CHAPTER 20

I lay on the bed with my pillow still over my ears. Liam's mum was screaming and sobbing. It was just like the day I was forced to marry Liam. When my parents noticed Lisa had gone missing. But this time it was different. Mrs. Smith had gone into Anna's room to get her dressed but she saw Anna's dead body.
The entire Smith family and staff had woken up due to her scream. Diana was already back from wherever. She stood in front of my bed staring down at me. She didn't say a word.
Did Anna's death affect her or was she putting on an act? I got up from the bed and rolled my hair up.
"If you've come to annoy me, please go back. I'm not ready for this drama today."
"It's all because of you." She shouted. "If you hadn't left the house, Anna would have been alive today. You killed her!"
"Everyone's saying the same thing. You tell me, If you were in my position, what would you do?"
"First, I don't know why you left the house but I do know that I wouldn't do what you did."
No. I shouldn't tell her who I saw the other day. Or should I? Yes, I should. Let me see how she would react. I speculated.
"Where did you go yesterday?" I asked.
"To see my aunt. Why?"
"I went to your house the other day and I saw my sister. Why didn't you tell me she was living with you?"
"Firstly, we ain't friends, and Lisa and I never discussed our matters. She is only my brother's girlfriend and I know she's nothing like you that's why I let her stay with me."
"We met on the road, didn't we?"
"Oh yes." She answered sharply. "You wanted my autograph so bad. Oh, did I tell you everything you wanted to hear or did I miss something out? I'm convinced you got all the answers you've been waiting for. Hannah," She sat on the bed. "I don't know where you got this idea that I'm not Diana but I hope you stop. I am not a bad person. My only crime is loving your husband." She got up and stepped out of the room.
She was wrong. Her only crime was not loving Liam. Her crime was not seeing anything wrong in what she was doing. She wasn't in love with him but obsessed.
If she was the same girl I met the other day, then my effort was a waste. Anna died for nothing. I wish I hadn't left the house that day. I groaned.
"Hey Rosie," I typed after I had turned on my laptop.
After a long time, she finally came online and replied. "Hannah, how's it going there? Just heard Mrs. Smith's daughter is dead. This must be hard on the family."
"Yes. Are you free?" I typed. I needed to hear her side of the story. Lisa and Anna had already notified me of Rosie. Was it money that made her do this?
"What are you thinking about?" Diana snapped.
"Jeez, girl. Don't you know how to knock? You almost gave me a heart attack." I screamed with my hand still on my chest.
"I left my purse here. Where is it?"
"How am I to have that information? You walked into a married woman's room without respect. What if my husband was here and naked?"
"I would have loved that." I shot her a dead stare. She didn't seem bothered by my gaze as she searched through my wardrobe for her purse.
When she didn't find it, she looked through Liam's reading table. I sat on the bed and watched her turn my room upside down just for a purse.
"Finally!" She shouted excitedly.
"Jeez, girl, you wanna destroy my tender heart?"
"Tender? The one who took her sister's place at the altar, calls her heart tender. If that's what it's like to have a tender heart, I don't want it."
"I won't even try explaining to you again. You're crazy."
"But not heartless."
I turned on the mp3 in my room, completely ignoring her, I tied my hair up, took off my nightgown, and stepped into the bathroom. "By the way, why do you care so much about me and my sister?" I yelled from the bathroom.
"Humanity."
"Ha!" I gave out a loud laugh and then splashed water on my face.
"I know you don't believe it, but I'm a human too. I care a lot about people, well, except you. You irritate me in different ways."
"Okay. Let's say I believe you. What about Liam? Why are you tryna hurt him by keeping me away from him?"
"Liam doesn't love you. He wants you gone. I'm only tryna help him fulfill his wish."
Was she serious? How could she help a husband get rid of his wife? As far as I know, Liam never asked for her help.
I grabbed my sponge and soap and washed thoroughly.
"Let's be friends." My soap fell into the bathtub. I fished around for it while pondering on what Diana just said.
Friends? What was she up to this time? Why would she want to befriend me all of a sudden? After everything she's done to me, did she think I'll wanna be friends with her?
"I was just thinking," she continued. "I'm fed up with all these fights. You are my ex-boyfriend's wife. Obviously, no one wants to be the second wife of any man. I just want to move on."
"Where's this coming from?" I stared at her incredulously. "A while back, you said, you would be happy to see my husband naked."
"I was only kidding. Why would I want to see your husband naked? She asked. I could hear the honesty in her voice. I combed my hair slowly.
"You want me to believe you've changed? Just like that."
"Hannah, I'm um...what's it called again?"
"Sorry?"
"Yeah, that word. I'm sorry for everything."
After I wore my long black gown, I opened the bathroom door and stepped out.
"You've changed?"
"Yes."
"Okay. Then tell me why everyone keeps saying you returned two weeks ago, but you've been living with us for more than four months."
"Oh, that. You see, not everyone knew I came back a long time ago. My dad didn't even know."
"Liar. It's not like Australia is outside this door. If that's the case, then why did your mum say you were with her?" I asked.
"She probably thought, Rosy would tell my dad, that was why she lied on the call. Hannah, I'm done with the past, you should also forget everything and move on. Your goal now should be to make Liam fall in love with you." She walked out of the room again leaving me confused at her sudden change of attitude.
How could someone change in an instant? What happened to her all of a sudden? Did she get into an argument with Liam? I reasoned within myself as I stepped out of the room. When I passed by Anna's room, Mrs. Smith was in there crying her eyes out. I tiptoed downstairs to avoid any sort of question.
"Hannah," Mr. Smith called out from behind.
"Yes, sir," I answered with my head down. "I'm sorry, sir. I know Anna passed away because of me..."
"I'll be going to India in 2days, I want you to take good care of your husband and mother-in-law in my absence."
"Sure."
"Anna's burial will take place tomorrow. I don't want it to be big or anything."
"Sure, sir."
"Good." He walked out quietly without another word. Liam was just like his dad. They had a way of hiding their feelings even when they were hurt. He just lost a daughter and he was acting like everything was fine. Who goes on a business trip a day or two after losing someone?
"Everything will be fine." Nanny Mai assured me. She was carrying Lauren while Victoria sat in the cradle.
"How time flies." I kissed Lauren on the cheek. "She's grown so big. I wish Jasmine was around to see how cute her children are."
"You are Victoria and Lauren's mum now. Jasmine is no more."
"Nanny, how can I be a mum now? I need to get my husband's love first before....."
"Before what? How long do you intend on waiting?"
"If forever is an option then yes. Nanny," I held her hands after she dropped Lauren in the cradle. "If I give birth, would it be Liam and my child or will it just be my child? If he doesn't love me now, how would he love my child?"
"It's your life, so I can't implement my decisions on you. I just hope you ain't making a mistake." She flickered.
"Sure." Just as I was about to leave, she tapped me on my shoulder.
"Heading somewhere?"
"Well, I...Rosie, my former co-worker,"
"You want to meet her."
"Yeah."
"Just make sure you return home early. I don't want more drama."
"Love you, nanny." I rushed out of the house immediately.