"Nick! Nick!" She screamed. She didn't know that slimy thing was. Whatever it was, she wanted to get out of there. She banged the door hardly. She was cursing herself as to why she gave her phone to Nick.

Then she stopped calling his name. "Somebody help!! Help!" She looked around for some clue or some lose end but the room was eerily dark.

During this broad day light, there wasn't a single ray entering the room. 'There had to be a window or something.' She thought but didn't really have the guts to move around in a room where she had insects moving all over her body.

When something passed over her feet she screamed again.
'Argh!'

Here on the other hand, each time Nick heard her scream, he followed her voice and got closer to her room. The mansion where he grew up in suddenly looked like a maze to him. Her voice echoed from everywhere. "Evelyn? Evelyn, is that you?" He was dreading the answer.

She who stepped forward to find a window or some light source stopped in her tracks.
"Nick? Nick!"

"Eve.... where...-"

She didn't even let him complete. "NICK! Oh, thank god. Open this door..."

"Door? Evelyn dear... where are you?" It was Nick's father.

"I don't know... I'm in this dark room. There's no light and I can't find a switch or even a window."

"Wait...." she heard his footsteps getting louder and louder, closer and closer. And then there was a knock. "Eve?"

"Nick...." she breathed out a sigh of relief. But immediately screamed when something moved on her feet again. Nick almost broke the latch and threw open the door.

Evelyn's POV

The door suddenly opened as light burst into the room. Once my eyes got adjusted to the light and I saw him, I threw myself at him. "Oh thank god, you came! When I came in here, I didn't think that the room was this dark! And that thing-!" I stopped once I felt it near my leg again. And with light I was clearly able to see what that was.

"Aaaaargh.... Rat! It's a fvcking rat! Move move.... eeee-!" I ran out of the room pushing Nick from my way as he came out chucking at me. I quickly pulled the door behind me hoping the rats won't come out.

"What were you doing in there?" He asked and my face contorted as I rethought what had happened.

"Your mom!" I exclaimed. Just thinking of her gives me a headache. "She locked me in... I thought she wanted to talk to me, so I went along with her. Once I entered this room, she locked it!" His hands folded into fists as he controlled his breathing.

His dad put a hand on his shoulder trying to calm him down, "I'll talk to her." He said.

"Why would she lock her in this room?" He asked his dad.

"What? What do you mean?" I asked from behind him.

"Nothing..." He said pulling me along with him as he led me to a hall and made me sit on a chair while I enjoyed watching him walk in circles with his hands on his hip with his suit pushed back. The first three buttons of his shirt... unbuttoned, and his tie... gone. I felt really lucky at the moment for having such a hot husband.

The familiar sound of heels clicking on the floor brought me back from my thoughts, my back straightened. "Why would you lock my wife in that room?" Nick charged at her even before she entered the hall.

"Why else do you think?" Looking at her now, I felt a serious urge to slap her. And I understand why people once called mother-laws as monster-in law.

"You could have killed our grandchild if anything had gone wrong." Uncle Nathaniel held her hand trying make her see sense. Grandchildren actually...

She pulled her hand out of his and came to stand in front of me, I lifted my head to look at her. "Grandchild? Grandchild! Is that why you both are ready to accept her?!" She screamed pointing at me. "My my... you must be fast. To have trapped my son into this unwanted marriage." She said, suddenly making me remember the time when Nick rejected my child thinking it was a lie. The time he was ready to leave me. And the reason he came back was only cause he got to know I was actually with child.... well that's what I still think is the reason.

"What is wrong with you mother!? It was our misunderstanding to think that Evelyn or her real family had anything to do with my sister's murder! We should actually be questioning your friendship with Elena whose family have suddenly disappeared..." his voice boomed.

"You... you think... it could be them?" Now she sat down next me, and I quickly got up in fear that she'd do something to me again. And I can't even hurt her back cause unfortunately she's my mother in law.

