SWEET REBORN

CHAPTER THREE

Delia sluggishly walked inside the living room. Her body was sore from the force she used on body to escape from the hole. She couldn't believe Sophia would set her up like that but why would she do that?

She got inside to meet her parents' calm face and Sophia, shock was plastered on her face upon seeing Delia's appearance but covered the shock quickly with an expression of worriedness.

Her mother's calm face deceived Delia as she was welcomed with a resounding slap. Her cheek sting, and her world spun, her eyes rolling back and forth as her vision got blurred.

"How could you be so stupid?" Maria shouted, her eyes raging in anger and disappointment. "You are a disgrace to this family by following men around like a harlot and getting yourself disvirgined. You influenced Sophia with your attitude and now she will be living with us for the atonement of your sins!" Delia got confused, her hands caressing her cheek softly.

Her father, Christopher approached her and pulled her into a warm hug but Delia's eyes were just fixed on her mother as she walked away in anger. Delia's heart is seething with anger, disappointment and betrayal.

She wondered why her mother would blindingly trust the words of a stranger than her own biological child.

"Dad, I didn't do all those things mom said. I was kidn*pped," Delia said, with tears streaming down her cheek as she disengaged from the hug, looking into her father's eyes.

"You didn't do all those things she says right?" Christopher asked, softly his eyes filled with tenderness and affection.

Delia shook her head negatively, weeping profusely. "Dad, I didn't do it. I would never do anything to disappoint this family,"

Christopher stroked her back reassuringly, and Delia cried harder, covering her mouth with her palm.

"I believe you, Delia I'll talk to your mom," He said to her then left the living room, heading upstairs.

Delia watched her father leave before settling her eyes on Sophia, her eyes blazing in disappointment and betrayal. Sophia approached her with a worried look etched on her face but Delia could see through the act, scoffing at her.

"Delia, are you okay?, I was damn worried about you. Who hurt your lip?" Sophia asked, and Delia just kept scoffing.

Sophia touched Delia's cheek and she yanked her hands off her cheek. "Don't touch me, in fact don't you ever lay your hands on me again, I'm not stupid," Delia said, and Sophia's eyes widened in surprise. She turned to leave when Sophia's words made her halt.

"Are you okay, Delia?. You have been acting strange since morning. Aren't you happy I'm going to live with you? What's wrong? Should I leave?"

Delia scoffed, tilting her neck to look at her. "Don't you dare because if you leave, I'm going to hate you till eternity. I'm yet to start," Delia stated, and strode away, her heart heavy in disappointment, anger, and sorrow.

Delia sluggishly went upstairs. She got inside her room and locked the door behind as she slid down the floor, her back against the door as she let those tears out.

She cursed the day she met Sophia and the day they became friends. "Sophia if this is how you want to play it then let's play it and see who is going to win," She mumbled in declaration.

*

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THE NEXT MORNING.

Delia woke up with a refreshed mind. She freshened up and wore a silky gown, her mind occupied with how she will exact her revenge on Sophia, her mother and Austin.

Delia thought of starting the revenge with Sophia who made her parents, her mother precisely who blindly trust Sophia's lies. She skipped breakfast to ponder over her plan.

A knock came on her room door, and she sprang to open the door. She saw Sophia at the door smiling sweetly at her but Delia wore a blank expression.

"Delia, you skipped breakfast," Her voice laced with concern.

"And I don't think that's your business. If I eat, it doesn't matter and if I do not eat, it also doesn't concern you," Delia said.

Sophia tried holding Delia's hand but she was fast enough to dodge her hand. "Sophia why are you here?, can you just go straight to the point, enough with this fake sympathy," Delia said, feeling irritated with her existence.

"Mom wants you to come downstairs," Delia shut the door on her face immediately and after some minutes she opened the door back mimicking the way Sophia had treated her before she was reborn.

Delia went downstairs and her eyes widened in shock. Her ex-husband, Austin sat on the sofa in the living room with her parents with a smile on her face.

"Delia," Maria called, and Delia's eyes were just fixed on Austin.

"Why is he here?" Delia asked, scoff playing on her lips line.

"He's going to be your husband soon. You are betrothed to him," She announced with excitement but Delia found it sour news.

"Betrothed? How? I was not supposed to meet Austin today? why now?, their marriage was just pure coincidence and not betrothal,"

"Good morning, I'm Austin Hart and you must be Delia Harrington. It was nice meeting you," Austin introduced and Delia flashed him an insincere smile.

"And it wasn't nice meeting you, and when did we get betrothed?"

"Today, Sophia told me you love him so now you are betrothed to me," Maria said, and Delia's eyes widened.

Sophia again!

"I'm not marrying him, whatever agreement or whatever words that Sophia has fed you, I don't care. I won't marry Austin, never and not again,"

"Why, Delia," Christopher asked, and Delia eyes darted to his direction.

"I don't love him," Her voice was firm.

"Then you are going to marry him whether you love him or not. He's from a respectable and influential family so no disagreement," Maria declared, her voice loud and sharp.

"Mom, never!" Delia disagreed. Her gaze lingered on her mom's face and the affection Maria has for her seems to have vanished overnight and replaced with a deep resentment.

"Delia, please don't argue with Mom," Sophia chipped in and Delia scoffed.

"Mind your business," Delia said, going upstairs as she locked the door behind and sat on her bed. She fiddled with her finger as she thought of a possible way to escape the clutch of Sophia as everything became dawn to her.

"So I did not meet Austin coincidentally, it was Sophia's handiwork, and it's still this same b***h that made me go missing so she can take my place in my home," Delia thought as she could hear her mother loud voice, her threats and how Sophia was calming her down with a soothing calm voice.

Hypocrite," She muttered to herself as her lip curled up in contempt.

Delia spent the rest of the day in her room, and the next day, she hurriedly left home to school. She had breakfast in a restaurant close to school before going for lectures.

After lectures, she left the class and was heading home when she saw Sophia hugging a man, seeing him, she recognized him instantly.

In her past life, he's Darren Sinclair, Sophia's fiancée.

Delia gazed at them and she could see sincere affection and love in Sophia's eyes and knew Sophia loves him but he doesn't seem to reciprocate the feeling.

The two of them departed and Delia approached him. "I'm-I'm sorry, can we talk," Delia asked, and he gazed at her before nodding.

You are Sophia's friend right?,"

"Yes, and I would like to tell you something" She said, glancing at the man standing behind Darren unsure if she should talk but seeing the comfort in Darren's eyes, he doesn't seem to mind.

"Sure, go on,"

"Okay, em" She cleared her throat, preparing, and romancing the words, the sudden idea that came to her mind.

Delia looked at him, taking her lower lip as she exhaled deeply. "Will you marry me, Darren?" The man's eyes widened as his jaw dropped.