THORNS OF LOVE

TWISTED DESIRES

Roselin walks into the house late at night, everyone must be asleep she thought. She slumps into the sofa and stared at the chandelier. Her life was bitter , she felt bitter. The only good thing that had ever happened to her in thirty years was the death of Elizabeth's parents. She was really happy for the inconclusiveness of the case, Janet ( Elizabeth's mother) did not deserve justice, she got what was coming for her. She had watched Janet for years, always happy, caring and everyone loved her. She was sick of being Janet's shadow. She wondered why Janet had a good life and she was stucked with Paul. She remembered when she was so in love with Paul , now she loathed him. She stands up walks into the kitchen and opened the kitchen cabinet. She searched for a glass to pour her champagne but she found none. She took the champagne directly from the bottle. She thought back to the event of the day and her talk with the sheriff. She would give anything right now for her s****l desires to be satisfied. She took a long drink from the champagne bottle, feeling the bubbles tickle her throat. The sheriff's words echoed in her mind, stirring up a mix of emotions within her.

Roselin knew she needed to find a way to quench her desires, to feel alive again. As she leaned against the kitchen counter, a plan started forming in her mind. She needed to break free from the monotony of her life, to reclaim her power. With a newfound determination, she set the champagne bottle down and began to map out her next move. It was time for Roselin to take control and rewrite her story. She felt she was so deep into the darkness, she couldn't turn back now instead she would let it envelope her, caress her. Roselin thought of various ways to control Paul and Elizabeth's inheritance, she was not going to give up not when her plans were coming into reality. Roselin thought of her time together with Janet at the orphanage, she thought of how lonely she felt before Janet was dumped in the orphanage. They became best friends immediately. She sincerely loved Janet and would do anything for Janet. Janet was like her family, a sister she always wanted but when they came of legal age they both had different characters and behavior.

Janet was always the lucky one, she wants something she gets it. Roselin chuckled into the night, she worked so hard to get to where she was nothing was handed to her. She met Paul at a college party, she and Janet attended a community college, Paul and Henry ( Elizabeth's father) attended a private college. She liked Henry and not Paul but as fate will have it, Henry liked Janet and not her. She remembered all her plans to sabotage their relationship, but none succeeded. She ended up with only one option: date Paul in order to get close to Henry. She wished she hadn't. If only she knew that she would end up pregnant for Paul, she would have kept pursuing Henry without involving Paul. Paul was an arrogant man. He was the heir to Gulliver's empire, she was seduced by his inheritance and wealth he would posses when he takes over. She over looked his drunken nature, his gambling addiction, his constant womanizing and overall his financial mismanagement.

Roselin staggered upstairs and gently creaked open Elizabeth's door. She stares at Elizabeth through the dark; she looks exactly like Janet. Her hand itched to grab a pillow and smother her, but it seemed as though Elizabeth was having a nightmare. Roselin smiled in the dark, little Elizabeth doesn't know what lies await for her , her nightmares would slowly become reality. She was not able to cause Janet enough pain before death, she was going to cause her offspring pain. She whispered into the night " I swear on your dead body Janet, I will make your daughter's life miserable. This is my promise to you." Immediately she left Elizabeth's room, Elizabeth woke up from sleep, she felt a chill running down her spine. She could feel someone watching her, she felt scared.

At the other side of the city, Paul was having the time of his life. He felt so happy that all his plans were becoming reality. He would finally get to live the life that he desires, a life of vast wealth. He had always envied his younger brother Henry. He had everything well calculated, he was a real go-getter. Paul smiled to himself while spinning his liquor. "I won Henry, cheers to you from the grave beyond." He took a big gulp of his drink and laughed loudly but the music blasting from the speaker drowned his laughter. Paul was in a club named 'sin city '. He was a frequent member and also a vip in the club. Paul just got out of a casino where he lost more money than he could ever afford. He was not bothered because he had a whole lifetime of wealth stored up by his deceased brother for his pitiful daughter, Elizabeth. Paul smiled widely, he couldn't remember what made him hate his own brother so much. They used to be best friends, they did everything together. He was always so protective of his younger brother but now he hated him. He blamed Henry for taking what rightfully belongs to him and leaving him with the left overs. He was supposed to be the heir to the Gulliver's cooperation but Henry had to be the better one between them. He had perfect grades, a lady's man, charming personality. Paul took a long puff from his cigar, maybe if he had inherited the family company, his relationship with his wife won't have being so strained. He loved Roselin with all his heart, he would do anything she wants without complaining but she immediately lost interest in him when she found out that he get only a percentage of the company, he is a glorified shareholder. They use to be so in love, she neverminded any of his flaws, she loved him just the way he was.

