The moment I heard the request I knew it was a bad idea. Because first of all, it was very clear that she hated me, and secondly, I just couldn't stand another minute in this house! I shot a glare at Leon to make him refuse it but to my horror he accepted before I could do anything.

"Sure, why not!"

"Great. Jane go prepare two rooms please and make sure nothing lacks..." The scarily calm mom... No...no the witch said.

After lunch we went to sit on the veranda facing that marvelous garden. Leon and his mom were talking about work and I was bored to death.

I excused myself and decided to explore the house alone. I went upstairs following the spiral staircase and I met a corridor which had like a hundred rooms. I entered the first one and my breath caught.

It was a dark and grey room and each window, bed, curtain, wall and everything inside was either grey or black, making the room masculine. My legs kept walking forward towards a picture that hung on one of the walls. It was a picture of a young boy probably in his 7-8 years. He was smiling happily at the camera, not caring that his two front teeth were missing. He looked so familiar...

"So you decided to hide yourself in my room." Leon said, startling me. Naturally, I gripped the nearby chair to stop me from falling.

"Jeez! You startled me!" I scolded him.

"I'm sorry. What are you doing in my room?"

"I didn't know that it was your room. I just wanted to explore the house a little bit since we are going to spend the night here." I shot him a glare. "By the way, why did you allow it? We brought nothing."

"Some of my clothes and November's are here and you could use the spare sets of Liza."

"I don't think that's a good idea. You want your mom to officially chase me out of the house?"

"I'm sorry that she can't accept that I decided to remarry! I can't change her mind-"

"By the way, why did you decide to remarry at all? From what I see you should have stayed single to make your mom and daughter happy!" I grumble angrily at him, heart panging.

"Yes but what about my life? Don't I deserve to be happy?

I had just finished my business studies at Harvard university and after I went back home. My supplies were long gone so I went out to buy some groceries.

That was the first time that I met Liza, in a grocery store. She was carrying a ton of things on her shopping cart. Because of too many things she had bought, she couldn't see in front of her. That is when she collided with my cart and everything we had bought landed down.

I know you are thinking that this is a very cliché moment but wait till you hear the rest of the story. I was expecting maybe an apology from her but what came out was totally different.

"Thief... Somebody help me he is a thief!"

I was completely dumbstruck that I stood frozen on the spot. Two security guards caught me by the arms and shoved me outside. Before I knew it I was in jail. For what? No idea.

The next day she came to file her complaint about how I stole from her. They brought me in the interrogation room as she sat there in front of me.

"Why did you do it?"

"Because you stole from me!"

"I did not! It was you who came crushing my shopping cart and you accuse me of being a thief!"

"I know it was your strategy to steal from me again. I'm not a fool, I know you are that con artist that stole everything I had two days ago!"

"I'm sorry miss I think you are completely mistaken. I just got here and I haven't been around this place for two years."

"Oh my God! I'm sorry. I didn't..."

"It's okay. But please get me out of here."

"Right away...."

After I was released, I found her waiting for me outside.

"Can I treat you for lunch to compensate for what I made you endure?"

"I think that could work-I'm starving!"

The next time I invited her to my house for dinner and it became a routine that every weekend she would come at my place or at her place. It wasn't long before I knew I was in love with her. Two years later, we got married and had November. My life was complete. I had a successful business and a happy family. I couldn't ask for anything else.

But everything changed on that day. I saw her sprawled across the floor pale and lifeless. I never smiled again. I worked nonstop to stop me feeling the agony. When my daughter's relationship with me was at risk, I cared only for her and nobody else because after all, she was the fruit of the love me and Liza had for each other.

But now when I see Emily being treated badly by my mother and daughter, I feel bad, I want to protect her and I want the situation to change because for the first time in eight years after Liza was murdered, I was looking forward to the events of next day.

Especially since we had started our pranks.

And speaking of which it was my turn....

"Why are you smiling devilishly?" Emily asked me confused with a furrow

"I remembered something I had to do tonight is all..."

"And I think that thing is not good at all. Does this have to do with the.... Oh my God! Don't tell me you are planning revenge?" She looks like a deer caught in the headlights.

"Better be prepared," I warned her, and said nothing else.

At that I left her and went to do some preparing. I think this is a good opportunity to do it here. She has nowhere else to run to.

The thought caused me to smile like an idiot.

She would have nowhere to run to but my arms. 

*******************

Told you that the next one will be longer, so here you go.

Some people have been wondering why Leon changed his attitude towards his wife so suddenly. I think this chapter will solve your problems. And remember, the person he is living with also changed! So it can happen.

Was this chapter good?

If it sucks, forgive me but I had lost inspiration. Hope you understand 😔

Anyways let's see each other in the next chapter.

Who is excited for the next pranks? 😅

VOTE, COMMENT $ SHARE.

Much love 🧡

Marty.