Chapter 67- ALL A GAME
'You know what? That's a good idea but you know what else a really good idea?" Aurora asked and Rhea's smile disappeared. Aurora did nothing to agree to her earlier demand with Leonardo coming over to help her unpack a boxes.
Try your best not to show Aurora what you are truly feeling and smile brighter. Rhea thought to herself, encouraging herself to keep calm and keeping in line with the chameleon act.
'So what other idea do you have for me?" Rhea asked, trying her best to keep the sarcasm in her tone hidden.
'Well friend of my husband is visiting us and he would more than likely be happy to help you unpack all your heavy things" Aurora offered, knowing well that her answer would set Rhea boiling on the inside. She wanted no one else, no one else other than Leonardo to be at her house.
'But—"
"No need to worry about anything, he's actually a great guy" Aurora assured Rhea. But it seemed as though the more she spoke, the more she ruined Rhea's master plan every time she open the mouth speak
'But—" Rhea tried to argue but Aurora stopped her right in her tracks once more.
'No need to worry, my husband's friend is a very good guy and you might even like him" Aurora kept talking away, unknowing that deep down her words were hurting Rhea.
But" Rhea had tried to come in and speak again only to be stopped by Aurora.
'You know what? I have to leave now. I have a lot of things to plan but I'll send my husband's friend over to your house this afternoon, is that ok Rhea?" Aurora asked her.
Angry and speechless Rhea nodded her head in agreement and smiled. Aurora said her last goodbye and walked past Rhea who could not strand that Aurora was happier than she was. Even worse, was that Rhea could see that Aurora was living the life with a man that should have had for her own.
*Flashback ends*
Rhea opened her eyes as she realized that she had visualized the entire events of what happened earlier in the day. She fell to her knees and of millions of pieces of shattered glass pierced her but not caring that she was hurting herself, Rhea began crying.
She did not care that she was bleeding profusely on the floor because all she could think about was the smart look on Aurora's face and Rhea wanted nothing but to slap it off.
Rhea had spent the entire day with the shopkeepers and the new neighbors, trying to get information on what plans Leonardo and Aurora had planned. To her displeasure, the shopkeeper had told her that Leonardo and Aurora would be renewing their vows.
Rhea had missed out on the chance to ruin their wedding the last time but now, both Aurora and Leonardo were attempting to marry for the second time.
For the longest time, Rhea had realized that their marriage was nothing other than an arranged marriage but for them to willingly marry one another once again, was what sent of shooting pain inside her chest.
'You know, sitting on the floor won't do you any good" Without even turning her head, even Rhea knew whom it was that had showed up inside her house.
Choosing not to get up from the floor, she wanted to feel the pain and she wanted the pain to dig deep in her bone.
'What is it that you want?" Rhea said tiredly and unable to shout as she had done all the shouting earlier in the day. She hated Aurora and every time she saw her, there was only murder in her eyes. Rheas partner reveal themselves after coming from the hallway. Rhea lifted her head up to look at her partner in crime with, who had a smirk look on their face.
'I guess it isn't easy separating Leonardo from his wife. Isn't that what I've been telling you all along?" Her partner-in-crime asked. Still on the floor, on her knees Rhea looked up at her partner in crime, trying to study the individual and understanding what their full plan was.
'For the longest time all you have been telling me is that you want to end their relationship but you never once told me what you would get out of it?" Rhea questioned partner in crime.
Her partner in crime swung their head back and began laughing aloud which simply irritated Rhea a little more.
'This is not funny!" Rhea yelled and slammed her hands onto the tiled floors. But her actions did not scare her partner.
'Rhea, all you have to focus on is how to separate Avena and Leonardo, you do not need to worry about why I want the two separated from one another" Her partner's words came out more like a warning rather than the usual demand.
'I might not be the sharpest knife in the draw but I do know that people do not do things without reasons. I think it is best that you tell me what it is that you want, what it is that you would benefit by spitting these two lovebirds?" Rhea questioned her accomplice, for the longest time she knew that something had not made sense and she wanted answers and she wanted them fast.
