Chapter 2- Liar

Alisha’s POV.

I woke up that summer morning on the cold marble floor of the mansion, feeling utterly miserable. My eyes were swollen and puffy from crying all night, my face tight and raw from the dried tears that streaked my cheeks. My hair was a tangled mess, and my clothes were wrinkled and stained from the night's despair. The grandeur of the mansion around me felt like a cruel mockery of my crumpled state.

I reached for my phone, my fingers trembling as I picked it up. I had been calling Albert repeatedly, but each call went unanswered. My heart sank further with every ring that ended in silence, but I couldn't stop. I needed to hear his voice, to know that he hadn't abandoned me completely.

"Albert, please, can we talk? We need to resolve this. It’s not that serious, really. I’m ready to change, to do things your way. Just... please call me back," I whispered into the voicemail, my voice barely above a murmur.

Minutes felt like hours as I waited for a response, my anxiety mounting with each passing moment. Desperate, I called again, but once more, there was no answer. My resolve crumbled, and I burst into tears, the sobs wracking my body. I couldn’t afford to lose him, not now. All my inheritance and businesses were in his name, and I had nothing left to show for years of hard work.

"Albert, please, I need you. Don’t leave me like this. I’ll do anything, just call me back," I pleaded in another voicemail.

Collapsing onto the bed, I cried loudly into the pillow, the sound echoing in the vast emptiness of the mansion. My phone buzzed with a notification, and I quickly reached for it, my heart leaping with hope. But it wasn’t Albert. It was a message from my friend Madelyn. My eyes rolled over the contents, barely registering the words.

Just then, my phone rang, and I answered it immediately. "Hello?"

"Alisha, I've been trying to reach you for so long. What happened?" Madelyn's voice was filled with concern.

I struggled to gather my words, my frustration evident. "I didn’t realize... I was just going through my phone and saw your message. I'm sorry, Maddie."

Madelyn teased lightly, trying to lighten the mood. "What, were you too busy enjoying summer with Albert to answer your phone?"

The attempt at humor fell flat. My voice trembled as I replied, "It's not like that. Things are... complicated right now."

Madelyn’s tone shifted to serious concern. "What happened? You can talk to me."

I hesitated, the words catching in my throat. "Albert... he left. We had a fight, and now he won't answer my calls. I don’t know what to do, Maddie. I’m scared."

"Alisha, listen to me," Madelyn said firmly. "You need to take a deep breath and calm down. We'll figure this out together. You're not alone."

"But Maddie, you don't understand," I whispered. "I transferred all my properties into Albert's name. Everything I've worked for, it's all in his name now. I can’t lose him. I need him to come back. I love him so much, and I want to start a family with him."

I rubbed my belly, my hand trembling as I thought about the life growing inside me. The reality of my situation pressed down on me like a heavy weight, making it hard to breathe.

Madelyn was shocked. "Alisha, how could you do that? How will you get it all back?"

My voice was filled with frustration and despair. "I don’t know, Maddie. I just... I need him to come back. I love him deeply, and I can’t do this alone."

Madelyn's voice softened. "Alisha, we don’t need to talk about this over the phone. I’m coming to your place right now."

I was surprised. "Are you in Los Angeles?"

"Yes," Madelyn replied. "I have a birthday event to attend for a client’s child, but you’re more important. I’ll be there soon."

I felt a glimmer of hope. "Thank you, Maddie. I really need you right now."

As I waited for Madelyn to arrive, my mind drifted back to the day we met. It had been three years ago at a resort, a day filled with chaos and unexpected friendship. I had gotten lost while looking for the hall where my younger sister, Paris, was getting married. In my frantic search, I stumbled into a room where Madelyn was entertaining children, thinking it was the wedding hall.

"Excuse me," I had said, frustrated. "This is supposed to be a wedding hall, not a children's party."

Madelyn, dressed as a fairy, had laughed. "I think you’re in the wrong place. This is a birthday party."

An argument had ensued, with me insisting I was in the right hall, and Madelyn trying to explain otherwise. It wasn’t until a worker intervened that the mix-up was revealed. We had laughed about it afterward, exchanging contact information as a way to apologize and slowly becoming good friends.

Later on, the sound of a knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts. I hurried to open it and immediately, Madelyn burst in, her dramatic flair in full swing.

"Alisha!" Madelyn stepped in, wasting no time. "I always knew Albert was one big jerk ever since I saw him. I can’t believe you’re still dealing with his nonsense and yet you are refusing to open your eyes. You need to move on and get your properties back. I’ll back you up, no matter what."

