CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER ONE

15th May 2021

MILA'S POV

I stood in front of the chapel in which MacCarter was about to be wed. It had been 5 long and hard years, but I was back to recover all that I lost or rather, what was stolen from me. 

I was no longer that weak 18 year old girl, fresh out of high school, without a Mom or a healthy father. I turned out to be strong and bold. I had to be because life had given me a lot more reasons to be.

**********

8th August 2016

And for the uptenth time that morning, I sighed in frustration. Of all things, why this? I had always been the obedient child and trophy daughter, never making decisions of my own and always abiding by the rules set for me, as the "heir" of the Monteiro Empire. 

If Dad was well, he wouldn't let Claudia treat me as badly as she does. She finally did most unimaginable. It was the last straw that broke the camel's back. How could she plan my marriage to that man? A total stranger.

"Camilla open this door now!!!" She was here already, I sighed and cursed lightly. Honestly, I didn't have any option concerning opening the door. I locked myself in my room to recollect my thoughts and look for a way out of this mess I found myself. It was impossible to do that now. I clumsily came down my bed and walked to the door.

"Camilla Eloise Monteiro" whenever she called my full name, she was dead serious.

"Yes Mom" I replied, slowly feeling fear increase in my mind. She snorted, and I knew it was a reaction to the title I referred to her as. 'Mom'.

"I'm going to be as brief and precise as can be. You are going to marry MacCarter and that is final. You would be having lunch with him tom...." I was frustrated right now, and what she was busy saying wasn't helping my nerves at all.

"Mom I don't need this right now..." She interjected this time.

"Shut up that vile mouth of yours and let me finish" She ordered, her voice sounding firm. "Now you will marry MacCarter and that's end of discussion"

"I won't marry him. I don't deserve this kind of treatment!!"

"Of course you don't deserve it! You ungrateful little wench. I ask just one thing from you nicely, and you do what? You fumble as expected" Now I saw the real Claudia slowly emerging. She was never this civil when talking to me, it was either a slap on the face, or rain of insults upon me and my late mom.

"Mom I just didn't think it was fair to..." And that was it! This time she caught me off with a resounding slap. I could feel hot blood rushing to the left side of my face, and then the hot tears that rolled down my cheek didn't make the pain I was feeling any better.

The lump in my throat gradually grew huge until I couldn't make out a word from my mouth. I felt pain in every part of my head. This wasn't going to be the first time she'd hit me, but this one hit differently because at this point I was drained and all I felt like was abused and shattered. Yes shattered!

If there was anything I dreamt of having a say about, that was the choice of a life partner. I lived most part of my life in fear and being scorned. I was hoping to live the remaining part of my life with someone who'd treat me and make me feel like I mattered. Someone who would love me, even if it was just a little.

"Firstly, don't address me in that title. Go to your dead mother's grave and find her. Secondly, it would interest you to know that I finally got that stubborn father of yours to sign over all his shares in his company to me. Yes!!" She smiled evilly.

"What did you do to my Dad?!!" He wouldn't have done this with his senses intact.

"Nothing much dear little one. I was left with no other choice" She said in a tone so calm, that would make you think she was innocent and filled with goodness. Contrary was the real case. "It took a whole lot of time trying to convince your Dad, but I was successful at the end." 

"Get out!!!" I screamed without the fear of being hit or worse beaten. I was filled with so much grief. She laughed and walked towards the door. When she got to the door, she said the last thing which rendered me helpless.

"I will leave sweetie, but just have in mind that you practically have nothing if you refuse to marry MacCarter. You are left with nothing to your name. MacCarter is your inheritance. We both know your father doesn't have much time to live any longer. The choice is yours my dear."

"You can't take away my birthright from me!! You took my whole life away already. You are so heartless!" I screamed as I broke down on the floor. I heard the door close, indicating she had left. 

********

I walked into the 'Chapel of Restoration' as was written boldly in the entrance. It explained my life's purpose at the moment. To recover and have all that belongs to me restored.

I could feel my long black gown sweep the floor as I walked in, holding my priceless jewel by my right. It was a good thing the wedding hadn't gotten to the 'I do' part. I didn't want to be cliche at all.

"For richer, for poorer" I heard the officiating priest say, to which MacCarter repeated after him.

"For richer, for poorer" Smiling at his bride. Wow, so the stories were true? Carter fell in love with Claudia's Niece, Melanie. What was she, a rebound? This is where I'll come in tho.

"Well, mine would definitely be 'for richer, for richer'. The world revolves around money" Everyone turned to identify the source of the voice, and there was me.

Carter looked at me as if trying to recognize me, and boom! his squinted eyes dilated, and I knew that recognition hit him hard.

"Camilla?" He asked, clearly sure, but probably expecting me to deny.

"Nice to see you're doing well Carter" His face lost all colour. It was enough confirmation he clearly dreaded. He's face slowly contorted in 

"How.... Where.....What are you doing here?" He queried. At that point the whole congregation lost coordination, and there was a big noise in the wedding hall. I looked at the 'to be bride' who was looking as scared as possible.

"Who is she?" She asked Carter who was looking at me until something or rather, Someone else caught his attention. The sweetest little kid I was holding by my right.

He seemed lost for a while, trying to match a few puzzles together. There was not a single difference between Father and Son. His son was an exact replica of him.

"Papa?" Ethan asked all of a sudden, which even caught me off guard. And the chaos in the hall increased.

"No!" Melanie Voiced out in disagreement. And then I saw the woman who made my life a living hell. Stepmom Claudia. She slowly made her way to the place we all stood. She looked at me for a while, but wasn't able to say a word. Her expression of shock and fear. Fear? The time to be scared hadn't even come yet.

"Ca..ca..Camilla" she stuttered in disbelief, to which I smiled. I was back and It was time for her retribution. She was going to be paid back in her own coin. Soon.

"You know her, Aunt?" Melanie queried as beads of sweat were clearly breaking off on her skin.

I turned to Carter who was still looking at Ethan, and Ethan kept his eyes fixed on Carter too. Then Ethan put his tiny hands into Carter's and called him again .

"Papa?"

Carter looked back at me immediately. His eyes requesting for an explanation.

"Our son is so brilliant, don't you agree? They wouldn't be any need for an official introduction then. The striking resemblance is more than enough explanation" I said and then I heard Melanie sniffing, and the next thing she did was to pick up her heavy gown and run out of the hall, with Claudia running after her and calling her name.

'Good' I thought. I'm back and they aren't even ready for me yet.