Prologue
Layla scurried down the spiral marble staircase with as much speed as she could manage. The last thing she wanted was to slip on the gleaming steps and break a bone or two. Or worse, die. This house was no stranger to death, to start with.
She could hear her pursuer’s heavy strides as he made his way towards her, only a few more steps and she’d be out of this place for good. Approaching the bottom of these stairs that seemed to go on for ages, Layla fumbled in her clutch purse for her car keys.
“Wait!”
“Oh no.” her heart raced. She was so close to leaving now, if only she were a tad faster. For a split second she regretted not taking Phys Ed seriously back in high school. Mr. Edmund never failed to tell her what a fine athlete she’d make if she put her mind to it; she was built for it, thanks to her good genes. “Layla, please listen to me.”
She quickened her pace, rushing towards the massive oak doors that served as the main entrance to the grand residence of the Ubas, a name that anyone – who was in fact, anyone – knew enough not to trifle with. Except they fancied the idea of biting more than they could chew, as she had come to discover herself.
“Layla!” the pursuer bellowed. She could hear the desperation in his voice as she stopped in her tracks.
“For God’s sake.” She muttered under her breath. Slowly, she turned to face her…husband?
Could she still call him that?
Was she even willing to refer to him as her significant other?
She cleared her throat.
“Dozie” Taking a deep breath, she tried to steady herself. “What else do you possibly want from me–
She raised a finger to silence him just as he opened his mouth. “I am done. I should have left long ago when the alarm bells started going off but guess what, my stupid self didn’t. But better late than never you know? Leave me alone–
“No!” Dozie thundered. Layla flinched, taking a step back. “No.” it came out a whisper this time. Falling to his knees, he broke down in tears.
“Please hear me out.” He cried, running his trembling hands over his hair. “Won’t you at least listen to what I have to say?”
“Excuse you?” Layla snapped. “You had every chance to do just that! Don’t even get me started–
“I know, and I’m sorry baby–
“Screw you!” she shouted. Closing her eyes, she tried to hold back her own tears. How many times did she question her own sanity in this house? How many times did he tell her she was stressing over nothing? How many times did he dismiss her concerns as irrelevant? Some husband he was.
“Layla” He clutched at her knees and sobbed uncontrollably. “Please.”
She had always been a softie; hating to see anyone in distress, crying because she could feel another’s pain as though it was hers, caring about others to the point of prioritizing their wants and needs over hers, because she couldn’t bear to let people down.
An empath and a people-pleaser; the very traits that landed her in this mess she happened to find herself in.
Don’t listen to him. There’s no forgetting this.
Layla squared her shoulders. For her sake, she was done. Smacking his wrists, she stepped away from Dozie’s grip and walked out the door.
Done.
