt Angelina and Mark stand on either side.
Meera saw the three standing against her. It felt like she was arguing not with Evelyn but with Mark who has made Evelyn his little pawn in the game against Elijah. Evelyn was not even aware of the situation she was in, that she was being used. Meera can't let this continue for more than one reason.
"I am not. He loves me. He can do anything for the ones dear to him. And you Evelyn are his little princess, he will be hurt. Stop this game of--"
"Oh come on! Don't tell me you believe his sob story"
Evelyn cuts in between, not wanting to hear the emotional nonsense Meera was spouting. She can't hear the same words about her brother again and again. She has with her own eyes seen the destruction Elijah can bring. She was unfortunate enough to experience it.
"Do you know the real truth Meera? Let me tell you. Elijah himself created the whole situation and circumstances up until his marriage with Angelina. Us being his pawns. He knew how much I love Mark. Still, he went ahead to snatch my love from me. Why? Because he thought Mark was after his money. Like seriously? Did he have to use Angelina and Mark to get to me, the two people who are my love? Did he have to trap Angelina who loved Mark back then in his love and betray each other? Did he have to hurt us, break my heart? "
Asked Evelyn tearing up at the end feeling overwhelmed and recalling the bitter memories. She was heartbroken when her dear brother betrayed and snatched the things dearest to her heart mercilessly. She can never forget it and forgive Elijah. She wants him to feel the pain of heartache and betrayal that he put her through. He was the idol who turned into the villain of her love story. It's her turn to play the part he so ruthlessly played in her life.
Meera was taken aback. From what Elijah told her, the things Evelyn said are nonsense. She believes her Eli. To even think about what she heard about him would be an unforgivable sin. No, she doesn't believe what Evelyn said. Evelyn herself is unaware of the whole truth. And looking at the smug faces of Angelina and Mark, she is sure that whatever Evelyn thinks and has believed is not true. But why can't Evelyn see that when she can, a third person? Has Mark influenced Evelyn so much that the reality that lies before the eyes is not visible or that she refuses to see it? Meera will show her one way or another, Evelyn has to face the truth even if it hurts her. It's for her Eli.
"Have you ever asked yourself why your brother who loves you so much would willingly without a proper reason snatch the so-called love of your life? "
"Who are you Meera to question me? You are a nobody. Understand? And Elijah will throw you out of his life himself once he knows about your pretense to love and marry him and planning it with his worst enemy; Mark"
Meera felt her heart drop hearing the likely possibility. It was one thing to think and other to hear it from someone who knows her Eli very well. Ignoring it for now she concentrated on the difficult matter at hand. Dealing with Evelyn turned out to be way more complicated and hard than anticipated.
"So you know that the snake is Eli's enemy but still you are with him. I wonder what it makes you, Eli's little princess? "
"I am not finished yet"
Meera doesn't let Evelyn say when she tries to intervene in between. Meera had enough of the cat and mouse game. It's time to deal with the situation head-on.
"Let's put it this way. You think Eli pretended to be in love with Angelina, who loved Mark, to separate him from you, who loved both of them, because the two were after his money. And the truth is Angelina and Mark trapped you in their love as a little pawn in the game to snatch all the hard-earned money of Eli through you in one way and another through Angelina by being Eli's then-girlfriend. She took advantage of him and gained a large sum of money and at the same time cheated on him with Mark and got pregnant and trapped Eli to take responsibility for the baby so that the inflow of money wouldn't stop. When he knew the reality of both the snakes deceiving him as well as you, he was deeply hurt and instantly taught them a lesson. Unfortunately, you suffered in the middle. But Eli tried his best to not let much hurt touch you hence you don't know most of the things and these snakes brainwashed you taking advantage of the situation "
"Sadly this is the reality, Evelyn. However hard you try to deny it, it won't change. Accept it and redeem all your mistakes. Eli will forgive you"
Evelyn visibly fumed at what Meera said. With fists clenched, she approached Meera who carefully observed her reaction. Upset, Evelyn pushed Meera who fell on the couch behind them and screamed at the top of her lungs,
"Enough!! Do you think you know everything? Has everything figured out? And suddenly have change of heart? No!! The truth is you know nothing. Elijah fooled you, stupid! "
"Do you seriously believe it's all because of the money, Meera?"
"Eve Baby"
Both Mark and Angelina came forward and embraced a laughing Evelyn who looked out of mind. She glared at Meera who was surprised and continued,
"I was fourteen when I found out about being bisexual. Imagine a middle schooler having a crush on a couple. Sounds complicated? The young girl told everything to her dear older brother who consoled, guided, and encouraged her to confess and accept who she is. Such a good brother, no? Plot twist, the said brother on Christmas eve next year brought the girl his younger sister loves and introduced as his fiancee. Betrayal? A small word for what I felt. I shared everything with him, not even Xavie or my parents. Only him. What was the reason he said? Yes! Angelina and Mark are not good for me, they are using me, are gold diggers"
Evelyn leaned down on Meera and got on the face. Tears were streaming down her face but a smile was stuck on the lips. She looked equally hurt and sinister. Meera can tell Evelyn was in pain saying out loud the things she has gone through, her painful past.
