Episode 3
1020 Words
GLORIA'S POV
"You are alive?" Maureen's voice came out, the shock she felt was evident in her aged face "We thought you died, how is this possible?"
"I am hard to kill" I said, fixing her with a cold glare. This woman had made my life hell from the moment I had stepped into the Barnes mansion, all I have ever known was her disapproval no matter what I did.
I was sick and tired of having to smile and take all her hateful comments, the Gloria that thought she could win her love was long gone. Now I did not care what she felt.
"And what are you doing here?" Maureen asked again, seeming the only one that could speak amidst her entire family members.
"I have unfinished business" I said simply before turning my back on her to look at the rest of the family members and their guests who were still staring at me with wide eyes and open mouths.
I recognized Sylvia with her long golden hair and blue eyes that seemed to want to pop out of their sockets, I even offered her a dark smile. By her side was her father Edward Ross.
The sight of both of them only confirmed the rumours that had been circulating over New York about the marriage of the year between Derek Barnes and Sylvia Ross.
"Don't you dare turn your back on me you worthless little…." Maureen had continued to scream insults on me but I was done listening to her and making her words hurt me.
"I would suggest that we should be civil ma'am" Ivan said to her in a calm tone "Let us refrain from insults as we are all adults"
"Who are you?" Maureen turned her attention to Ivan, her eyes searching his appearance thoroughly "and what are you doing in my house?"
"Ivan Keller at your service ma'am" I was so shocked at how calm Ivan's voice remained after the hateful tone in which Maureen addressed him
"You!" Sylvia shrieked suddenly as she got up to her feet and went to stand in front of Maureen "How did you …"
"What's the matter darling?" Maureen asked with a kind tone which she seldom used on anyone other than Derek "Do you know him?"
"No" she shook her head at Maureen. I had no doubt that Sylvia only did that to draw attention to herself as she had always done. It seemed nothing changed in this six months
"Gloria" Derek's voice came from the steps and I turned to look at him, halted in the middle of the staircase as our eyes met for the first time in six months.
I was almost scared of having a heart attack with how fast my heart was beating just at the mere sight of those blue eyes, that black hair atop his dimpled face.
"My son" Maureen called loudly and I was finally able to break my gaze away from the man who I loved with all my heart who had only ever brought me pain and heartache.
"Mother what's going on?" Derek said as he hurried through the stairs that led to the general living room, dressed to perfection to welcome his guest.
"I honestly have no idea" Maureen said, rushing to meet her son, holding his arm as she pointed to me and Ivan "They just barged into our house and started disrespecting me in the presence of our guests"
"What?" Derek was truly shocked as he turned his gaze to me again "I'm sure Gloria will never do such a thing" he said with a lot of confidence, it made my heart beat faster again "I know her"
"That's where you got it wrong Mr Barnes" l said, making my voice as cold as possible "The naive Gloria you used to know died six months ago, you don't know me one single bit"
As soon as I had said those words, the front door flew open and my dad walked in a companied by two police officers
"Daniel" Maureen whispered as her sights immediately fell on my father. I knew about their history together, about how she had chosen the Barnes wealth over what they felt for each other.
"You know what to do" he said to the officers, completely ignoring the woman who was staring at him like she had seen a ghost.
"Of course Mr Arnold" one of the officers spoke before turning to the rest of the family "I am detective Cornell and this is my partner, officer McCarthy"
"Is there a problem officers?" Derek asked, stepping forward with an unwavering calm that I found shocking after all he had done to my family.
"We have a warrant for your arrest for the murder of Hannah Arnold and the attempted murder of Gloria Arnold" Cornell spoke staring straight into Derek's eyes
All in he entire room gasped in astonishment except the officers, my father, Ivan and I. We just stood there, enjoying the show the Barnes family and their friends were putting on for us.
"This is ridiculous" Maureen shouted as she raced forward to stand right in front of the officers again "You can't possibly believe that my son was a murderer and I thought it was an accident"
"It was no accident ma'am" Ivan spoke again, forcing qll eyes in the room to fall on him but he just continued speaking "I was there that night, I checked. The brakes were tampered with"
"And you think that I had something to do with that?" Derek's question was not directed at Ivan, my father or even the cops in his living room, it was directed at me.
"Yes" I said, looking at him straight in the eyes for him to realize that I am truly not the girl that was easily fooled by his charms or believed that there was something good in him
He said nothing more as the police cuffed both his wrists and carried him out of the house into their car. with the Barnes family l falling apart.
And this was only the begining
- Writer
