The betrayal.
CHAPTER 1
“We are not your biological parents, Kalina,” Mrs Kuzma blew the bombshell with no ounce of pity, and for a fleeting moment, it felt as if all the air was sucked out of Kalina's lungs.
“No! "No!!” She muttered softly, shaking her head vehemently, unable to accept the shock and truth.
These people... she had lived her 22 years of life, trusting them as her biological parents, loving them and believing everything they said to her, and right now... they—they stand to tell her they never were?!
She shook her head once more, feeling her heart pound aggressively in her chest. “Mom, please tell me I am having a horrible nightmare. "It... it can't be true,” her voice was unstable, and her shock intensified as she shook Mrs Kuzma whose eyes were filled with rage and hatred.
“Don't touch me,” she scowled with annoyance, pushing her off and she staggered, her eyes wide as she stared at the woman who had always treated her like an egg, shoving her off with no warmth in her eyes.
She blinked, struggling to hold back the tears which were threatening to cascade down her cheeks, but they spilled down freely, running down her cheeks in torrents. It was a prank. This whole shît would better be a prank to scare her. It really should. She can't take in the shock if... Everything turns out to be true.
She sniffled the snot in her nose, then turned, her gaze landing on the next person she trusted, “Father.” She made to rush to Mr Kuzma and that was when it happened. Ivan pulled her back swiftly and before Kalina could process what he was trying to do, she felt the sting on her right cheek. The sound was loud and sharp, cutting through the room, and she felt her tears blur her sight. Another one came, this time, on her left cheek and her lips bursted, forceful tears spilling out of her eyes as she glanced up at Ivan, unable to comprehend her feelings towards him at that moment.
The same man she had dedicated four years of her life to dating, was the same man who dared lay a finger on her? As if cheating on her with a fúcking bîtch on their matrimonial bed some hours after their wedding wasn't enough for him, he dared hit her?!
“Are you crazy, Kalina?” he seethed hatefully, his face twisting into deep hatred as he glared hard at her.
A chuckle spilled out of Kalina's lips as more tears fell from her eyes.
“You dare ask if I'm crazy? You're the crazy one here, Ivan,” She tried to scream, but her voice betrayed her. It came out low and unstable. Her throat felt sore as she continued, “You cheated on me on our matrimonial bed, Ivan! Just within a few hours of our wedding? You're despicable,” She spat hurtfully and Ivan smirked, his lips curling eerily.
“Don't you think that's a bit rich? Coming from someone like you. You're so desperate, Kalina! You gave yourself willingly to me four years ago!! I never asked you to date me. You even gave your first kiss to me, on your 18th birthday, remember? It was our first meeting,” he snickered with an ominous smirk and Kalina felt her heart bleed. In both anger and betrayal.
Angrily, she raised her hands, about to slap him hard when someone grabbed her hand from behind. The grip was strong and firm, crushing her bones as she glanced up to see her father —Mr Kuzma. The once eyes that always stared at her with love, care and warmth were gone and, right now, all she could see in those eyes were hatred, resentment, deep grudge, irritation and anger.
Have they always been like this? Or were they showing their true identities?
“Father—” “Father? Are you okay up there?” Ivan cut her off. His voice was laced with resentment.
He couldn't believe that she was still calling him father even after the whole drama. Couldn't she read the room? No parents would support their in-laws cheating on their daughter on the night after their wedding, but her said parents were supporting him.
Oh! He almost forgot that his dumbass cousin was a dimwit! Even with the heads-up, she couldn't comprehend everything happening.
“How dare you try to lay a finger on my son?” Mr. Kuzma snarled, roughly pushing her and she fell hard on the floor, her ankle got sprained, and she bruised her elbow, but that was the least of her worries.
Her husband, no, her cheating husband was her parents' son? How true was that? Does that even make any sense?
Her lips trembled, unable to form a word, her heart raced a marathon in her chest and instant rigor clawed up her skin as she began shaking vigorously, the revelation hitting her hard in the guts, her brain a complete state of mess.
“No... No... No,” she kept muttering, her fingers trembling, more of her tears blurring her vision.
