Chapter 11 The visit
Heaven sat quietly in the car on her way to her parents’ house.
General Richard had granted her request to visit, even though her mother-in-law had fought against it. This would be her first time seeing her family since the awkward wedding.
She wondered if they’d missed her.
She already knew the answer.
They didn’t. They didn’t care as long as she wasn’t her sister Summer. Her sister drew affection without trying.
Heaven had been the quiet one, the overlooked one. She wondered if she was their daughter too.
The Richards hadn’t sent her empty-handed. The chauffeur had loaded several boxes of gifts into the trunk, a proper show of generosity for a daughter-in-law’s first visit home.
She lowered the window. Cool air rushed in, brushing her face as the city slipped past. For a fleeting second she imagined freedom, what it might cost, what it might feel like.
Her hand drifted to her bag, where the black card, a piece of her virginity was, heavy as guilt.
\~~~~~~~~~
At the Kalabora Mansion
A Bentley bearing the Richards’ emblem rode to a stop in front of the house.
Damien and Meredith hurried outside, squinting at the car, they were not expecting the Richards visits.
Heaven stepped out, dressed in a simple black gown, a small Chanel bag in hand, the morning light brushed over her pale face.
Behind her, the chauffeur began unloading the wrapped boxes from the trunk.
“Heaven,” Meredith called first, her eyes darting from her daughter to the boxes.
The look she gave said What are you doing here?
Maybe she thought Heaven had come back for good, she feared the Richards had changed their minds and would demand the money returned.
“Heaven, what’s wrong? Did you offend your in-laws?” Damien asked, his tone uneasy.
Heaven’s chest tightened. Was that the first thing they would ask her?
They weren’t worried about her, or how she had mourned a man she didn't know, they were worried about the transaction she represented.
“My father-in-law sent these gifts,” she said, implying she had come with permission.
“Ohh… how generous,” Meredith replied, her smile stretching with relief.
From the doorway came a voice edged with envy.
“You don’t look like someone in mourning,” Summer said. “The Richards must be treating you well.” Her eyes traced her sister one she had passed down her hand me down clothes.
Before Heaven could answer, another voice cut through the air, older, softer, and filled with disapproval.
“Why not let her in? Or is she no longer welcome in her own home?”
Heaven's eyes widened. “Grandma!”
Without thinking, she ran, ignoring the ache in between her legs. She threw her arms around the frail woman standing near the steps.
“You foolish girl,” her grandmother murmured, patting her back.
“Why didn’t you come to me? Why did you let them push you into this? You’ve always been too kind for people who don’t deserve it.”
Heaven pressed her face into her grandmother’s shoulder, breathing in the faint familiar scent of the one person who loved her.
For the first time in weeks, she felt the warmth she had been starving for.
Once they got inside, Damien and Meredith’s attention immediately shifted to the gifts the Richard’s chauffeur had unloaded.
Their greedy eyes darted from one box to another, whispering and counting silently, like traders measuring profit.
Heaven sat quietly beside her grandmother on the couch, her hands clasped tightly in her lap.
“How are you, Heaven?” the old woman asked gently, her eyes soft and knowing.
Heaven opened her mouth, but the words caught in her throat. How was she supposed to explain everything? That she had been married off for money? That her husband, the man she was supposed to marry was dead before she even met him? Or that she had committed a forbidden act with his brother the night before?
All she could say was, “I’m fine.”
But her grandmother saw through it, the lies, the pain, the weight she carried.
There was sorrow in those old, clouded eyes. She squeezed Heaven’s hand.
“Are your in-laws treating you well?”
Heaven nodded, though her lips trembled. Her grandmother didn’t press. She only pulled her closer, letting Heaven rest her head on her shoulder, the first real warmth she’d felt in weeks.
Across the room, as Meredith and Damien were busy inspecting the luxury boxes like they were treasure chests.
Summer’s eyes had locked on Heaven’s handbag, a sleek black Chanel, limited edition. Envy flickered across her face. She waited until no one was watching, then went towards it.
Her fingers brushed over the leather and she opened it, her heart raced when she spotted something inside.
The black card.
Her breath hitched. She had seen it before, only in magazines and online headlines. Unlimited. Exclusive. Reserved for the world’s elite.
“How did Heaven get this?” she whispered to herself.
Jealousy burned through her. Without a second thought, she slipped it into her pocket and left, her heart pounding with greed.
Heaven spent the rest of the day with her grandmother. She felt lighter, safer, like she had finally come home.
But peace never lasted long for Heaven.
A few hours later, the sound of laughter and bags dropping echoed from the doorway.
Summer walked in, her arms loaded with designer clothes, shoes, and purses. Two store attendants followed, struggling with even more boxes.
Meredith rushed forward, her eyes almost glittering. “Summer! What on earth? Where did you get all these from?”
Summer grinned proudly and pulled out the black card.
Heaven froze.
Her heart skipped.
She shot up from her seat and rushed to her bag, opened it and it was empty.
“Summer” Heaven’s voice shook. “Where did you get that card?”
Summer tilted her head, smiling like a child caught stealing candy. “From your bag, of course. Don’t worry, I only spent a few millions. I even bought myself the same Chanel bag, we’re sisters, right? We should match.”
Heaven’s chest tightened. “How dare you touch something that isn’t yours!”
Summer flinched, and so did her parents. Heaven had never raised her voice before.
“Don’t talk to your sister like that,” Meredith snapped. “When did you start drawing lines between you two? You marry into a rich family and suddenly you think you can raise your voice?”
“That’s not mine to spend,” Heaven said weakly.
“Oh please,” Meredith scoffed. “You act like the Richard’s will notice if a few millions are missing. Stop pretending to be holy when you’re eating from their gold plates.”
Heaven’s hands trembled.
They didn’t understand. That card wasn’t money, it was guilt.
Shame.
The price of her innocence.
Something she had vowed to return to Maverick.
“Heaven…” her father started hesitantly, “your sister just spent a little….”
“Damien!” Grandma’s voice boomed, cutting him off.
Everyone turned.
Her frail frame stood, shaking, but her eyes burned with fury. She raised her walking stick high.
“You must be stupid! I didn’t raise a thief!” she snapped. “How did you raise Summer to be such a greedy thief?”
Meredith gasped. “Mother, please….”