PIECES

part 12

Anna's POV

If I had never felt like dying before, today I just wanted to. I just wished the ground could open up and swallow me...

What was I supposed to do now? What on earth was Abel doing here in the first place...

My mind was still dazed, when a sudden realization struck me...

Didn't Kevin tell his mother that I was taking care of a relative at the hospital? I needed to find an excuse, else, what was Corine going to think of me?

"I had been looking after you all night. We just got back from the hospital, can't you even allow me to rest? Are you my owner? Couldn't you just stay home and rest? What are you doing here?" I asked my expression serious...

I glanced briefly at Corine who wore a shocked expression earlier, and noticed that her furrowed brows had relaxed significantly upon hearing me...

I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding, before turning to face the man whose hand was still wrapped around my waist...

"Really? You didn't want me to miss this right?" He said, his tone mocking and warning at the same time...

Ha! What was I supposed to do? Kevin's brows were already furrowed. He was obviously angry but maintained a calm demeanor from outside...

"Ehem..." I coughed lightly before introducing...

"Aunt, he's Abel, the one I was at the hospital with. Abel, she's Corine, Kevin's mother. She's like a mother to me, and have never made me feel any less than her own daughter..."

I said, wearing a warm smile...

The introduction was good enough to ease the tension right? Well, I didn't even permit them exchange words as I added...

"Let me get us some coffee, so we can all drink..." With that, I escaped from Abel's grip and was about dashing out to the kitchen, when his cold voice came through...

"You'll do no such thing. I won't have you make coffee for this woman and her bastard son..."

"Excuse me?" Corine who had been silent raised her brow, obviously angered by his words...

"What did you just call my son, a bastard son?" She raised asked...

At her question, Abel smiled slightly...

Wow! I felt a headache coming on. Why couldn't a day pass without this strikingly handsome ex of mine not putting up a drama? I was losing my mind. My patience was wearing out. What did I get myself involved in? I sigh helplessly thinking of a way to ease things, though I knew it could only escalate from here...

"Mom, please calm down. Don't take his words to heart" Kevin tried calming his mother, though I knew he wasn't having it easy...

"I should calm down? He just insulted you and you expect me to clam down?" She scolded her son before turning her attention at me...

"Will you just stand there and watch me get insulted by this relative of yours?"

Came Corine's angry voice...

Ha! What was I supposed to do? I couldn't side with Abel, neither could I side with Corine...

I knew Abel too well. He was definitely going to create a scene if I dared to speak in Kevin's favour, despite his many warnings...

And Corine, she was not someone who could be messed with...

"Why are you getting her involved in this? I won't let my woman serve you, and this person you gave birth to" Abel said, his voice calm and icy...

"Don't speak to my mother in that tone" Kevin warned...

"I won't do that, if you stay off my woman. She's mine and mine alone" Abel stated confidently...

"What did you just say?" Corine raised a brow, clearly shocked...

I knew things weren't going to get any better. I wanted to stop Abel from talking, but before I could say a word, Corine spoke up again...

"Who's Anna to you?"

"It doesn't matter mom. Let's just leave" Kevin said, obviously sensing the danger...

"I want to know" Corine insisted...

"She's my woman. My fiancee, and we'll be getting married soon. Infact, the wedding preparations has begun, but your so called son won't let her be" Abel said, his voice fill with pride...

I was taken aback. Saying I was shocked was just an understatement...

At that point I felt confused. I didn't know if it was because he lied or if it was due to the fact I had once been looking forward for him to utter such words...

"It now makes sense. Kevin, did you really want to marry such a cheap and despicable woman?" Corine glared, frowning at her son...

Who was she calling despicable? Me?...

"And who told you my Anna was ever going to settle for a double faced man like him? Get out!" Abel ordered coldly, while I stood there unsure of what to do...

"My son can never marry such a woman who goes around throwing herself at men. I'm grateful that you never married my son"

"Aunty, it's not what you think" I snapped out of my thoughts, grabbing her hand. She shook my hand off hers, making me loose my balance, almost falling...

Abel quickly reached out, grabbing me...

"Let's go!" Corine said, storming out of the house, with Kevin reluctantly pulling himself out...

What was I supposed to do? Follow them? Will this man even allow me to go?

I stared blankly at Abel, my eyes filled with unshed tears. My relationship was at verge of collapsing or should I say had collapsed?

"What now, are you proud of yourself?"

I asked Abel who was staring at me as if questioning me. I tried hard to hold back my tears, but my eyes betrayed me...

Abel reached out, wiping the tears off my face, saying...

"Where you going to marry Kevin? Is that why you've been acting distant and cold?" Was he even asking? Ha!...

"I understand. You had mentioned that yesterday..." He said, bowing his head, avoiding my gaze...

"I'm sorry Any. About yesterday, it was a coincidence. I didn't mean to run into Rose. I was about leaving when she told me she wanted to talk with me. I thought I could exchange words with her, while patiently waiting for you there. I'm sorry" Abel appologized...

Somehow, his appologies made my heart ache the more, causing more tears to stream out...

This man had just ended my relationship with his lies, despite being married. What did I do to deserve this?

All I ever did was love him, and everything I did was for his own good, so why did have to do this now?...

"Anna, why are you crying" he asked...

I just settled on the sofa, wiping the tears that kept streaming out...

After what felt like eternity, I finally managed to ask in a hoarse voice...

"What exactly did you come here to do? Why did you come here? Weren't you supposed to be resting at home?"

"Didn't you mention you were going to marry Kevin today itself? Did you think I was just going to let you go and marry him? Even if I'm to loose you, certainly not to that Kevin"

So that was why. Abel's words made my heart ache the more. I let out a self depreciating laugh...

Look at the person I was helping. He was busy ruining my own life. I was still dazed when a though crossed my mind...

Which mother won't understand another mother's pain?

With that sudden realization, I wiped my tears with a shimmer of hope spreading accross my heart. I pulled out my phone, sending Rose a text message, before turning my attention to Abel...

"I'll be in my room" I said, before retiring to my bedroom...

****

Anna sat in the living room, gently sipping the wine in her glass. Her eyes were red and swollen obviously from crying...

The aura around her was intimidating. She wore a dangerous look that could send chills down anyone's spine...

Kelly stormed into the house, calling in urgency...

"Anna, are you alright?" She reached out to her friend who seemed lost in her own words...

Anna didn't spare a glance at the lady who just walked in, taking another sip of her wine...

"Anna, talk to me" Anna didn't say a word. She simply forced a smiled, before emptying her glass...

"Ann..."

"Rose has done her worst"

"....."

Kelly was taken aback by her friend's words...

"I don't get it. What do you mean?" Kelly asked...

Anna finally glanced at her, pouring some wine into her glass, gulping it in one go, before saying...

"I put my own wedding on hold because of Abel. I agree that I didn't do the right thing by abandoning him at such a critical time. But I was willing to help him recover, for the sake of our old times and for the sake of his unborn child, but what did I gain? Abel turned Corine against me and as if that wasn't enough, his wife..." Just remembering the words she had heard earlier made her heart ache...

She shut her eyes trying hard to surpress her pains...

Before long, she opened her eyes, which were bloodshot, burning with fury...

"6 months right? I'm supposed to help him for six months isn't it? Give me a month and Abel is going to be mine"

"What? Don't even dare! Do anything you wish, but don't even think of making Abel yours, else you'll only regret it" Kelly completely dismissed the idea, scared of the outcome

"We'll see then..." Anna said, a sly smile playing at the corners of her lips...