Caged By The Devil [18+]

Chapter 14

Elena's POV:

The next day in the afternoon, I went to meet with Aunt Jenna. I didn't only want to meet with her but I also wanted to bring her back in her own house because dad isn't alive anymore and there is no one left to be afraid for us. And I don't think Aunt Jenna needs to stay hidden anymore and she can come back in her house from which she was forced to leave against her will.

I was very glad about the fact that Aunt finally coming back to her house where she always deserves to live, but everything was snatched away from her and Stefan. She wasn't even allowed to come near to her own house. And finally, the misery came to an end by the death of my dad. Although nothing going to normal, and the same as before but I will try to do my best to make everything right for Aunt Jenna and Stefan.

I really wish that I could bring back my mom and uncle Alaric at this time, and we all start living happily like before. But when I think that they never going to return, I feel the emptiness of our life which never can be fixed like it was. I know that how much I tried to make things right or give everything back to Aunt Jenna and Stefan, I will never be able to bring back the happiness of their life which they missed for years because of my dad.

If Aunt comes back to her house today, I don't think that she will be happy a bit. I'm sure it must make her sad more because she wasn't used to living in that house alone rather she had a happy family with whom she had a wonderful memory. She used to live there happily with Uncle Alaric and Stefan, but she won't find any of them after coming back to the house.

Although I know that it will hurt her if she returns but I have to bring her back because it's all belongs to her, and she needs to start living here again. Filled with hope and happiness, I entered my grams house. I came here several times, but I never feel this happy before because every time I return alone, but this time I will finally take Aunt Jenna with me.

As soon as Aunt saw me, she hugged me. But the hug was kind of consoling hug, and it doesn't take me long to understand that what can be the reason.

"I'm so sorry, dear", Aunt said sounding emotional.

I really don't know why she being so kind about the death of the man who snatched every happiness from her life. If I were in her place then I must be celebrating the death of a person like my dad. But here she is feeling sorry for me without being happy.

"Why sorry? It indeed a great thing that happened after a long time in our life. You and I need to feel happy without being sad. I swear, I'm not sad at all", I told her, but she wasn't believing me.

I don't know what made her thinking that I'm hurt as I lose my dad when she knows that I hate my dad more than anything and his death brought nothing but peace in my life. Earlier, I thought that I will finally find a pure smile on Aunt Jenna's face today but I'm finding her more upset which only proves how great human beings she is with a pure heart.

"He was your father, Elena. I know you hate him but I definitely can say that he loves you more than anyone", Aunt was right because I also know that my dad loved me unconditionally.

"I'm worried about you, sweetie. Although your dad was a horrible person, but I wasn't tensed about you when you were with him but now I'm scared because you left alone with no one", Aunt's words remind me about Anthony who said the same thing yesterday.

It was hard for me to understand why they both are scared about me being alone. Although I used to live with my dad, but I was always alone like I'm right now. I don't think that my dad presence matter in my life ever rather all the bad things that happened in my life only because of him and finally, there is no chance to happen any bad things with me again as I already get rid of my dad.

"Who said I'm alone? I have you.... and Stefan. Besides, we finally breathing peacefully and freely in a world without my dad. Do you understand what I mean, Aunt? We finally get rid of the worse thing from our life", I said, and she keeps looking at me with sadness in her eyes.

"Anyway... Get ready. You're coming with me", I said, ignoring her sadness. But she seems confused after hearing what I just said.

"But where?", She asked curiously.

I really feel dumb by her question as she doesn't understand. I thought that I might find her be ready to go back to her house but now I'm sure that she isn't thought about it at all.

"Seriously... You're going back to your house, Aunt. Is it even a question to ask?", I sound surprised, but after hearing me, her face clouded with sadness once again.

I didn't think that what I told her can make her sad because I'm just telling her to come back to her own house. But now her expression was telling me that she isn't going to be agreed to return and the thought was making me scared.

"Please.... Don't say that you're not willing to return? I just don't want to hear no. You have to go back, Aunt", I said before she could deny to go back.

I came here with great hope as I was thinking that I'm going to live with Aunt again. And I don't even want to go back alone without her.

"I can't, Elena. It won't be possible for me to return", She said, sounding emotional which brought tears in my eyes instantly. Although I can guess the reason, but I really don't want to stay away from her anymore.

"Aunt, please..... I don't want to go back alone again. You deserve to be there as it's your place to live. And I told you that I will find Stefan back. You don't need to stay there without Stefan for a long time. I will find him soon", I assured her but I can easily say that she wasn't believing me at all.

It was hard for me to accept that she already start thinking that I may not find Stefan back ever again. I know that I'm saying the same thing to her for years but yet not succeed to find Stefan back, but I really didn't even think that I will lose Aunt trust so soon.

"No....No.... Don't think like that, Aunt. Please believe me. Don't give up your hope. Stefan is still alive, and I will find him soon", I continued before she could spell out what is in her mind because I'm sure, Aunt was going to tell that I may not find back Stefan ever.

"But When? We just holding a false hope, Elena. We have to accept that Stefan isn't alive", she said and burst into tears which left me speechless.

Although she always in pain, but I never see her crying this badly. And her crying only proves one thing which is she already started believing that Stefan is dead. I was trying to tell her not to think like this, but she wasn't ready to listen to me this time.

"I don't want to go back nor I have any hope to get my Stefan back. I'm just waiting for my death and finally have peace", Aunt said and her words stabbed my heart likes a sharp knife.

