The Condition
649 Words
Kiya’s POV
I walked into the hall from the passage and immediately spotted Kate sitting on the couch. Beside her was the one person I least wanted to see—
Ella.
“Hi Kiya! So nice to see you!” her high-pitched voice boomed as she rushed toward me and pulled me into a tight hug.
My body stiffened.
“Hiee, Ella,” I replied through gritted teeth, forcing a fake smile.
I hated her.
And she knew it.
Yet she acted all sweet and perfect in front of Ken’s parents like she was the best thing that had ever happened to their son.
Ella was a manipulative b***h. She used Ken for her own benefits, her own image, her own comfort. Ken was deeply in love with her, blind to every red flag she carried.
And that broke me the most.
Ken deserved better.
So much better.
“Kiya, I want to talk to you alone. Can you come with me?” Kate said suddenly, pulling my attention away from Ella.
My heart skipped.
This was it.
I nodded nervously and followed her as she walked deeper into the house and toward the staircase.
Upstairs, the house was even more beautiful. The Martins were rich—old money rich. The corridor stretched long with several rooms on either side. At the end of the passage, Kate stopped near an open balcony.
The view stole my breath.
A wide garden spread below us, lush and vibrant with flowers in every color. For a moment, my eyes admired the beauty—
Until they fell on Ella dragging Ken into the garden, laughing loudly and clinging to his arm like she owned him.
Just like that, the garden became the ugliest place in the world.
I slowly turned toward Kate.
And froze.
The hatred in her eyes as she watched them…
It mirrored mine perfectly.
At least we have one thing in common.
She took a deep breath before speaking.
“Kiya… I know you must be wondering why I suddenly called you here. I won’t waste your time.”
She turned to face me fully.
“I know you care for Ken. And I know you want to be a part of the Martin family. But it is still hard for me to forget what your mother did to my sister.”
My throat tightened.
“I understand,” I replied softly. “I know I can’t erase the past. And I understand your hatred towards me.”
She studied my face carefully.
“Still… I am ready to give you a chance to be a part of our family,” she said.
My heart jumped.
“You can come and visit your uncle and Ken. You can step into this house freely.”
Hope bloomed inside my chest—real, fragile hope.
“But,” she added sharply, “on one condition.”
My breath caught.
“What condition?”
I was ready to agree to anything. Anything that would give me a family again. Anything that would let me belong somewhere.
Kate lifted her hand and pointed toward the garden.
“I want you to break their relationship.”
My heart stopped.
She was worried about her son.
She saw what I saw.
She feared what I feared.
Ella.
I looked down at them again—Ken smiling foolishly while Ella leaned into him, pretending to be the perfect girlfriend.
For the first time in my life…
I felt grateful to Ella.
Because she had become the reason my aunt finally spoke to me.
The reason I was being given a chance.
I didn’t hesitate.
Not even for a second.
“I will,” I said firmly. “I promise.”
Kate’s eyes softened just a little.
And deep inside me, a dangerous thought took shape—
Breaking their relationship might not be as hard as it sounds.
- Writer