Ivan—the same man she wedded just some hours ago-was revealed to be the son of the people she had thought all her life were her parents?! She choked on her tears, her heart in shambles as her lips shook more.
Her parents, weren't her parents? And the man she had loved... “This is a dream, it really is,” she sobbed further, unable to accept the truth.
They were all lying to her. No—she's still in a terrible nightmare. She wished to wake up and see Ivan by her side, her parents smiling happily at her—confessing to her how much they were pleased and satisfied to have her as their daughter.
Ivan's cheating, her parents' betrayal, everything happening right now—they're horrible nightmares which she'll eventually wake up from.
She stood slowly, then limped back to Mrs Kuzma as she grabbed her hands, praying inwardly for them to take back their words. She's already lost Ivan, she can't lose her parents. She'll go insane, “Mom, remember how you always confessed your love to me and —” “And why wouldn't I confess my love for you when we were after your father's wealth? Now that we got everything, we're done with you,” she snapped at her, her face scrunched into annoyance as she pushed her off and Kalina felt her heart shattering even more at the revelation.
They were after her money? And were they doing away with her after they got everything? How? Her head snapped as the memories of what happened last night clawed up her throat.
They were done making arrangements for their wedding which took place today. Ivan had called her into the balcony and she could remember drinking with him. She had felt tipsy after she was done with the drink and then, she had signed all the documents to Ivan.
Her drink was spiked!!
A shocked gasp escaped her throat as she staggered back, her system unable to take in the shock. She felt a toxic mix of anger, hurt, betrayal and hatred wash within her as she glanced up at their faces.
“You were only a pawn in our games, Kalina,” Ivan said, his voice a hint of malice and excitement.
“And we're glad to enjoy this luxury, thanks to your foolishness,” Mrs. Kuzma added grimly, an interesting grin on her face.
Kalina shook head, her eyes sore from tears. There weren't any more tears in her orbs. No! She felt weak to cry, she couldn't cry further. She stared at them, feeling her stomach churn with hatred and anger at what she saw.
A smile. Their lips were curled into a triumphant smile as they stared back at her, their faces hideous and ominous.
They were rejoicing over her dilemma and predicament? The one they created for her? Life is truly unfair.
“Sign the divorce papers and leave,” Ivan said, presenting the divorce papers before her and the truth washed hard on Kalina. She didn't belong here. Infact, she never belonged here. Indeed, she was only a pawn in their games.
With trembling hands and quivering lips, she picked the pen, her heart heavy with pain and agony. Slowly, she signed on the divorce papers and Ivan took it from her.
“You're a curse, Kalina and I'm sure my brother would be happy because of the step I took. Leave the estate and never return back, I'll manage my brother's wealth.” Mr Kuzma spoke and Kalina sniffled, her eyes ceasing to produce more tears. With one last glance at them, Kalina took a step, feeling the weight of their Betrayal crash against her shoulder.
She didn't look back. She never turned back. She walked, barefooted, her foot paddling against the floor as she thought about her miserable life.
She walked outside the estate and that was when her eyes rose back to duty, it produced more tears which streamed down Kalina's cheeks as her mind reeled back to the past, to the day she had met Ivan. It was on her 18th birthday and she had always blessed the heaven's for bringing them together. But right now, she was cursing that day.
They shouldn't have met! Their paths should never have crossed, she wouldn't have had any reason to get enchanted by his fake smile, she wouldn't have fallen for his fake charms.
She shouldn't have even met Ivan's parents. Her heart bleeds, it hurts so much that she can't take in the pain.
They pretended to be her parents for 22 years of her life because of her father's wealth!! All her life and existence have been fed on lies. Her life was shrouded in deceits and darkness and her feelings played a gamble with.
The cloud roared loudly, as if reeling in her pain. The sky darkened and it began drizzling. But Kalina stood, hopeless and lifeless on the streets, her tears creating a puddle below her feet.
What was the next step? What was she supposed to do? Everything —everything has been lost. Her life, her home, her sanity, her existence, her mentality!!
And then, it came loud, harsh and forceful on her skin, as the rain poured heavily, drenching her with tears.
Her knees finally gave up as she sank on the road, her tears mixing with the heavens cries in a clash.
She has been ruined.
