Chapter 14: Stepsisters War
"I can't say, but they're here to see you," the nurse replied. "Would you like me to let them in?"
The couple exchanged a glance, and finally, Enzo gave a reluctant nod. "Fine, you can let the visitor in," he said, sounding as if the words were being pulled from him against his will.
The nurse nodded and left the room. A few moments later, she returned with a woman in tow. It was Kiara's stepsister, Riley. She smiled brightly as she approached the bed, stopping just short of Kiara.
"Hi, Kiara," she said. "It's so good to see you."
Kiara stared at her sister, dumbfounded. She and Riley had never been close, and they'd never really gotten along. So, it was a bit of a shock to see her there. "Why are you here?" she asked, curiosity getting the better of her.
Kiara waited for an answer, watching Riley's face closely. The other woman looked down, a pout forming on her lips. "Can't I even come to see my own sister?" she asked, her voice sullen. "And besides, Mom asked me to check up on you."
"Mom asked you to check on me for what reason? So you two can continue your evil plot?" she asked, her anger clear in her voice. She knew her sister and stepmother were capable of anything, and she was sure they were up to something.
"Well, you can tell Mom that I'm fine and not sick," she said, her tone firm. "Because I'm sure that's the real reason you're here – to find out if I'm dead so you can claim my husband for yourself."
She couldn't help but feel a sense of anger and betrayal. She knew her sister had always been jealous of her life, and she had no doubt that she would try to take advantage of her situation.
"I'm not here to spy on you, Kiara," Riley said, her voice taking on a pleading tone. "I'm here because I care about you and I want to make sure you're okay. I know you're still angry at me, but you should know it was Mom who treated you badly, not me. You should be angry with her, not me."
Riley leaned closer.
Kiara immediately leaned back, as if her sister were some sort of contagious disease. "How do I know you're not holding something dangerous?" she asked, her eyes narrowed with suspicion.
Riley heaved a sigh of defeat as she realized her sister wasn't going to listen to her. "When did this dummy start getting so smart?" she wondered, her hatred for Kiara clear in her tone.
"Enzo is mine, and I must get him back," she thought, her mind made up. She had always had an eye on Enzo, ever since the first time she saw him. He was handsome, successful, and most importantly, rich. He was everything she had ever wanted, and she wasn't going to let Kiara stand in her way.
In her mind, she had seen Enzo first, and she had loved him ever since. She knew that eventually, she would make her intentions clear to him. She just needed to find the right time to do it. And when that time came, she would be ready.
But, to her surprise, a few weeks later, Enzo showed up at their house. When she saw him, she was filled with joy, thinking that maybe he had noticed her and was there to make his intentions known. But to her dismay, he expressed interest in her sister, even going so far as to ask for her hand in marriage.
She was stunned. She couldn't believe that Enzo would choose Kiara over her. She was supposed to be the one he wanted, not her sister. She had loved him for so long, and now, he was slipping through her fingers.
She felt like she was dreaming, and she wished she could pinch herself to wake up. But she wasn't dreaming, and the ground didn't open up and swallow her whole.
Instead, she had to watch her sister marry the man she loved right in front of her. It was a nightmare that she couldn't escape from. And ever since then, she had been plotting to get him back. She would stop at nothing to make him hers again.
Her thoughts were interrupted by her sister's voice. "I've been calling you for a while now," she said.
Riley looked up, her mind still clouded by the memory of Enzo's betrayal.
"I'm not here to hurt you, Kiara," she said, her patience wearing thin. "I've said it before, I just want to make things right between us and make sure you're safe."
Kiara narrowed her eyes, her voice full of suspicion.
Kiara stared at her sister, trying to decide if she was telling the truth or not. "After everything you and your mother have done to me, am I supposed to believe you?" she said, her voice filled with bitterness. "After you and your mother turned my father against me and made my life a living hell, you think I'll just forgive and forget?"
She paused, letting her words sink in.
"Your mother tried to sell me to that ugly old man, a man she herself couldn't even marry!" she cried, her voice cracking with emotion. "All because I'm not her daughter. Or should I say because of all the schemes you and your mother put into motion, you wanted me out of my father's house by any means necessary. And your plans worked. So I don't know what else you could possibly want from me."
Tears streamed down her face as she let out all of her pent-up emotions.
"I want you far away from me and my child. Stay far away, and never show your face to us again," she said, her voice shaking with anger.
She watched as her sister's expression shifted from sadness to surprise. "You have a child?" Riley asked, her eyes wide. "I had no idea."
For a moment, Kiara regretted mentioning her child to her sister. She knew what kind of person Riley was, and she had only mentioned the baby because she assumed that her sister already knew about him. But now, it seemed that Riley had no idea.
"You have a child?" Riley asked again, her voice full of disbelief. "I had no idea."
The room was silent as Kiara remained speechless, unsure of what to say. Enzo, who had been watching the drama unfold, decided to intervene. "Yes, we have a baby together," he said, his voice firm. "Is that a problem?"
Riley glared at him, her face filled with hurt and anger. "No, it's not a problem," she said through gritted teeth. "I'm just surprised that my sister has a child and didn't think to tell me or the rest of the family."
"Well, now you know," Enzo said, a hint of satisfaction in his voice. "You can leave now. Just like my wife said, don't come back. You're not welcome here."
Riley turned to leave, but Enzo stopped her, his face hardening. "And let me make something clear," he said, his voice low and threatening. "If you ever try to harm my wife or child, I will make sure you regret it. Do you understand?"
Riley nodded, her eyes wide with fear. She knew Enzo was serious, and she didn't want to test him. With one last look at Kiara, she turned and walked out of the room, her head spinning with what she had just learned. But, she knows this isn't where it's ending, "they must pay".