His train of thought was disrupted by a sexy blonde in nothing but exposing lingerie, she was one of the numerous strippers in his vip room. Her eyes glowed as the multiple ray of light shined, she was slim with enough flesh to make a man wanting for more. She was dancing exotically. She was so dominant on the pole that she commanded his full attention. He totally forgot about his wife and his undying love for her. She swayed her hips elegantly to the song, all eyes were on her. Paul's friend whispered amongst themselves but Paul was to fixated to listen to any of their sarcastic remarks or word. He has only one thought in mind, his perfect sweet blonde was going to his hotel with him.

Dawn came quickly, Samantha and Elizabeth were having breakfast before going to school. Roselin was hungover from all the alcohol she had last night. Paul was still yet to wake up in his hotel room with his girlfriend. Elizabeth was feeling anxious about starting a new school, she looked up to Samantha while having breakfast and smiled. She was glad to have a familiar face with her , she wasn't sure she would be able to survive on her own. Roselin came down after having an hungover soup. She looked lazily at the dining table where the girls sat and walked into the kitchen, she was starved. She had to be well-fed in order to execute her plan perfectly. She would have to make sure that nothing goes wrong and if it does there is always a plan B. Samantha had made a little research into her highschool, she knew that if she wanted to make Elizabeth's life miserable she had to be one step ahead all the time. She was surely going to make high school experience for Elizabeth her own hell on earth. She smiled sweetly to Elizabeth in the car, she held Elizabeth hands and gave her a reassuring squeeze. "I am here if you need anything." She said in a calm voice . Elizabeth nodded and also squeezed Samantha's hand. She mentally prepared herself to excel in highschool but no amount of mental preparation would have prepared her for Samantha's plan.

Paul walked into the house. He felt like he was walking on clouds.The universe was in his favor. He went into his drawing room and called his lawyer. " I need you at my place by 2pm. Elizabeth will be back from school. I want the paperwork completed today once and for all." He hung up immediately. He sat down on his chair and went over all his files and the only thing he could make out of it was his multiple debts. He had a whole lot of debt to pay; but he was going to pay it all off after the signing. Roselin walked into the drawing room, she was neatly dressed in a deep neck cut sleek shirt and a pair of office trousers. "My love, you are home. I missed you," she said. Paul walked towards her and hugged her tightly, he kissed her lips and smiled. "I missed you more, my love. I was out working. I have to make sure that the paperwork are all in order for my takeover," he said. She lifted her head and smiled, she used to be swooned over by his words but now she felt disgusted by his touch and his words . " I am here to inform you that we are going to be firing all the servants except Mrs.Ashley ." Paul raised his eyebrows feeling puzzled. "Who would take care of the house if you sack each and everyone of them." Roselin walked up to the liquor cabinet and poured out of the whiskey bottle, she drained it out at once. " My love, I am doing this for us. What will people think of us if we lived an extravagant life. " She made herself comfortable in his chair, raised her feet, and placed them on his desk. " I want people to think we are keeping Elizabeth's inheritance not spending it, let them see us as virtuous people then other family members would have nothing to use against us . We can leave the guards and you should make sure that you reduce your spending, we have to play our cards right, no mistake." Paul nodded and looked at his wife in admiration, she had being the one keeping the family afloat after their bankruptcy some few years back.

The lawyer knocked and walked in carrying a briefcase. He had a plain look on his face, one won't know if he is angry, sad or irritated. Paul and Roselin both share a knowing look on their faces, the time has come. They were going to be in immerse wealth. The lawyer sat down and handed out some documents. "I am afraid I have bad news." The liquor glass was shattered into pieces.