OF LOVE AND HATE 2

As midnight drew near and the Bloom's mansion became increasingly quiet, Martha snuck into Nancy's room quietly. After her supposed escape from Mr. Bloom, she had laid low to ensure they didn't meet again, when she realized the hall was silent, she stepped out and walked towards Nancy's room to see the so-called bridesmaid dress she was supposed to wear for the wedding.

Standing in the middle of the room was not the bridesmaid dress she sought but Nancy's wedding dress.

The white dress made into a ball gown silhouette shimmered in the moonlight that shone in from the balcony making it look not just exquisite but elegant. The rich chiffon material was cut into three-quarter sleeves and had a rectangular neckline that was pretty low stopping just above the breast. The layers of the train that emerged from the bulging skirt fell and swept across the room creating an illusion of a perfect princess for whoever puts it on.

Martha stared at the dress in awe at first before a taste of jealousy exploded in her mouth, it then turned to anger and resentment as she walked toward the dress.

She looked at the laces that were used to design the tiny waist and the bulging skirt part of the dress and she had the urge to tear them away and ruin the dress. She clenched her fist in anger as she stared at it.

"This should be mine. It should be me wearing this dress not you," she said to the dress as her eyes filled with tears, then she stared at the mannequin that wore the dress elegantly and she got even angrier.

It seemed to her as if she was standing in front of Nancy.

"You deserve what is coming to you, Nancy." She said to the mannequin.

Turning around she picked up her dress laid it on the giant bed neatly packed in a bag and walked out without looking at it or putting it on. She knew what she wanted to do.

No, she knew what she didn't want to do anymore. She wasn't going to live in this house with these despicable people anymore, she wasn't going to seat here and pretend she and Nancy were still friends, not after knowing what Nancy and her father did to Richmond. She was leaving.

Walking into her room, she threw open her wardrobe and began to pack her things, furiously throwing all the clothes she had brought into her box. When she was done she rolled the box out of the room and down the stairs with much difficulty but as silently as she could.

She couldn't afford to wake Mr. Allman up or else she was sure she would be found out and Richmond's plans ruined. She couldn't let Richmond's plans be ruined, she had to see the look on Nancy's face when she saw that she got the man and that she couldn't come between them anymore.

Miss Joyce walked out of the kitchen, no matter how tired she was, she knew she couldn't sleep until Nancy got back, so she had to stay awake even though it was almost midnight.

When she heard the noise, she assumed it was Nancy even though she didn't hear the sound of her friend's car dropping her off, so she walked out to help Miss Nancy settle down and help her with whatever she needed before going to bed. Seeing the luggage in front of her she couldn't conceal her surprise.

"Miss Martha, is something wrong? Aren't you staying for the wedding?" She asked Martha who was practically ignoring her.

Martha, seeing that she had been caught could only put on a fake smile and turn to Joyce, adjusting the handbag that hung around her shoulder.

"Of course, I would be staying. You see, the organization already paid for my accommodation and expenses at a hotel. At the meeting we had today, I was instructed to move there as it was closer to the seminar venue, can you help me convey this to Nancy? Her number isn't going through and I have to keep to the seminar protocols." Martha explained meticulously and Miss Joyce nodded.

"Okay, I would call the driver to drop you off." She said quickly and began to head towards the kitchen where the phone was located.

"No! No need!" Martha said urgently and Miss Joyce gave her a confused look then frowned.

"Miss Martha, it's past midnight. It's not safe for you to leave alone at this time, if I let you go like this, Miss Nancy would be very worried about your safety." Miss Joyce said suddenly but Martha smiled.

"I already called a cab. I think it's best if I just wait for him, by the way when I get there, I can just call you to let you know that I arrived safely." Martha explained and Joyce sighed.

"Okay, I would help you take out your luggage then." She said and began to help Martha carry out the rather heavy luggage when she saw that Martha didn't refuse.

Martha looked at Joyce and smiled again, she knew that Joyce was worried but she would be a fool if she let the very same people that she was running from finding out where she would be lodging in.

She looked at the Blooms' mansion one more time and vowed never to come back there again.