"He forgot one thing, it was not them who approached me. I chased after them who were already in a relationship. I am sure Eli didn't tell you who met Mark and Angelina first. Guess who did? "
Meera stared dumbfounded at Evelyn. She was lost. She wanted to refuse anything Evelyn said was true. She trusts her Eli. She saw real pain in his eyes and after spending time and knowing the real him, it's impossible he lied to her. But looking at a heartbroken Evelyn in front of her, one thing is clear, she is not lying either. Then what's the truth? Who is wrong? What really happened?
"Got nothing? I will tell you then. It was me. Eli was in college the first time when I met Mark who was Toby, my best friend's older brother. And he had Angelina, his girlfriend, over in his house at the time I had slept over. Nobody knew what was on my mind back then. So how can Mark trap me when it was me who first desired him? And Angelina, she accepted me with open arms and equal love. I was over the moon. So happy. But Eli had to ruin it. Even after that, I trusted him and Mark and I let Angelina go and be with Eli. We both were heartbroken. We thought Angelina and Eli betrayed us both. This is why I brought Mark as my boyfriend on his wedding, in a way to move forward and break ties with Angelina"
Evelyn got up and went to Mark and hugged him. Sobbing, she said,
"Baby, do you remember how sad we were when we confronted Angelina? "
"Yeah Eve baby. I do. Shh, stop crying. It breaks my heart. Please, baby? "
"And you remember what she told us had me devastated. I couldn't believe Eli was capable of that. Do you? "
"Evie, you don't have to do this. Stop. Forget the past"
"No! I can't stop today Angie. Not today. My dear sister-in-law has opened the old wounds that I barely healed from"
Evelyn pulled back from Mark and turned towards a frozen Meera who was silently listening to everything. Evelyn knew Elijah didn't tell her these things by looking at her shocked and pale face. She wanted to laugh at Meera's naivety but her messed-up emotions were all over the place.
"Angelina told us that Eli kidnapped her family and blackmailed her to break up with us and fake marry him. Shocking? This is nothing. His whole plan included removing them both from my life. The most heartbreaking thing was he succeeded at first when I saw Angelina and Mark on his wedding day having sex. I thought Angelina betrayed not only us but Eli also and on top of that Mark betrayed me too. My heart was shattered into pieces. I almost broke up but Mark came to me and told me that Eli drugged him and put Angelina and him in the same room on the morning of the wedding day. It was all orchestrated by him. He was the perpetrator of destroying my love life. Just because Mark's father was his mortal enemy"
"Yes, you heard right. It was not because my lovers were gold diggers. Mark's father, Ander Alfonso, took away his first child Faith, Eli's real girlfriend, and true love. He couldn't tolerate the pain and heartache of separation from her. Mark indirectly helped his father in hiding Faith from Eli. This is why Eli swore to destroy the whole Alfonso family. And he did. Ander is dead, Toby was sent to an orphanage, and Mark was sentenced to prison for killing Angelina's baby and assault charges. Their family business was bankrupted. Eli didn't turn into a crazy possessive, obsessive, and commanding man overnight, losing Faith did. Over the years, the loss turned him into it. He couldn't cope with it. And in turn, he wanted to keep everything he liked or looked at. Including you. He wanted everything in control and absolutely according to him"
"You are lying! "
Shouted Meera, unable to believe it because it contradicted everything Elijah told her. She refused to mistrust her Eli. He can't lie to her after everything. Right?
"Don't believe if you can't. But it's the truth. Elijah was obsessed with my older sister. He dictated her life and she was day by day losing her identity because of his overbearing controlling nature. I saw her crying every night. She wanted to leave him but he wouldn't let her. She couldn't believe how her highschool sweetheart turned out to be demanding and controlling. Finally, my father and I had to step in and help her. And see where it brought us. My father died of a heart attack due to our company's bankruptcy"
Mark came forward and told Meera.
"We don't blame Evie for Elijah's sins. We love her truly. But Elijah deserves to be punished. If not for him, our child would be still alive"
Angelina said tearing up. Evelyn standing between the both looked directly at Meera in the eyes and announced,
"So Meera this is the real truth of us and Elijah Mancini. Next time don't jump to conclusion without knowing the whole truth"
Meera remained seated for several silent and unmoving minutes, trying to digest the shocking revelations. Her heart has almost stopped beating several times in the course of the last five minutes. She never thought in wildest dreams that the past binding her Eli was this dark and sinister. Should she believe them over her love? Her heart denies whatever the snakes said but Evelyn? She still can see tremors in the poor girl's body from the pain and devastation which can't be faked. What was she supposed to do at this point? She came here to end the revenge game but got a totally different thing instead. A painful past history. Unimaginable and unexpected.
"Thanks to Evelyn who gave me this place to live in after I got released from prison. If not I would be in the streets, Elijah has taken everything we owned"
"For saving me too from Elijah who almost killed me on Evie's birthday. Thank god for her to hide me before his men could capture me"
Said Mark and Angelina gratefully smiling at Evelyn who blushed shyly due to their attention on her. Of course, she can never let them get hurt again. Not when she knows everything.
Meera stared at space blankly. Shocked? Can never justify what Meera was feeling. She didn't know what to believe. Her heart refused to believe what they said but her mind told otherwise. Her new love is threatened before it can bloom. What should she do? What really happened three years ago?