37: FORGOTTEN MEMORIES

FORGOTTEN MEMORIES

Memories…. Memories…. Came flooding back to me. 1

Ah! It hadn't been all a dream! It was real! I was deceived, set-up, and fooled. I knew why Ace hated me that much.

I clutch my chest, it's beginning to tighten, stabbing pain is now attacking it. Thousands of needles seem to prick my heart.

My eyes fluttered close, the memories which I thought were only a dream…..they are real.

As my eyes slowly absorbed the pictured—now scattered in my lap—I began to have a clear recollection of everything.

It was Vince's birthday, he hasn't shown his true color yet. I was too damn naive to believe the kindness he showed.

"A drink?" Ace's younger brother came to me, eyes bright with laughter as he sat beside me on the sofa.

"No, thank you." I shook my head, smiled faintly, and did my best to distance from him as far as I could. 'I have low alcohol tolerance, I don't drink except when I am with Ace.' I should have added but sensitivity won in the end, I kept the seemingly rude remark to myself.

Vince smiles but his eyes didn't, right at the moment, I knew something was off. 

Where was Ace? I can't find him. He told me to wait in the living room but he failed to return sooner. My eyes scanned the door, it was late in the night, the party was over and the guests diminished to the gates but Ace hadn't come back yet.

"Water?" Vince offered. 

"Y-yes please." I finally agreed. A waiter passes by, he whispers something in his ear. I nervously fidgeted on my seat ignoring the rampage of my heart.

Soon the waiter returned, Vince handed me the glass. I reluctantly took the water and took a sip. Then I felt dizzy….. Too damn dizzy, when I stood up my posture was unsteady, my back landed on the sofa. 

"Here, let me help you." Vince lifts me, I don't have strength left in me, I lacked the force to push him away. I allowed myself to be carried.

What's happening to me? I felt so hot all over, I was consumed with imaginary fire. Carnal, erotic images run wild into my thoughts.

Then….. I was naked in bed, and so Vince, I lay on top of him, astride his thighs.

"Holy shit Phoenix! Vince!!!! I will kill you for this! I will kill you I swear!" Ace screamed furiously at the door that suddenly flung open.

I was forcefully hurled to the bed, my face slumped on the pillow. I heard kicks…. then punches...Someone was asking for help but the voices are slowly fading…. My eyes fluttered closed and I fell into slumber.

I woke up the next day unable to recall everything. I forgot I was drugged and so the incident last night as well.

Fast forward….

"Congratulations Mrs. Greyson, you're pregnant! It's a baby girl!"

The Doctor handed me the result that has clearly come up positive.

My trail of thoughts stopped halfway when my gaze landed among the clutter of pictures in my lap when I spotted an envelope.

DNA TEST. It states.

The envelope was already open, my fingers trembled as I hurriedly pulled the contents and held it open for me to read.

Based on the DNA analysis, Mr. Ace Carter Greyson is not the father of.... I stopped reading, shocked to see the faked result.

Unbelievable! The result filled me with dread and outrage. Argh! I tore the paper to the smallest piece possible.

Lies! Lies! Lies! 

"H-how could you fabricate such a lie! That's considered tampering! You lying son of a bitch!" I screamed, unable to get hold of my emotions. Nothing happened between Vince and me that night, Ace arrived in time to save me.

I threw the rest of the pictures aside. It was nothing but photoshopped polaroids showing I was having illicit affairs with different men. Of course, they are all fabricated truth!

'I swear I will destroy your life Phoenix!' Vince's threat reverberated inside my head like a broken record. I can't take it anymore, my fingers covered my ears. Stream of tears fell down my cheeks.

"It's time, Phoenix. Before you die."

Helplessly, I watched Angela lift the gun in

my direction. I closed my eyes, wrapped my arms protectively around my womb. 

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The events seemed too fast forward now. I lost track of everything. Amid the loud shattering of glass, I felt excruciating pain around my chest, there was blood…. So much blood.

Then I was falling down the fifth floor of the building. The feeling was like falling down the Ferris wheel, except it was ten times worse and dreadful.

I closed my eyes in resignation.. I now let fate decide if I deserve to live or not.

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