Chapter 23 Chapter twenty three
“An old friend….. a friend of whom.?” she pried deeper her face growing suspicious. Looking at the face of the women who once punished her and told her she'll never amount to anything in life, Lima felt like tearing her to pieces right there. But that will be too easy.
“From highschool. I was one of your biggest admirers. You played the piano so well and i couldn't help but fall in love with your skills. Now, I'm the owner of a big hotel and i saw your husband with this woman. I couldn't sit back and watch, i had to help you.” She lied smoothly.
“Everyone knows i play the piano. If you're who you claim to be. What's my name and stage name back then.?” Mr harda fired back.
“Your real name is Hiba and your stage name is Riya.” Lima answered confidently again. On hearing this much details, Hiba eyes shone in wonder and jealousy.
“Wow, your family must be very rich. If after all these years you're still glowing and glittering” Hiba complimented eyeing her skin jealously. “Not really rich, but Allah is helping us. What about you.? You don't play the piano again, why is it so.?” Lima asked feigning concern.
Hiba sighed “ when i remarried, my new husband told me to stop and help him with his farm. And this is something his disgusting pig of a daughter can handle. Yet he insisted i do it too” she explained.
Lima bursted into a fake subtle laughter and quickly covered her mouth with her palm. “I'm sorry but I didn't mean to laugh. Leave the piano to farm.? I'm so sorry my idol.” She sympathized holding Hiba hand across the table.
Hiba shurugged “with this evidence you've given me, i can finally have a way to make him agree.”
Lima nodded and stood up. “then we'll meet again Hiba.” She said and stood up walking away with an intimidating aura and a triumphant smirk. When she got back to the hotel, she met her dad already waiting for her in bed. On seeing her, he hugged her and kissed her face.
“I've missed you my princess.” He said earnestly hugging her like she'll disappear. Although disgusted, she had to play along. She immediately pretended to be very hurt and tears clouded in her eyes. On seeing her tears, he was shocked.
“What's the matter my pretty flower.? Did anyone harass you.? Are you hurt.?” He asked worriedly. She nodded, “your…. your wife…s..she harassed me. Its like she found out about us and she came to beat me” she lied looking very pitiful.
On hearing this, his eyes darkened with rage. “That filthy woman.! She has crossed the line. Because I haven't laid my hands on her before now she feels like she hold me in her palm. I'm sorry my princess” she consoled her, gently sitting her down on the bed.
The corner of her lips curled into a dirty smirk. “Let the game begin.” She muttered.
“What did you say.? He asked.
“Oh nothing. I'm only muttering about how this marks she gave me will scar my white skin” she said her eyes filled with fear. “I swear if there's any scar on your body, I'll make sure she get that times two” he swore vehemently.
When he got home that day, he met his wife lounging on a sofa and watching tv with a glass of wine in her hand. He immediately walked up to her, snatched the drink and splashed it on her face, leaving her startled and mouth wide open.
“You evil woman.! How dare you lay this your filthy hands on my pretty flower.? Are you out of your senses.?!” He shouted angrily, smashing the glass cup to pieces on the ground.
This pushed Hiba to the edge. “Your mistress isn't only an adulteress but a chronic liar.! After all I've sacrificed for you Jonathan, the only way you can think of paying me back is by cheating you fool.!” She screamed back.
“I won't stand here and watch you insult her you old, haggard witch.” He threatened. “And what'll you do you shameless man. Kill me for her.? Beat me for her.? You…..
A deafening slap echoed and one of Hiba's teeth came flying out with a trail of blood. “Don't you ever in your entire miserable life dare insult me or my woman again. This is just a little warning. The careful woman, so i don't have a murder case in my name.” He warned and stormed off.
Hiba couldn't believe her eyes. This was the first time he was laying his hands on her and he was very brutal. It cost her one of her front teeth and left her with a swollen cheek. Tears clouded her eyes but anger didn't make them fall
Meanwhile, Lima was watching everything on her phone laughing hysterically. When she was having a “meeting” with Hiba, it was actually a ploy to buy time for her men to install a little camera in the house.
“This is just the beginning” She said said with hatred in her voice.
The next day, after spending a “mind-blowing” night with Lima, Mr Harda went to his farm to meet the greatest shock of his life. All the crops in his farm has been razed to ground by a fire. At first he couldn't believe his eyes, but he slowly came to the realization that his hard work was gone.
Immediately, his eyes darkened and he picked up his axe. He walked back home meancingly that everyone that saw him felt a chill down their spine. Some people who saw him went to warn his wife in advance that she should go into hiding because her husband is out for someone's head.
On hearing this, Hiba flew in panic. She ran around with her two girls to hide in any of their neighbors house but they have heard the news earlier and refused to let her in.
Desperately, she begged them to hide only her two daughters but they still refused. By now, her husband was already searching for her all over the village, fully convinced that she was behind the fire.
As Hiba ran around the village like a headless chicken, she soon grew weary and fell to the ground. Her girls only selfish about their lives, left her. They saw a red SUV parked and ran into it for safety. From there, they watched in terror as their father beheaded their mom with the axe.
“Hello girls” a voice suddenly greeted from the front of the vehicle. They jumped in fright and saw a very beautiful lady sitting there. “We're very sorry madam. We didn't mean to enter your car without permission” they apologized.
Seeing the girls that once tormented and mocked her, hatred filled Lima's heart but she still faked a convincingly smile. “I'm very sorry for your misfortune, will you like to go to the city and get paid in huge amounts of money.?” She asked the girls.
On hearing huge amounts of money, their eyes widened with greed. Afterall, there was nothing left for them in the village. Their mother was dead and their dad a monster. They readily agreed eyeing the beautiful car not seeing the wicked smirk on Lima's face.
Handing them over to men to take them back to her villa, she quickly returned to the hotel. Soon, Mr harda came back with desperation and anger still written all over him.
She feigned concern “baby, what is the matter” she asked worriedly. “My only source of livelihood was taken from me this morning” he bemoaned burying his face in his palm. Lima's lips curled in a wicked smile but she pretended to be in great shock.
“Who could be so evil and heartless.?”
“I think it was that evil witch i married. Yesterday i confronted her about harassing you and hit her. She decided to revenge by burning my farm”
“I hope you didn't let her go scot-free..?”
“Of course not, i killed her.” He said nonchalantly. She pretended to be afraid. “Killed.? Isn't that a bit too far.? Won't the police come after you.? She asked.
“Police.? Huh.! In this village, there is no law. The police is just a formality, they don't function here.”
“I'm sorry for your loss baby, but every disappointment is a blessing. My people found me today. But you know i can't bear to leave you behind, so let's go to city together and start a new life.” She said convincingly.
His face lit up “this is big news. Oh I'm so happy for you my love. What are we waiting for.? I'm not taking anything from this damned village. Let's go right now” he said standing up.
When they entered the car, Lima pretended to be very excited. “I can't believe we'll be finally together without any disturbance” she said pretending to hug him while injecting a substance into his body.
He felt drowsy and fell unconscious immediately.