"Could be..." he replied back. "Now if you'll excuse me, I think I'll take my leave. And-" he stopped and looked at her. He wasn't angry at her... he was just frustrated to have lost his mother somewhere in his journey. "Please don't come anywhere near my wife or my children if you plan to hurt any of them again." The nerve on his jaw popped, he held my hand and pulled me along with him.

"Could you- could you walk slowly? I can't walk that fast in my heels." I said pointing at them.

He glared at my shoes and then narrowed his eyes at me. "Why do you wear them? If you slipped and fell... that could prove dangerous to the baby." Yeah yeah... "Do you want to have something? Before we leave... anything to drink? Except alcohol, of course."
Ugh! I remember! I know I'm not supposed to drink alcohol!

But I couldn't tell him that.... "Yea... a glass of water would be fine." He nodded and left to get it.

"Hey!" Isabella screamed into my ear, scaring me to death!

"Really?!" I said holding a hand over my chest making her laugh loudly, almost unladylike.

"Did I really scare you?" She asked and I nodded a 'yes' to her question. "Anyways, how are you? You okay? Dad told me mom was a little bit overdramatic?"

"A little bit?" I teased thinking back to how she locked me. Really? That was so... childish of her.

"Okay... she created a scene! I know... how are you dear?" She held my hand, a little bit over the top.

"Really? Dear?"

"Whaaaat? You're my soon to be sister in law. I should have a good relationship with you. You know... just so I can impress my to be husband."

"Ahuh! so... my soon to be sister in law... let me remind you this that you're already my sister in law..." I reminded her.

"Oh yeah!" she smiled sheepishly. "But really, was my mom that bad?"

"She locked me in a room, so, I don't know how bad you think that is?" I smiled at her indicating it was fine when her face contorted with disbelief and frustration.

"It's ok... her decision might be drastic, but I think I can understand why she did that. I mean it must have been so difficult for her to have lost-"

"Evelyn!" Nick screamed and by the sound of his voice I knew he was angry. Angry? For what reason? "Isabella... go join the party, I need to talk to my wife in private." He said and the happy face his sister held immediately vanished. Once she left, I glared back at him.

"Why do you treat her that way? Maybe she feels left out? She looked so happy when you came and now you sent her away." I said.

But the answer I got was nowhere related to what I said. "Don't ever mention my twin sister to my sister. To Isabella."

"Why not?" I suspiciously.

"She doesn't know."

"What?! Are you being funny? You tell me she was eleven years old when you all lost Niyah. I'm sure she was old enough to remember that." Does he think I'm some kind of fool to believe that?

Handing me the glass of water he ordered, "drink." I did as he said though I still had my doubts. Once I was done, he pulled the glass out of my hand and placed it on a table. Holding my hand, he led me to the back of the house where Oliver and Mark were already waiting inside the car.

***

"She really doesn't know?" I asked him finally. I waited for him to talk on that topic but after a sat in the car, he didn't open his mouth again. So, I had to ask.

He gave me a look then pressed the privacy screen button on his side.
"All you have to know is that you will not mention her to Isabella." He glared at me. Looking at his face, I understood that this is what you call anger. He was frustrated at his mother, patient with his father, caring for his sister. But anger? No... anger is always reserved for me.

"Why not?!" And am I any less? I like riling him up with my curiosity.

"Why not?"

"Why not?"

***

"Why not?" And just like that I kept repeating my question to him until we reached home.

He went straight up to our room and again I asked the same question. "Why noooot?!"

"BECAUSE SHE DOESN'T KNOW!" He screamed, breathing heavily he held his forehead. "She doesn't remember..."

"What are you talking about?"

He knew that he had to answer me. I wouldn't let him go without an answer. So he continued "The day Isabella got to know about Niyah's death.. she went up to Mother and asked her where her sister was. But Mum.... she didn't have an answer to that question. She herself hadn't yet accepted her daughters' death. Just like you, she kept nagging her with her questions." And right there I think I knew what was to come. "Mother... kind of pushed her and she happened to be on the edge of the stairs, and she hit her head on the railing."