I really can't figure out what makes her think like this all of a sudden and why she doesn't want to wait for Stefan anymore.

"Everything will be fine. Please go back with me", I again requested, but I failed to make her agree.

"No... It isn't possible. Every inch of that house will make me remember about Alaric and Stefan, and every memory I have with them. The pain of losing them will be refresh again in my mind and I will become crazy, Elena", she said, and the fear in her face was breaking my heart. Although I thought the same thing, but I didn't expect that it will turn true.

I again tried to make agree with Aunt Jenna but all my requests go in vain because she wasn't even willing to hear a single more word about returning home. I started feeling sad all over again and find it useless to stay near her and request her anymore because she was being stubborn in her decision.

Being sad, I started leaving from there but Aunt called me from behind. My heart filled with happiness as I thought that she is going to be agreed to return home but what she said was utterly unexpected.

"Can you please arrange a small funeral for my Stefan?", I feel goosebumps all over my body after hearing her.

I was wishing to die before hearing her request. Arranging a funeral for Stefan only means to remove the last hope for him and Aunt is wanting me to do that.

"You literally lose your mind, Aunt. I'm never going to do that", I said, being angry and I wasn't feeling like talking to her anymore.

"You have to, dear. I can't bury his dead body, but we can give him last goodbye by the funeral. After so many years, I want to make sure that my Stefan rest in peace", I could understand how hard for her to say those words, but she was still saying that by ignoring her pain. But I wasn't ready to listen to her bullshit because I'm not going to give up my hope like that.

"Think and believe whatever you want but all I believe that Stefan is still alive, and I will find him soon. I'm never going to arrange any stupid funeral", I said and left from there without waiting for her reply.

Aunt was calling me from behind, but I didn't pay any heed to her rather left from her sight as soon as I can because I'm not strong enough to hear those kinds of words about Stefan. Even I'm not willing to give her anymore hope because while leaving as I was promising myself that I will return to her again with Stefan after finding him back, and I will prove her that she was wrong about her son.

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In the evening, when I returned home, I find Lizzie was waiting for me. I knew why she came here and what she wants to talk with me but I wasn't in the mood to talk with her at all about any stupid matter.

Ignoring her, I was going to my room, but she forcedly stopped me and again start saying the same thing she told me last night, and that is, I have to be the CEO of the company which is the last thing I want to be.

I'm denying since last night, but she is continuously saying the same thing that I have no choice other than being the CEO because I'm the only heir of my dad, and I have to take the position whether I want it or not which doesn't make any sense. I can't even imagine to involve me in business or being the CEO of a company when I haven't a single idea about it.

Since childhood, I have disinterest for official work,s and running a business company is out of my dream because I know that in business work we have to take risks which scared me most and I don't think that my fear will let me run the business properly like my uncle and dad used to do.

I was trying to make Lizzie understand one thing since yesterday that I don't even deserve that position of the CEO when I have zero quality about business. But she isn't trying to understand any of my words. And still, she is repeating the same thing which really makes me furious because she has no right to force me to make me involved in something against my will.

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"Am I not clear to you last night about my decision, Lizzie? Your continuous force won't make me change my mind. You know that..... Right", I said to her when she was still arguing with me like an i***t. By her behavior, I was feeling like she was taking my dad place in case of irritating me.

"I remember what you said. And I don't come here to hear yes or no because it doesn't even matter. I come here to remind you that you have to go to the office tomorrow whether you want it or not. Everything already arranged for you to take over the CEO position", I laughed sarcastically as her every word sounding nothing but a joke to me.

I really don't know what makes her think that I will do whatever she wants. Because all I want to stay away as much as I can from these business things.

"I appreciate but I'm never going to office nor I will involve myself in business. Now you may go", I said and turned around to leave.

"If you don't join as CEO within tomorrow then everything going to be more messed up and out of control, Elena", I heard Lizzie from behind, and I stopped in my place as she left me curious.

"What do you mean? What kind of messed up?", I came back to her and asked her. Her words really made me nervous and I want to know what she meant.

"It's already 16 days passed since your dad died. What do you think? What is going on in your dad's company for 16 days? Many important works have been paused because of a single permission from the CEO as your dad isn't there anymore and there is no one to run the company or guide the employees", I become shocked because I never thought in this way. I thought the company is running as usual, but I have no idea that the business work could be paused in absence of my dad.

"Then what are you doing? You must need to handle this in absence of my dad", I asked as I was surprised about the fact that why Lizzie isn't doing anything when he worked my dad assistant for years and it must not be hard for her to work like my dad in the company.

"Seriously... Are you even hearing yourself? I'm just a simple assistant. How can I do the job of a CEO?", She yelled at me sounding angry.

It was obvious for her to be angry because this time I'm the one who was acting like a dumb when whatever she is saying is right because I have to be the CEO until I find back Stefan. And I have to make sure the prosperity of the company before I give back everything to Stefan as the company was built by uncle Alaric and I don't want his hard work to destroy.

Although I was trying to agree to be the CEO but deep inside I was still scared because I know my worth and I don't think that I will succeed to run the company like my uncle and dad.

"What if I messed up everything? What if I make things worse?", I spelled out my fear to Lizzie because now she is the one from whom I can ask help.

"I will always be with you, Elena. And I know that you haven't a single experience with business. But you have to learn. And with times, everything will seem quite easy to you", she assured me but I don't think, for me it will be as easy as she is saying when I can't gather any confidence.

But again I'm left with no choice as from tomorrow I have to be the CEO whether I want it or not.