The Wife's Redemption

Chapter 4: Unwelcome Company

Chapter 3

The doorbell rang during breakfast, and Mrs. Fields quietly left the dining room to see who was at the door. Ellorie continued eating her egg. The table was still quiet as Dominik sat at the head of the table without speaking.

Mrs. Fields entered the room and whispered into Drea’s ear. Dominik looked up from his plate, annoyed by the interruption. “Who is it, Mrs. Fields?”

“Mrs. Dare to see Drea, Sir?” Mrs. Field answered quickly and then corrected her statement, “Mrs. Elena Dare.”

“What does she want?” he questioned and rose from his seat.

Mrs. Fields looked at Drea and then at Dominik; she stuttered a little bit when she answered, “I don’t know, Sir. She only said she wanted to speak to Drea.”

“Drea,” Dominik replied with one hand on the door to the back of the dining room, no doubt going back to his office, “We don’t need attention or trouble brought into this house. Get rid of her.”

“But Dad,” Drea questioned.

“I mean it, Drea, I don’t want to see her lingering about. Find out why she is here and make sure she realizes she is not welcome here.” Dominik's order.

Drea was standing now, and the entire table was focused on their conversation, “She is my friend. She has not done anything wrong,” she argued.

“Drea, she has not done anything right,” Dominik challenged louder.

“How can you say that?” You don’t even know her,” Drea practically screamed.

“Lower your voice, Drea!” Dominik ordered, and she visibly flinched. “This is my house, and when you live under my roof, you will do as I ask.”

“That’s not fair,” Drea whined.

“Nothing in this life is fair, Drea!” he replied bitterly and opened the door leaving a table full of stunned silence and a boiling hot Drea.

She shoved her chair back causing it to fall over.

“Drea,” Ellorie tried to calm her.

“Don’t,” she sneered, “We both know you like it when he focuses his wrath on me.”

“That’s not fair,” Ellorie replied, “I don’t like to see anyone be on the receiving end.”

“Sure,” Drea challenged, “You think I deserve it.”

“I didn’t say that,” Ellorie replied, trying to stay strong and not cry at the breakfast table in front of the children.

“You don’t have to,” Drea headed for the door at the front of the room, “It’s written over your face.”

When the door closed Danica looked at her mother’s face, “Mommy,” she whispered. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, Baby,” she replied with a smile, “Finish your breakfast.” she instructed.

“Mommy,” Danica looked puzzled, “What did Drea mean?”

Ellorie looked away for a second and wiped a tear away, “About what?” she asked, wondering what Danica was asking.

“She said it was written on your face, Mommy, but I don’t see anything on your face.” Danica explained.

Ellorie chuckled slightly, “There is nothing written on my face, Danica. Hurry up and eat your breakfast. You two have a class this morning.”

“A class,” Danica seemed excited. “Yes, Dear, you are getting older and while you don’t have to go everyday like the older girls or your brother you have a new class a few days a week.”

“Are you taking us?” Danica asked with a large toothy grin.

Ellorie smiled at her, “No, you will be done with Delaney she will drop you off.”

“Yes,” Danica shouted.

“Lucky me,” Delaney whispered under her breath in complaint which if anyone heard they ignored it.

Breakfast finished and Delaney loaded Danica and Diana into her car as Danella took Davius with her. Ellorie watched them from the big bay window. All four of her children were laughing and goofing around despite how they acted in front of their parents. They loved each other.

Ellorie went to the library and opened the doors to the balcony and sat on the bench overlooking the garden. Part of her wanted to venture out but she knew Dominik would not like her out of the house while Elena was here.

It was strange having Elena in the house. It brought back memories of Drea and Evelynn. Evelynn had not endured half as much, and for the most part chose to be naive. She thought Devyn could be her savior. She thought she loved him. She thought she could change him. She thought he was strong enough to stand up to Demetry.

Ellorie was not trying to listen in when she heard the conversation through the windows of Drea’s room. She sat still as she heard Drea’s voice clearly.

“You are trending a very fine line, Elena. When Damon finds out that Ethan is here and he is responsible he will not take it lightly.” Drea warned her.

That caught Ellorie's attention as she listened in more keenly. Ethan died years ago she was sure of it. She watched it happen. How could he be here now? Maybe it was someone else, or Drea was mistaken. Surely if Ethan had been alive he would have come to see her.

“You sound like Ethan.” Elena huffed, “Always telling me what to do.”

“Well, you never listen.” Drea responded. “Are you seriously still thinking that you will get Damon after Valerie?”

“I had him before,” she insisted.

“You had a boss who you tried to lure and it failed. Give up before you get yourself killed. You have a son to think about now!” Drea yelled.

Elena matched her volume, “I am thinking about Dante. He needs a father.”

“It won’t be Damon,” Drea shouted.

“You don’t know that.” Elena replied bitterly.

“I do know that. Everybody knows that except for you! Open your eyes, Elena!” Drea replied. “Everybody can see it but you!”

“She will leave,” Elena argued, “She will leave him, and he will turn to me. I’m already in.”

“You are nowhere,” Drea shot back, “Full of delusions but nowhere. You were living in the same house and what did that get you?” she questioned.

“You don’t understand,” Elena whined, “Valerie was always there. Always watching me, always watching us. She’s gone now.”

“The house is gone,” Drea laughed, “He has not stepped foot in yours. If you hoped that burning down the house would cause him to leave his wife and come to you, that has not happened.”

“I did not burn down his house,” Elena sneered.

“No, I suppose you left that to Ethan. Tell me, Elena, was Valerie supposed to die in that fire. Was that what you wanted?” Drea asked.

Ellorie’s hand covered her mouth and she willed no noise to escape and alert others to her presence. Was it possible after all these years Ethan was back, and not only was he back but he was going after the Dare family. She could not understand why he would target Valerie. Damon had nothing to do with Evelynn and her being taken. Had he come for Dominik she might have understood. What was he planning, and could he be stopped? Tears rolled down her cheeks as she considered this and tried to focus on the conversation she was still listening to.

“I am not responsible for this,” Elena yelled back, “The DA said Valerie started the fire. She tried to kill my son. She almost died trying to make Damon choose. This has nothing to do with Ethan or I. He even tried to help her at the fire.”

Drea shook her head, “She already made him choose Elena, and time and time again he has chosen Valerie. When will you give this up?”

“I will never give up on Damon. You will see. She will leave this pack, and Damon will come to me.” Elena boasted confidently.

Drea did not speak at first. Silence filled the air, and Ellorie wondered if they were finished. “If Valerie leaves this pack,” Drea said softly and with sensitivity, “You will see how desperate he is to find her. Mark my words, Elena, should Valerie leave this pack Damon will turn into someone we don’t recognize, and he will throw you out.”

“I can’t believe that,” Elena replied.

Ellorie heard a phone ring and then Elena boasting, “Well, well, look who just reached out to me.”

Drea did not take the bait, so Elena continued. “He asked me to meet him at the penthouse. Do you know what that means?” she questioned while laughing. “It means Damon wants me.”

“You're delusional,” Drea responded. “There’s nothing special about the penthouse.

“Maybe not to you,” Elena celebrated openly, “But he has never allowed me to go there before. This is a sign.”

“Or it's a trap,” Drea cautioned.

“No, he wants me,” Elena replied.

Ellorie waited, but there was no more sound coming from the room. She heard the front door open and watched Elena practically strut to her car. What a foolish girl running into trouble! Elena thought as she watched her drive off. She may be just as naive as her older sister. Both of them were waiting and wanting something they could never have, and never understood the price the Dare family brought to the table.