"Do you really want to know?" His face crinkled frettingly. Orla bobbed her head in affirmation. She couldn't be more sure, she knew what she wanted.But why was he feeling indifferent? He didn't plan to ruin this moment for them, right? She rubbernecked him with cynical sentry."Are you worried about something?" She glimpsed how he shifted his gaze away from her, steering his eyes to the ceilings.Nothing riveting was up there to glance at. What was wrong with him again?"No, nothing." He feigned a small smile that dissolved as quickly as it formed."What's wrong with you, Callan? We were happy a few moments ago. What's with the gloomy expression?"Worry burned in her tone as she looked at her husband. She detested that he was still consenting to the culpability of cheating on her. She had forgiven him for crying out loud."I am good," came his curt response."Callan,""Hey," he smacked his lips to hers abruptly, dissuading her from asking more questions. "I am very good. I just mi
"Callan just had to be here before you agreed to my request, huh?"Sophia trained her gaze on Orla's stoic demeanor. It was conspicuous that she wouldn't answer her question."Sophia, can you tell me everything here? I don't want to go to that house."Orla sounded disturbed. Callan squeezed her hands, a reminder that he was there with her—he'd be with her through every phase of it all."I would love to, but Orla, I want everyone to be present." After an aching silence between them, she sighed and began again. "Have you decided on a day for us to go?""You should do that. You're the one who started the whole thing. So fix it up." Orla shot almost immediately.She was angry. Her glinting eyes that roamed around Sophia's tastefully furnished living room were evidence of her fury."Okay," Sophia absentmindedly connected her fingers to her chin as she thought of a perfect day to surprise their family with their unannounced visits.Callan sat there, staring at Sophia and back at his wife
Orla felt brand new.It felt like a new wave of confidence pierced her while she slept overnight.She could no longer feel the anxiety and unknown fears that always haunted her whenever she thought about her family.She was ready now, she wanted to face them now. And as Callan gave her words of encouragement before they left home that morning, she knew she couldn't back away from this anymore.She was ready.Her arm was clasped around Callan's arm, her eyes fixated on the colossal edifice that stood in front of her. Her father's mansion hadn't gotten any newer or older, it was the same. As if no changes had been made since she left."We are here," Callan gave her a small smile, compelling her to carry on.Orla returned the smile. She hoped that her fears wouldn't creep in as soon as she set eyes on her family.Even if it did, she planned to fight it off. She was no longer the weak Orla they used to know. She was stronger.She nodded, swallowing a lump that gobbled down her throat. He
Orla's heart Palpitated. She didn't know what Sophia wanted to say, but what if she had tricked her all the way here just to further broaden her wound? What if Sophia was pretending all along, and was against her?"Isla died, she drowned. That was the truth, but Orla didn't kill her…" Sophia caught the surprised stares they gave her and she nodded back."Orla didn't push Isla." She continued."Then who did?" Mila asked, impatience laced in her tone."No one did. She jumped on her own, she was too young to understand that she would die if she went deeper." Sophia answered, her eyes watering up."Crap! Bullshit!" Amelia yelled from where she was seated beside her father.Callan and Orla exchange a knowing look, her heart returning to its normal beating rate. She was pleased to know that she didn't push her sister. She had been made to believe that she did, all her life."How do you know this?" Arnold seemed interested in the story his daughter was starting. "Were you there with her? I
Sophia's eyes roved the living room until they finally settled on Orla. "Dad," her voice cracked. "Speak up, Sophia!" Arnold ordered, his tone brusque. "Mia did," she glimpsed the tremor that smacked everyone, and she wasn't too surprised. She anticipated that. "Mia was the only one with Isla that afternoon, and she was the one who told us to change the narrative." Arnold scoffed, "Nonsense," Orla soldered where she was seated. She knew Mia hated her so much, but she never thought that she would do something like that. "Sick! You're Insane, Sophia! What evidence do you have against me? How dare you accuse me of killing my sister?" Mia flared up, her eyes simmering with rage. She rushed towards Sophia ready to hit her, but Emma went after her, dissuading her. "I was there too. I am the evidence that we all need, Mia. I was there with Sophia that day, you cajoled us into lying about the whole thing, and we did because we wanted to obey you. Their other sisters remained in their s
When they settled in the car, Orla burst into intractable loud sobs. "How can anyone be so wicked, Callan? How can Mia be so wicked?"For a minute, Callan got drowned in the sea of thoughts. He wondered what would have happened if he had listened to his mother, and chose Mia that day they visited Arnold Sullivan's mansion. This day would never come up, Orla would never be vindicated, she would still live in distress, and he just knew he would never love Mia as much as he loved Orla.Relief washed through him for his choice. No one would have been better."How do you feel?" He asked her, taking her hands in his. A habit he was now used to and didn't want to ever stop."I don't know what and how to feel, Callan. I don't want to be a part of that family anymore." She shook her head, dejected. "They made me believe I was a murderer all along. How could they be so wicked to gaslight a young girl into believing that she killed her sister? Just how?""Don't get yourself worked up. I have al
Five Months LaterEmotionally, things had gotten a lot better with Orla. Though she was still trying to let her mind off the pain her family had caused her, she didn't let her feelings override her anymore.She hadn't forgiven her sisters, especially now that Arnold had decided to sue the three sisters who were involved in the death cases.She had no idea why he was doing that now, but no matter what he did, she knew things would never be right between them. She had ignored several calls for him to see her. There was no point in doing that after all these years. He made it clear to her that he'd forever hate her, Orla wanted it that way—for him to forever loathe her. There was no point in patching things up because there were no pieces to pick up. He had shattered everything a long time ago.She was dabbing her face with the small foam, getting ready for the visit to the hospital that morning.Her baby bump was already visible now, and she and Callan had to get acquainted with some n
They were on the news again.Their pretty faces were displayed on the hundred inch Laser TV in the living room.Orla watched her helpless sisters, all in cuffs.They were on the news as always, but this time, it was for something inimical. She watched them with bleary eyes, wishing they had never trodden that path that almost crumbled her life for years.Now, they were everywhere, wallowing in shame as lights from a hundred cameras flashed on their faces, capturing them to display to the world that they killed their sister and mother.Three Daughters of Arnold Sullivan Are Murderers. The news headline was displeasing, not anything that Arnold would ever be proud of. All he had worked for all his life was about to collapse because of the scandal. But he started it, he charged them to court. He must have thought of it and was ready to lose everything before thinking that sending his daughters to jail was the best decision to make."What's the final judgment?" Orla asked Callan. She ha