"So, she remembers everyone and everything except her... How is that possible?"

"We don't know... we once showed her a picture of Niyah after that... she couldn't recognise her. She knows her face... she knew that she was very close to the family and we lost her. But she doesn't remember who she was to her. She doesn't remember that she was her sister." He finished squeezing his eyes shut. "Every time anyone mentioned of her memories with Niyah, she's come down with a severe headache, so severe that it'd either put her to sleep or leave her unconscious and when she woke up, she remembered nothing. Anything related to Niyah did that to her. After a while, she got better, no headaches, the fainting spells stopped but she couldn't remember Niyah. At least she was fine, so we stopped asking her about Niyah and she never spoke about her."

It was strange that she couldn't remember only one person in her life. Everyone except her. Maybe it's possible. Even I remember only my Uncle... not my parents, not my brother, only him. But I didn't have amnesia, that's the only memory I have, or I can actually remember from my childhood. "So I guess from then on yours and your parent's relationship started deteriorating?"

"It did." He turned to look me with emotionless eyes. "And dare you even mention the name to Isabella!" When I didn't reply he held my hand tightly. "Did you understand?!" Only when I nodded did he leave my hand. Not even when I cried out of pain. He released me after he heard a 'yes' from me.

"But isn't it better if she knows?" Like I said earlier, I don't know why I keep riling him up. But this wasn't riling, this was being rational.

"Listen Evelyn, you just have to eat, sleep and take care of the baby to come. Other than that, don't interfere in any of my business here. In fact, stay out of my business." Having said that, he left.

What did he mean by eat, sleep take care of the baby? Stay out of his business, my foot!

***

Once I changed, I went down to the kitchen to have something because I didn't have the chance to eat something. "Hey!"

"Rand! When will you learn to greet me properly rather than snooping behind me?! Gosh! Anyways.... we know who you are now. So, stop spying! Now.... didn't you say you were a great cook?" He nodded. "Then feed me something!" Duh!

"What would you like to have then Madame?" He asked.

I thought for a few second and when I didn't come up with anything I replied, "how would I know?"

With a chuckle, he answered, "like what do you want? If you can't name a dish, then... name the taste your tongue wants."

"Taste? I don't know... but I want to have a huge meal. Something really spicy... and I feel like having a dessert today, something that's not too sweet, I want it to be a bit tangy?"

"Okay... I know what I should make." When I raised my eyebrows at him asking 'what', he replied excitedly. "A tomato cake?"

"A tomato cake? It exists?"

"Of course! I'm not sure if it'll taste tangy... but it's sweet with a hint of sourness." I was already drooling as I heard him describing the dish. "Give me an hour."

"An hour?" I interrupted. "What do I do till then? I'm really hungry." I said sadly.

"You could munch on these snacks" he said passing me a bowl filled with junk as he switched on the TV in the kitchen. "So, you enjoy a movie, in the meanwhile, I'll prepare something really good." He said and turned around happily.

Didn't know people loved cooking to this extent. I looked at the wine bottle with longing which didn't go unnoticed by Rand. "Would you like to have some?"

"I can't..."

"Actually.... a small glass won't do you bad... in fact, it's actually recommended in our tradition. My sister had it when she was pregnant with my nephew-"

"Nick!" What is she doing here!

"Nic-"

"Yes." I replied once I entered the living room with her unwanted self. I wonder why Nick only cut her hair. I wish I had a knife and I'd cut her into pieces before throwing them away to different places. Melanie!

"Oh. If you failed to hear me, I called Nick. I was actually looking for your husband." Aaaah... husband. Right.

"He's busy at the moment. You can tell me what you're here for. I can take your message to him."

"Nick's never too busy when I'm here." She whined.

"Yeah... I can see that by looking at your hair." I snickered as I remembered why Nick cut her hair.

Sending a glare at me she headed towards the stairs leading to my room. "He's not there." I said folding my arms over my chest.

"Would you like me to get her out of this place." Rand whispered next to me.

"Please." That's all he needed to hear before he pulled her along with one hand and threw her outside the door, slamming the door on her face.

