My mind squinched over "Him" as I leaned back on the bed.
Who's he? Both my parents and I have no enemies. I mean only the ladies. If they were behind the attack, they would not have allowed the police to intervene.
I'm the sacrifice of the wickedness my close ones committed. Who's my closest one? What did they do to him?
"What are you contemplating?" Luke questioned.
I roused up from my deep thoughts.
"Nah, just trying to shut my eyes", I said.
"Is it about the attack?", he said.
I sigh while nodding.
He pressed my shoulder. "I feel you. It was a hard time for you. Know that you're safe, we're all here for you"
"Break that thought out of your mind. Let the police handle it", he said.
"No Luke, something doesn't add up", I said.
"What do you mean?" he said, gravely.
"The attack wasn't on me. He wanted vengeance on those who were related to me," I explained.
"How did you know that?", he asked.
"I... he told me," I explained.
"WHAT! Have you told the police?", he asked.
"Emm... yes?", I said
"Be honest, Sarah!", he said.
"No", I said
"Why?!", he asked
"I don't think it's a good idea", I said.
"Are you losing your mind?! You should tell them", he said.
"I can't. Something off is going on, we have to figure it out", I said.
"That's not our business, but the police's. Why are we wasting our time on this insignificant matter?!" he exclaimed.
"There's something bigger inside this insignificant matter, Luke", I said.
"You overthink it, Sarah, I'm gonna spill the information to the police". He scooped up his phone and called Josh.
I snatched his phone. "No, don't!"
"Give it back!", he said.
"You shouldn't share this with them. You have no idea what we've gotten ourselves into!" I exclaimed.
"That's why I'm telling them, give me my phone back, Sarah!" he exclaimed.
"Please... Luke",
"Please...!",
He sighed. "What do you want me to do?"
"Keep it to yourself, don't even dare tell people in or out of this house, especially your closed ones, got it?", I said.
"All right", he said.
"Promise?"
"Promise", he said
"Luke?", I said
"What?", he said
"May I ask you? One last question", I said.
"Hmm"
"Do you know anything about the attacker?", I asked.
"Do you suspect me, Sarah?" Luke
"I know, I hate you, I hit you, it doesn't make me your attacker or even team up with him, I gain nothing from your death!", Luke scowled at me.
"I didn't mean that way. It could be someone from your or your family's past," I speculated.
"Look! I know nothing about the attack or the f*** he is! I know my family isn't very nice to you. I can assure you, it has nothing to do with them", he said.
"Why isn't he from your parents' past, Sarah? If you die, the only people who will suffer are your parents!" he exclaimed.
"You won't suffer if I die?" I asked.
"I see, I'm just a Ms. Nobody working as Mr. Luke Abrams' anger slave!" I exclaimed as I faced him.
"I'm not going to answer that. You had better suspect your family before you suspect mine." Luke
Before he left, "Remember, I've been terrorized since I entered your family". He shut the door.
Suspect my family?!
While I was in the process of finding out the truth, brand-new issues appeared. Not to mention, the guards are so strict, it's getting harder for me to get out of the house. I'm not going to get anything by hanging around in the mansion.
I descended and found him alone watching a movie. He looked up at me.
"Why did you come down? You need to rest", he said.
"You shouldn't care for your slave. As a Ms. Nobody, I need nobody to take care of me or pretend to care about me", I said.
"I'm not in the mood to argue with you", he said.
"Exactly, I made it clear to you", I walked away from the living room.
I melted onto the grass, inhaling the crisp air.
"Feel like forever I didn't see you, how are you doing?", Delores took a seat beside me.
"I'm fantastic," I said,
"It was a terrible day", she said.
"Some people are willing to see you die, you have a lot of enemies out there."
"Count it as a side effect of your action, so next time you'll be able to behave even better", she said.
I laughed.
"You know what?" I said to her. "I'm not his enemy, he has a dispute with a BIG FAMILY linked to me, and some people have done something to him, mother-in-law," I explained.
She fixed her gaze forward, her hand clapped on her thighs, and her breath got heavy, as a spasm of terror crossed her face.
Delores turned to me, "Lots of people relate to you, Sarah. It can be the enemy of your parents."
"Could be. But The Abrams is linked to me too. I mean, Abrams is my family now.", I grinned.
Maintaining her composure, she said," Don't pull my family into this, we have nothing to do with it!"
"You're incredibly skilled at calming your tension, Mother," I said.
She paused for a bit before entering the house. She looked at me, I curled my lips upward and smiled devilishly at her.
(Ladies POV)
"She ruined my day!" exclaimed Delores as she stepped onto the balcony.
"We watched you", asked Sadie.
"She said something unusual", said Delores.
"Like?", Reggie joined the club.
"I can't discuss it here. We'll wait for our man," Delores explained.
"Sounds crucial, I can't wait for the discussion," Sadie said.
