Chapter 1 The Ultimate betrayal
Arielle's POV
What I love most about my home is who I share it with. Or so I thought.
My face beamed with smiles as I trod on the path leading to my room; our room. I opened the door and threw myself on the bed and laughed like a kid who just saw a trampoline for the very first time.
“Look who's excited to be home.”
I chuckled and stood up to meet the most important person in my life. “Lionel, its nice of you to join me.”
Lionel laughed softly and began to tickle me. I laughed hard and tried to get away from him but he wouldn't let me, he finally let me go as his phone rang. He excused himself for a minute while I occupied myself with some petty work.
He came back a few minutes later. “I need to leave for an urgent work, babe, I'll be back by nightfall, don't wait up for me.” Lionel informed me.
“Do you have to go? I've missed you all day.” I pouted.
He laughed softly and patted my hair. “I've got to work for our future my love, I made some lasagna before you arrived but it's all cold now, it's in the microwave, check it after twenty minutes, I gotta go.” He explained, calmly.
I blushed as I watched him leave. This house is our home, one we built with love and planned to live the rest of our lives in when we get married. I changed into a more comfortable cloth and five minutes later, my throat began to itch and I went to the kitchen to get a cup of water and switched off the microwave.
Ten minutes later, exhausted, I drifted to sleep and was awoken by a suffocating pocket of air. I opened my eyes to see the room filled with smoke, panicking. I tried to find the source of the smoke but the room was locked. All of a sudden, the flames burst into a fire.
I began to suffocate and pounded loudly on the door, yelling at the top of my voice for help. The fire engulfed the entire room, me included. I cried in pain as my flesh fizzled, pain coursed through my veins, I cursed loudly.
“Help me!” I cried, desperately. My tears ducts dried up, the pain was unbearable. I fell, the last thing I saw before backing out was a vague figure breaking down the door.
When my eyes fluttered open once more, I was in the hospital, the incessantly irritating beeping of machines made my head ache, there was a throbbing pain that washed over my entire body.
I was covered in bandages from head to toe, every inch of my body burnt with an intensifying pain. I attempted to speak but nothing came out. Unable to move any part of my body, I saw my mom and Lionel standing just outside my ward, I could hear their voices, a tear slipped down my face as no words left my mouth.
“Did we go overboard?” My Mom asked.
“No, we didn’t. It's just as I planned. This is the only way Lisa can win the award and recognition she deserves, you have nothing to worry about.” Lionel replied.
My heart sank. Lisa?
“I know Lisa deserves the award but it hurts me to see Arielle in so much pain.” Mom defended and I felt a tug at my heart.
“This wouldn't have happened if Arielle hadn't been too selfish, she should've just let Lisa take the lead. I ensured that the fire engulfed the entire house, only this way will Arielle be ugly and not pose any threat to Lisa's career anymore.” Lionel scoffed, his voice laced with poison and bitterness.
My heart shattered into pieces, the pain inside fueling the physical pain I was going through. Lionel is my fiance, we have been dating for over seven years and I would do anything for him. Lisa is my sister, she was adopted by my parents after they gave birth to me and I had a heart condition, they thought I would die but I somehow grew to be hale and hearty.
“What will happen to Arielle? No one will want her now that she's disfigured.” Mom asked, fake sympathy in her voice.
She had always favored Lisa over me, pampering her as if she were her biological daughter but I never minded, I was content with the second-hand love I got from her but this was extreme.
Lionel sighed. “I will marry her in two months' time, that should be enough compensation for her. You don't need to worry about anything Mom, just tell Lisa she'll win the award in three days time.” Lionel assured her.
They turned to look at me and I pretended to be asleep. They came in and Mom took my hand, sniffing back tears. “This is my fault, I should have been there to help my baby.”
I slowly opened my eyes and she kissed my forehead, tears slipping from her eyes. The doctors came in before she could say a word and Lionel flinched.
.
“Where the hell have you been all day! Can't you see she's in obvious pain?” He thundered and I fought the urge to scoff.
“It hurts.” I muttered, truthfully.
Mom burst into tears, lamenting about how she had failed as a mother and couldn't protect me while Lionel threatened to kill the doctors if they didn't find a way to reduce my pain.
I let a tear slide down my face, I felt trapped in my own body, stuck between the sting of their betrayal and pain pulsating underneath the bandages in hot rippling waves but it was nothing compared to the knowledge of the truth which twisted in my chest, making it ache terribly.
“I shouldn't have left you alone Arielle, I can never forgive myself for letting you get hurt but I swear, I'll relieve you of this pain.” Lionel swore vehemently.
If I hadn't just overheard his conversation with my mom, I would've believed him and even cried but I looked the other way as he tried to plant a kiss on my forehead. He was shocked momentarily but probably waves it off as me being dramatic.
“Don't just stand there! Do something! Can't you see she's in pain?” Lionel roared.
“Yes sir, we've scheduled her for surgery tomorrow, our plastic surgeon has been alerted and he's on his way.” The Doctor explained.
Lionel scoffed and dismissed them with a wave of his hand. He took a seat beside me and held my hand while my Mom still cried, two good actors.
“I love you Arielle, nothing will change that.”
I bit my blistered lips and watched tears well in his eyes. “No Lionel, you don't.”