"For your information, it was your husband who invited me here!" I heard her muffled voice from outside the door.

My husband? "Chill!" Rand stopped me from thinking. "She's saying all that purposely. Just to rile you up."

I followed him to the kitchen feeling numb all over. "Please get me my glass of wine." I mumbled.

I sat on the kitchen table with my legs folded and had my drink all the while thinking if it was really Nick who called her. Invited her. To my house! No matter how much I thought, no matter how much I tried to work on this... I always felt that we both were kind of incomplete. Everything's too sudden in our life. I suddenly met him. Suddenly wanted a Revenge after years, then marriage, now this baby. Then he suddenly loved me. Great! And with this behaviour of his, he says he's not tolerating me just because of the baby. Then why else?

"Did you send away Melanie?" Nick stood behind me, breathing heavily like he ran a mile for her.

"So, you did invite her." I could see Rand slip away from the door on the other side.

He narrowed his on to the glass in my hand. "Is that wine you're drinking? Are you fvcking crazy?"

"Language! And don't change the topic. You invited her?"
He opened his mouth to give me an explanation. "-Yes or no?"

"Yes, I did. But it was because I wanted to know why she's with your brother-"

"Don't tell me! She slept with my husband and my brother." I squeezed my eyes hitting my head with my palm as he slowly snatched the glass from my hand receiving a glare from me.
"I have to tell Isabella." I kept mumbling to myself. She's with my brother too?

"What?! I told you earlier you will not tell Isabella anything about it! I don't want her going into another trauma because of you now." He screamed at me.

Pushing him away from me, I walked to our room. He slowly followed me being careful as to what I'm doing. Of course, he's scared if I'll call his sister or not.

Once inside my room I locked the stairs door looking at his face which tensed as he saw me closing the door. I opened my closet to get my sweater out, instead I found a card I made for him wishing him 'Happy Father's Day' since my baby's still in there.

"Will you please open the door?!" He banged the door.

Without a reply, I went and crashed on the bed holding the card, seeing if it was good enough. What could I gift him? There's not much I get from my restaurant, now that it's half burnt. And there's nothing that this man cannot afford. I feel he does everything out of responsibility, not love. I just tried to do my part. But I guess nothing's enough.

Why did he have to call Melanie? He knows how I cannot trust him. He might have apologised for things that has happened earlier in our relationship. And I have forgiven him, yet I cannot forget them, given his playboy image. And I was super hungry, like a fool I came upstairs without any food.

***

"Hi." his voice made Evelyn sit up straight and alert from her long sleep.

"How did you get inside the room?" She asked.

"Baby, you forget that I have a key to every door in this house. I was just letting you take your time."

"Why was Melanie here?" I waited for his answer. Patiently. Because my next action will be based on his answer. Does he think this is an open relationship. Was I not clear with my intentions? And to top it off, this baby! Everything's happening in a wrong way at the wrong time. There's love, then marriage, the babe. In our case, it's marriage, then baby and then love, a love that I have no trust in. A love that I feel is not for me but for the baby or for any other reason but not me.

"Rand told me you were hungry. Come let's have something. Feed the baby. We'll talk later." He tried to be cheerful, which really wasn't working though.

"I'm not really hungry. I'll have some later."

"Are you sure?" He asked with eyebrows raised.

"Yaa... I don't think I can force anything down." I said turning away from him.

"Okaay... But have something...." his voice trailed off. But he still sat right next to me on the bed.

His behaviour is soo confusing, sometimes he's so sweet and he says he loves me and what not but then again, his behaviour changes drastically, he's so curt and rude. I understand that it's his behaviour, his way of dealing with anger but at the same time it makes me feel insecure as though he is like this because there's something lacking in me. I become a completely new person with him, that insecure self that I'm not, my confidence goes down the drain.

I feel like I'm locked in this relationship. Nowhere to go. So, suffocating. Won't our problems ever get solved. Won't he ever love me? Won't I ever learn to trust him.