"May I guess? My curiosity kills me", said Indy.
"I bet it's related to the attack", asked Indy.
"It is", said Delores.
"I don't get why it still bothers you. Are you sympathetic to Sarah?" asked Reggie.
"Wait till night!", said Delores.
"My head hurts, I'm going to my room." Delores stated.
"She puzzled us" said Sadie.
(Sarah's POV)
Our days were spent under strict security. I was put under house arrest and had to have an escort anywhere we went. However, the peculiarities that took place in this family stayed in the back of my mind.
I crept into Luke's study in our room as he slept soundly. I pulled out my notebook and made a white sheet with all of the gaffes, beginning with the introduction of Abrams to our family.
The notes:
!. At the age of 19, I received a marriage proposal from The Abrams, a well-known family in society. I protested at first, then accepted for the sake of my parents' faith in me.
2. The ladies of Abrams paid a visit and properly proposed marriage.
3. The Abrams had made up their minds that the wedding had to take place that year.
4. We were stunned by their statement, yet my dad said "Will think about it."
5. The Abrams are adamant about not waiting for graduation. What's with the rushed wedding?
6. The groom, Luke, paid a visit the other day, and didn't know anything about me being discharged.
7. In the blink of an eye, the wedding day, I longed for a joyful life, a torrid romance worthy of a novel.
8. As we rejoiced on our wedding day, I had the impression that someone was observing me. As I looked through the crowd, I caught a brief glimpse of a man staring intently at me before he vanished into it.
9. I left my childhood home. As I walked into Abrams Mansion, I felt a surge of fear. I entertained myself with a pleasant thought.
10. We stepped into our room as newlyweds. The gentleman turned into a demon, he said, "IT'S MY FAULT!"
11. What's my fault?
12. The bitterness in my life began the next day. The ladies are skeptical of what I said. Delores' tenderness changed to wrath, just like Luke's did that night, as if possessed by a demon.
13. I keep replaying the words my mother uttered in my head, thinking about incompatibility in the household.
14. Delores lied to Silas, making something up to make herself right. I obeyed my in-laws for the sake of my marriage.
15. Luke rarely gets together with his family, not as close as it seems.
16. The lady showed no concern for her son or their nephew. They are doubting me again because I am concerned about my husband.
17. What kind of parents are they? They didn't give a damn and saw it as their man's freedom.
18. Luke never considered me as his wife. He yelled, "I ruined him, his life, and everything that belongs to him!"
19. What belongs to him? Something had happened to him in the past.
20. The ladies are overly sensitive and go insane. Reggie used a whip to beat me.
21. The true turning point came when Luke appeared as my savior and risked choking his own aunt.
22. I gather my strength and revert to my old self, Rebellious Sarah. Luke beat me once more as a result of the ladies' fabrication of a lie.
23. I got up with a new plan. I proudly displayed the bruises on my body, as well as the whip Reggie had used to beat me.
24. It's the beginning, not the end.
25. Sadie, the woman next door, had joined the ladies.
26. Luke and I talked. He suddenly softened and said, "The voice". What voice? Whose voice?
27. He mourned, "My heart is broken, my life is ruined, they took everything from me". Who are they?
28. Ever since that night, our relationship has improved. A new, bright beginning.
29. Ruth leaked some information about the Abrams, yet it didn't get to Luke's.
30. Luke asked me to bring the file. I discovered a hidden room in his workroom.
31. A Crystal Frame transformed into a painting. I viewed the painting, it was like a bolt of lightning struck my heart. There was a WOMAN in his life!
32. Where's the woman?
33. Shortly after the initial shock, a new tragedy entered my life. Shortly after the initial shock, a new tragedy entered my life. He wanted revenge!
34. Who does he want to avenge?!
I studied the pattern, all the dots gradually connected. I failed to find the big dot. I slid my notebook back into my handbag.
I swiveled the door doorknob silently. I'm hardly sleepy. I'd like to soak in the atmosphere around midnight. The night air is refreshingly cool.
Voices echoed in my ears from behind the room where the ladies were spending time before I stepped into the front yard. Who's inside? As far as I know, they're sleeping. I approached the room, pressing my ear to the door.
"The incident makes no sense. I'm afraid it has to do with us. The Past"
It's Delores, what is she talking about?
"No way, everything has been cleaned up", said Shane Abrams.
"There's nothing left", said Scott.
"I'm not convinced, I feel otherwise", said Delores.
"He targeted the wrong person. Don't waste time dwelling on the past.", said Silas.
"We were there, we witnessed it all. I don't see why you're so obsessed about coupling something unrelated," Reggie replied.
The whole family is inside the room.
"There is only one way to know, that is to figure out who he is," Sadie explained.
"We'll find out soon enough who he really is. I've arranged everything", said Seth.
"Dee, let's go back to our room, stop stressing about trivial matters," Silas replied.
"We'll take care of it", said Seth.