'Rhea, I am not you. You think so small, unlike you who want a piece of the cake, I want the entire recipe"
'What do you mean by that?" Rhea asked, slowly standing up from the floor seeing that her hands and knees were covered in blood but not worrying as she wanted nothing but to get the answer that she still rightfully deserved.
'There are some things better not known"
'Then tell me why you want to end their relationship, because at the end of the day I get Leonardo and what do you get?"
'Well my dear, I will get Avena"
'Why would anyone want her?" Rhea asked.
'My dear Rhea, I believe it's between Avena and myself.
'I'm starting to mistrust you" Rhea told her partner.
'Why would you say such a thing, am I not helping you?" Raising an eyebrow while looking at Rhea.
'I do not deny that you are helping me, but what I do know is that strangers don't just help strangers end relationships unless there is a win for them as well. I believe they say, if it's too good to be true then it probably is"
'You act as though you know me well, do you not trust me, Rhea?"
'To be honest, I do not know you. I do not know what your true intentions are in this. I know it is far more than just helping me" Rhea told her partner, studying their facial features to find any contradiction in both the facial expression and words.
'What I have to gain in this has nothing to do with you. You are to do what you're supposed to do and it will be worth it in the end"
'Worth it for who exactly, because I don't think that I'll be winning at the end" Rhea allowed her thoughts to slip through her mouth.
'We are working together, you need to start trusting me" Her partner in crime informed her, looking down at Rhea as though she was not an equal.
'How can you work together and trust one another when you do not tell me the truth, because it seems as though you have a bigger plan than just getting revenge on Avena. You seem to hate her more than I do and I just can't put my finger on it"
'Well she is a betrayer and she is betraying Leonardo. I am not going to sit around and watch her take advantage of such a good man"
'But how can I trust you when all our plans are not going well, nothing has gone right since we started scheming against them. In fact, all the scheming against them has done nothing but bring them closer and now, they are getting married again"
'Oh please! You be quiet, I have a plan in store and it will definitely ensure that her secret is revealed and the two of them never get back together. I will stop this wedding whether it is the last thing I do, that is a promise""
'What secret is she hiding?"
'What are you talking about?"
'Oh please don't play dumb with me, you've been speaking about this secret that you know about Avena and I don't know what it is. Since you trust me so much, why don't you tell me? I mean are we not in this together?"
'Of course we are, but some things are better off that some people know and some people do not"
'I have to go, I have big plans for tomorrow. Plans that might just make-or-break Leonardo and Avena's relationship. Anyway, I have to go to see you when I see you"
'What if I want to contact you, what do I do then?"
'The same thing that you've always done Rhea, you wait for me and I'll contact you when I need you" Her partner in crime dismissed her with mare words, sending rage running through Rhea.
'The way you look at me and talk to me, makes me feel as though I am dispensable"
'Rhea my dear, if you truly feel like that then the shoe really does fit"
Rhea watched s her partner in crime walked out of her house, using the back door. The last thing they wanted was to be spotted by the neighbors. Besides their neighbors there was an even greater threat and that was Leonardo and Aurora who might have been home by now.
**
Leonardo waited in his father's office and looked at the interior roamed the office, hating everything his family stood for. Growing up people had often envied his life but in reality, it was them who were living glamorously were the ones in an actual prison. Leonardo thought to himself how lucky he was to marry a woman who had given him the strength to escape from his past.
Even though Leonardo knew what he was doing was for the goodness of his newfound family and happiness, he still felt guilty knowing what he did was going to stay with him for the rest of his life.
He felt guilty that he had lied to Aurora and had driven all the way to his parents' house to finally put everything to rest. The doors swung open and Leonardo turned around, he saw both his mother and father at the entrance of the door, not smiling once at him. Leonardo had expected his father's to be cold and harsh but not his mother.
His mother who had always been a loving figure had turned into someone that he could not recognize. His mother worked in ahead of his father as though she was some sort of dictator. She did not smile at him, rather she looked Leonardo from head to toe .Signora Carina was dressed as though she was readying herself for business meeting and not to see her son.
Leonardo's heart broke into a million pieces as he realized that his entire life had been a lie, it was all just a game and money was there to be won.