I shook my head. "I can’t move on, Maddie. I just need him to come back home. I love him. I’ve been trying to reach him, but his line is not going through."

Madelyn sighed, and rolled her eyes, her frustration palpable. "Have you tried calling Cassie, his sister?"

"I haven't," I admitted. "But I’ll visit her, to have a talk. Albert always listens to her."

Madelyn raised an eyebrow. "Be careful. Cassie has an attitude and is a jerk, just like her brother. It runs in their blood."

"I’ll keep my fingers crossed," I replied, attempting a weak smile.

Madelyn checked her watch. "I have to get to work. I’m performing for my client’s child’s birthday today." She began painting her face in clown makeup and put on her costume. "Let me call my partner and see if she’s already there."

Madelyn dialed her partner's number, but she answered with a groan, "I’m sick, Maddie. I can’t make it."

Annoyed, Madelyn hung up. "Great. Now I’m short a clown. Alisha, you have to come with me."

I shook my head. "I can’t, Maddie. I’m not in the mood."

Madelyn gave me a determined look. "You’re coming. Trust me, it’ll take your mind off things." She handed me a costume and painted my face.

Reluctantly, I agreed. We arrived at the location, a bright and cheerful backyard filled with children. For a moment, my worries faded as I played with the kids, my laughter blending with theirs. I felt a sense of relief, if only for a short while.

After our performance, the event’s host handed Madelyn their payment. Madelyn split the money and offered me my share.

"Keep it," I said, waving her off. "You did all the work."

Madelyn grinned. "You are a rich woman and the daughter of a wealthy man, so I don’t blame you. Anyway, I’ll let this one slide.” She counted the money and folded it into her pocket.

As we packed up, my thoughts returned to the pressing matter at hand. "We need to go see Cassie," I suggested.

Madelyn nodded. "Alright, let’s go."

When we arrived at Cassie’s house, I looked at Madelyn with concern. "How am I going to wipe this makeup off my face?"

Madelyn shrugged. "I don’t have any wipes. Besides, your discussion with Cassie will be quick. There’s no need."

"But what if Cassie doesn’t recognize me?" I asked, my anxiety creeping back.

"Just tell her who you are," Madelyn replied, unfazed. "No big deal."

I took a deep breath and told Madelyn to wait outside the gate. "I can handle this."

I knocked on the door several times, but there was no answer. Madelyn, watching from the gate, began to worry. I assured her everything was going to be alright and decided to walk around to the backyard.

As I approached, I saw a gathering of family and children playing. My heart pounded as I spotted Cassie talking to a child. I smiled to myself, relieved I had finally found her. But just as I was about to approach Cassie, I saw Albert appear. He went to Cassie, kissing her on the lips and teasing her with kisses. My heart sank, my eyes wide with shock and confusion.

I stood stunned, hearing Albert tell the child to go play with his siblings because he wanted to spend time with "mummy."

I stopped in my tracks, observing from a distance, my heart breaking, embarrassment flooding my cheeks. Tears welled in my eyes as I took in the scene. Unable to hold back my emotions, I ran forward, yelling, "Cassie! How could you do this?"

The backyard fell silent as I charged at Cassie, pulling her by the hair and causing a commotion. Madelyn, who was still waiting in front of the house, heard the noise and ran to see what was happening. True to her dramatic nature, she had no chill and joined me, ready to back me up.

"What in the world is going on, Albert?" one guest exclaimed, their eyes wide with shock.

Another guest, holding a plate of food, looked on in confusion. "Is this some kind of performance?"

Madelyn, now beside me, shouted, "You snake, Cassie! How could you betray my friend like this?" She threw herself into the fray, holding Cassie by the throat and making the situation even more chaotic.

Cassie, trying to fend off me and Madelyn, shouted back, "What are you two doing? This is a private family gathering!"

One of the children, wide-eyed and clutching a balloon, asked, "Mommy, are those clowns part of the party?"

“No baby, Mommy needs help. The clowns are going to kill Mommy,” Cassie cried.

But with the fight clearly going on, another guest, trying to shield their drink from the chaos, muttered, "This is better than reality TV."

Madelyn, not caring she was in her clown makeup, continued to wrestle with Cassie and throw punches at her. "You think you can just steal my friend's life and get away with it? Think again, you ungrateful bitch!"

Albert tried to intervene, as Cassie was screaming, but Madelyn pushed him away. "Stay out of this, Albert! You’re part of the problem!" She used her knee to hit his groin, and he screamed, dropping to the floor with his mouth wide open like a fish out of water.

“Albert, you stupid fool! I need help here!” Cassie managed to scream, struggling from the grip of the “two clowns”.