Chapter 5

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Brielle sat on the comfy driver's seat of her spacious Lexus Gx 550 that exuded luxury and sophistication.She wore a black long sleeved gown together with a matching pump.The gown had her name embroidered with golden threads at the top of the collar.She looked too beautiful that evening.Did she have a date?

"Where are we going?"The white elephant in the SUV questioned.She hadn't noticed his presence the entire time.He wore a well designed black blazer with his usual black pants and neatly trimmed hair.He had a way of drifting his eyes which made one feel he was looking into your soul.

"Should I drop you at your work?"

"Do you answer questions with questions?"He frowned.

"Aren't you going for a date?"She questioned.He went mute refusing to battle with the twig sitting beside him.Her way of questioning seemed commanding and her eyes screamed ... arrogance.

"It's just a family get-together...again.My parents wish to see me.If it will affect your date,you can get down."

Silence embraced the two with its blanket.The long ride to the Clipton's Estate was quiet and boring.She didn't utter any word and he wished to disappear and run to a club nearby.That was indeed his usual routine.

As her car parked in front of the estate a young girl came rushing with her high heels.

"You're here!" The exuberant voice of a sharp-tongued girl played like a lullaby in his ears.The voice was too soft he would get killed if he listened again.The girl ran towards Brielle and fell into her arms like a leaf from a tree.

"Aren't you always a cutie?" Brielle patted her head with smiles exploring every angle of her face when the little girl spoke.Those smiles didn't last long as few of the people she was familiar with surrounded her.

Aziel looked at the unruly tall lady on his left.She had this unfriendly aura around her that warned anyone she could kill those who dared touch her clothes.She wore 3 golden rings on her right hand and two diamond on her left symbolizing her power and wealth in the Clipton's Estate.

The mid-aged man before him,with half hair dyed red and the other half dyed black had the young girl in his tight grip.The little girl struggled so hard to get out of his hands but it was of no use as a slap landed across her face.. leaving her on the floor with blood seeping from her lips.

"How many times have I asked you to stay away from this cursed lady,Kendra?"The man barked.

"It's just a misunderstanding,Miles.She's just eleven."The lady who had her eyes ogling at Aziel replied evasively.

"And you Alexis, couldn't you save the poor girl from the predator." She added, pointing at the lady with the rings.

"I hope you were not bothered Brielle.They're just too protective of their kid.A feeling only parents have...no offense."

Brielle wished she could stand up for herself .. regrettably she couldn't.This family of hers kept harassing and mocking her with her inability to keep a suitor and the fact that she wasn't going to reproduce any time now added salt to her wounds.

It was not her fault she couldn't give birth now.And it wasn't either that she couldn't keep a suitor for more than four months..that had nothing to do with her body or her face.

"Mummy wanted to see me.Could you just direct us there?"Her eyes turned to Richelle who kept ogling at the gentleman in front of her SUV.He quietly stared at them observing every move and event that took place.

"Is he your boyfriend?"

"Just take me to mother... he's just my son."

She turned to Aziel dragging him into the grand hall of the Clipton's Estate.Everything about her family spelt wealth and the lady of the house was no different from the wealth itself.She was always adorned in sparkly ornaments and clothes grabbing the attention of people everytime she went somewhere.And that,was her mother.

"I didn't expect to see you, Brielle."Her mother approached her with a glass of wine in both hands.She clutched them tight with a wicked grin on her face.

"A toast."She clinged the glasses together.

"To what?"

"To Kiya's wedding next week."

Her eyes narrowed dropping her stuff on the floor.She wished the earth would open its mouth and swallow her in an instant.Her sister, though not voluptuous,just a skinny swarthy lady had stolen five of her previous boyfriends and she dared to marry the twenty-eighth one she had fooled with just a few days ago.

How could Kiya get married to Luca so quick without her approval?

How could they get married a few days after she caught them in bed?

What kind of games was her fate playing?

Her eyes deceived her welling up with tears.But this time they weren't tears of pain or sorrow..they were deadly tears that could poison anyone.

"They're not getting married.Not today or in hell."She snapped."If this marriage takes place,blood will be shed." She turned to look at her so-called mother who scoffed.She let out a laugh that could break the estate in an instant.She was supportive of her daughter and had always favored Kiya and her other kids,for an unknown reason she loathed her second daughter.

"Is that a threat?"She sipped the glasses in her hands adding mints as a way of being fresh mouthed.

"It's a prediction.Take it or leave it."

Brielle walked out of the Estate bereft of a friend,of everything.The tears she thought were not worth shedding forced itself to drop on the cold floor.

Her lifeless life had no hope.It was plain with no colour of happiness and the smiles that found its way on her face were just forced ones.She yearned for a mother's love but only got hatred in return.She wished for a companion and ended up with twenty-eight failed relationships...and her desire for popularity at a young age was exploited by an impecunious soul.

*SPLASH

She turned towards the pool,startled at the heavy object that drenched her with water from head to toe.As she got closer,she noticed the weird facade the water displayed....BLOOD.

A hand emerged from it and revealed the face of Keyanna who was desperately calling for dear life.She dropped herself on the floor with her clothes covered in blood.

"A-Auntie."Her breathing was now fast.

Brielle moved towards her holding her by the hand.

"What's it?"She asked,still so close to her;not scared someone may misinterprete everything.

"A-Alexis was m-murdered in the cellar."

Her pupils darkened.