FIFTEEN YEARS AGO,
Ten-year-old Adrian walked hand-in-hand with his mum, Fiona, and his dad, Luke, through the lush green park. The warm sun cast a gentle glow on the vibrant flowers, and children's laughter filled the air.
"Won't you give mum some of your cookies?" Fiona teased, eyeing the cookies clutched tightly to Adrian's chest.
Adrian looked down at the cookies, then back at his mum, his bright blue eyes sparkling. "You can have it, mum. I'm not that hungry," he said, stretching out the cookies.
Fiona chuckled, ruffling his hair. "I'm just kidding, son. Let my adorable boy eat and enjoy his cookie to the fullest."
"I'd keep some cookies for Deja too. She likes them," Adrian said, his thoughtfulness making Fiona smile.
"Dad, don't you want some cookies? They're really delicious," Adrian asked, holding out the treat to Luke, who walked beside them with a straight face.
"No," Luke replied blankly, his eyes fixed ahead.
Adrian blinked, expecting a warmer response from his father. Fiona pursed her lips, disliking Luke's cold tone.
Adrian had thought his father would say something different, or at least, something warm , just like his mother.
But he was wrong.
He suddenly stopped walking and both Luke and Fiona turned to look at him.
"What's it son?" Fiona asked, concerned.
But the next word Adrian said, made her halt in her tracks.
"Dad hates me" he said and Fiona frowned, looking at Luke, her eyes blaming him but Luke just scoffed.
He had never liked Fiona.
His father had insisted that he got married to her-as it was a promise between him and his friend.
Luke had tried to convince his father by marrying Elsa, with the hope that his father wouldn't pester him anymore.
However, his father persisted and he had no choice but to take her in.
Fiona had thought he would change once she had a child for him , but nothing changed.
While she had loved him with all her heart, Luke had never reciprocated the love.
Even with the way he treats her and her children, she had continued to love him unconditionally.
But Luke was unyielding.
"He doesn't hate you, sweetie. Infact your dad lov.." she trailed off when Luke interrupted her
"You don't need to lie to him" he rolled his eyes and walked away
Tears stung Fiona's eyes as she watched his retreating figure.
She tried to fight back the tears, she didn't want to break down in front of Adrian.
"Mum...are you crying?" Adrian asked, concerned, when he saw how teary her eyes was.
She looked away and sniffed, trying to gain her composure before she turned back to him.
"I'm not crying, darling." she said but Adrian wasn't convinced.
He had definitely seen her the tears in her eyes but he doesn't want to bother her.
"I hate him too" he said and Valerie looked at him in shock.
She had always wished for her children to grow in a loving and caring home.
"Why would you say that? You are too adorable for that kind of words.
Do you want mom to get mad at you?" she asked and he shook his head.
"I'm sorry mum. I don't hate him" he apologized and she smiled.
"My cupcake, let's go have some more fun, shall we?" she asked, holding his hands and he smiled broadly, pulling her to the games center.
Adrian and his mom came out of the park, looking fulfilled.
They had actually had more fun than planned.
The initial bright cloud had turned dark.
"Mum, thanks" Adrian suddenly said.
"For?" she asked.
"For everything mum. I love you" he said and she smiled.
"I love you too son. I'm glad you had a great time. Don't worry, by the time Deja is done with her exam, we'll visit different places and have fun together" she said and he nodded his head.
"Let's go home, it's going to rain soon" she said.
She knew that Luke would have left with his car, so they had no other option than to take a cab.
They had already gotten halfway, when the rain started drizzling.
Suddenly, they had a gunshot.
"What's happening?" Fiona asked in terror as some masked armed men stopped their car.
"Park" they shouted, hitting the car and the driver had no choice than to obey them.
They opened the car and gunned him down immediately.
Fiona screamed, covering Adrian's eyes.
"Get down" one of the masked men who seemed to be their leader said.
She obeyed them, and got down from the vehicle with Adrian.
It had already started raining heavily and Adrian was shivering.
"Miss me?" one of them said, removing the mask
Fiona looked up and her eyes opened widely.
"Elsa?" she called, terrified and Elsa smiled wickedly.
Elsa is Luke's first wife.
And even though Luke adores her than Fiona, she's still always jealous of her.
What made it worse, was when Luke's father willed more properties to Fiona and her children, while he gave her twenty percent, he gave Fiona thirty percent, to compensate her for enduring Luke's behavior towards her.
That made Elsa jealous and she vowed to make Fiona and her children miserable.
"Glad you recognize me, co-wife" she smirked and her eyes shot to Adrian who was shivering badly.
It was still raining heavily.
She crouched before him, smiling sinisterly.
"Big mother?" Adrian called, innocently.
And Elsa smiled before turning back to Fiona.
"Elsa, why are you doing this?
What have I ever done to you?" she cried.
"What have you ever done to me?" Elsa repeated, before laughing hard.
"You are taking everything away from me" she barked.
"Why does grandfather love you more than I?
Why does everything always have to be in you and your children's favour?" she spat.
"Yes, I know Luke doesn't love you.
How would he love a fool like you?
I vowed to make you uncomfortable, but you are always playing the pity card.,
Not any more" she smirked and Fiona whimpered.
"Please, Elsa. I would do whatever you want" she begged.
"Of course you'll do whatever I want. You have no choice.
And what I want you to do for me, is to leave my space..."
"I would do that. I would leave."
"Keep your dirty mouth shut. I'm not done" Elsa rolled her eyes.
"Not only do I want you to leave my space, I want you to leave this earth" she said and Fiona's head spun.
"Elsa..."
"Mention my name once again, and I would take your life earlier than I planned" she threatened and Fiona kept quiet.
"However, before you go. How about I kill your son"
"Please, don't....you can kill me.
Please don't hurt him"
"Interesting" she cocked her head.
"Your mother said I shouldn't kill you" she said to Adrian who cried out.
She brought her hands to his cheek but he flung her hand away and her expression darkened.
"Tie him up, and take him to the car" she ordered one of her men, who obeyed her immediately.
"Next time, when you come back to this world, remember to stay away from me." she said, pointing a gun at Fiona.
"Luke knows you're here," Elsa said, her eyes glinting with malice. "He knows about this little plan."
Fiona's eyes widened in horror.
"You see, Fiona, Luke found out that you discovered his secret," Elsa continued. "He knows you know about his friend's murder."
Fiona's face paled.
"The one he killed to protect the company," Elsa sneered.
"And you also know that the rumour has been spreading. So, he needs to take you out first, before convincing the rumors.
"Luke will stop at nothing to keep his secrets safe."
"I didn't spread the rumors. I swear I didn't do it" she said, honestly but Elsa only smirked.
Fiona's world crumbled around her.
Although, she knew that Luke murdered his best friend, she had never mentioned it to anyone.
"Your precious children will pay the price for your curiosity," Elsa spat.
Fiona's eyes locked onto Adrian, filled with despair.
"Please, please Elsa...."
"Have a nice life, Fiona" she said and pulled the trigger and a bullet pierced through Fiona's chest.
"My children..." Fiona said weakly, before going limp, blood oozing out of her chest.
"No!!!!" Adrian shouted, witnessing the death of his mother.
Adrian's screams echoed through the night, as he witnessed his mother's brutal murder.
She was gunned down right before his eyes.
"Mum!!!!"