THE PAST

THE PAST
CHAPTER TWENTY

DIANA

"Stupid bitch, he may have protected you when he was alive....but he's no longer here and that means I can do whatever the hell I want!" He grabbed my hair, and dragged me on the floor towards the bed.

My head was bleeding, however, I did not scream. His mother was downstairs, but I was no longer foolish enough to think tse she would come to my aid.

She knew the man she had raised, she was well aware of what her sons were capable of, however, she had done nothing to stop them each time.

I was the object her sons could mistreat whenever they wanted, and turning a blind eye to it was easier for that woman

His gross hands picked me up, and he threw me on the bed, however, at that time, I had already made my decision.

There was no way I would be letting this person take advantage of me, and so when he tried to touch me, I bit down on his hands, hard..

When he wasn't looking, I picked up a vase that was by the bedside and smashed it on his head.

That was the beginning of an epiphany for me. It was the day I realised that no one was coming to save me in this family, and I had to get away, or else I would lose my life here.

......

".....how dare you show your face in this place again? Do you understand who owns this place? Are you trying to get yourself killed?" Dylan's arrogant voice dragged me from my memories, and I was forced to face the man who had almost killed me just a few months ago.

He was staring at me menacingly, giving me the same look he had given me when he abused me back then.

My heart was racing fast against my chest and I felt like I was getting transported back to that small room once again.

I felt like I was the widow from a few months ago, the one who was confined in a small room and who was abused by just about anyone.

I started breathing heavily as I was reminded of all of those things .

The walls were closing in on me, and I felt like I was losing my mind.

I tried to push it all away, but it was suffocating me. It was as if a mountain was pressing down on me, and I could not breath no matter what.

"....after all of the things you've done....my mother is still sick because of you. How dare you show your face in front of me again?"

"You stupid bitch! Do you think I have no idea you turned my brother against me in the past? Do you think that with him dead, you can finally get your greedy hands on his assets?"

Dylan's was saying something to me, and his words were mixed up with the things that he said to me months ago.

I had no idea which one was real, and it felt as if they were a hundred voices in my head .

They were all calling out to me and pulling me in all directions, and I had no idea where I was supposed to go.

Bitter tears rolled down my cheeks as I hyperventilated. This was driving me crazy...why couldn't this just stop?

I thought....I thought I had finally walked away from the shadows of what happened to me in the past .

I thought I was a new woman, but it seemed that I was still as weak as ever.

Just seeing Dylan was all that it took for me to come crumbling down once again.

"Diana, Diana....are you okay? " In the chaos, I seemed to have heard Chris' voice, and it seemed to me that someone had extended a lifeline to me while I was in a raging storm.

I slowly started to calm down, and return back to the present.

I looked at the faces of both men and realised that they were both staring at me.

Chris seemed to be looking at me with a bit my worry, and I was too scared to find out what Dylan's gaze carried .

I could not take any of this anymore, as it was driving me crazy.

I just wanted to get out of this place as soon as possible and I made my decision.

Turning on my heels, I dashed out of the private room as fast as I could.

.....

CHRIS

I had no idea what to do or say as I watched a dazed Diana. She seemed to be recalling something that had happened to her, and it left me wondering what she had gone through while she lost her husband.

I had never for once doubted that she was living a good life when she left me , but now.....I glanced at Dylan for a bit ...it seemed that they were a lot of things that I did not know.

"Diana, are you okay?" She seemed to come back to the present when I called her name, however, she only glanced at me for a few seconds before she turned and rushed out of the room.

My first instinct was to go after her, but Dylan's voice stopped me .

"She has always been a dramatic one, I can't believe that she's still causing drama wherever she goes. What does she think she's doing by acting like this and causing a scene here? How did you end up showing up with that woman?" Dylan asked me, mockery in his tone.

I could also sense a hint of bitterness, although Dylan tried to mask it, I was able to sniff it out .

I turned my head to look at Dylan properly, and suddenly, I was no longer enthusiastic at buying his land.

"She is my assistant," I announced.

Dylan laughed out loud, like I had said something terribly funny.

"This is hilarious. How come is it that my former sister in law ended up working as your assistant?"